Free legal aid will be more accessible and available to persons deprived of liberty: advocate-client communication will be conducted on-line

Today, on 26 April, the launch of the Programme for organising the advocate-client communication through video call in penitentiary institutions was announced, which is implemented within the scope of high-level co-operation between the Ministry of Justice, the Chamber of Advocates and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the US Embassy. The Programme envisages developing a new electronic platform which will guarantee confidential communication.

Deputy Minister Arpine Sargsyan expressed gratitude to the INL Director Alexis Haftvani for the outstanding co-operation, attaching importance to the aspect of the Programme that it is aimed at the protection of human rights, while expressing hope that the new mechanism of 24/7 advocate-client communication will be the best example of international practice for other countries.

In his turn, the US INL Director Alexis Haftvani attached importance to the format of model co-operation between the Ministry of Justice and the Chamber of Advocates and reaffirmed the support of the American side for ensuring the actions deriving from the Programme. The Programme will be implemented under the auspice of the INL, executed by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO).

Arpine Sargsyan also attached importance to the co-operation with the Chamber of Advocates, stating that the members of the multi-disciplinary working group established by the order of the Minister of Justice endeavoured to develop a bilaterally agreed programme, the implementation of which would allow the following:

(1) making 24/7 legal aid more accessible and available in penitentiary institutions;

(2) saving the time spent by advocates for visiting penitentiary institutions, enhancing the effectiveness of the legal aid provided at the expense of state funds;

(3) reducing the technical and administrative activities related to the visit of an advocate to penitentiary institutions (filling in a request letter, pass, inspection, etc.)

The activities for introducing the mechanisms for organising advocate-client communication through a video call are envisaged to carry out initially in "Armavir" Penitentiary Institution, ensuring the communication between persons deprived of liberty and public defenders. The Programme will cover all penitentiary institutions, further envisaging to use the new electronic platform not only for public defenders, but also for other advocates, other persons who wish to have a visit.