Report on activities of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia for the year 2023 presented to Prime Minister

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with the accompaniment of Minister of Justice Grigor Minasyan and Deputy Minister Levon Balyan, visited the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice to discuss the report on activities for the year 2023. Head of the Penitentiary Service Ambakum Grigoryan and the Deputy Heads presented the activities carried out in the sectors under their co-ordination and the achievements made. Deputy Minister of Justice Levon Balyan touched upon the activities for digitisation in the sector of penitentiary service. Touching upon the digitisation process, the Prime Minister inquired whether the traceability of escorts for detained or convicted persons is envisaged in this process. Grigor Minasyan mentioned that the issue of traceability, for example, has been solved by the Compulsory Enforcement Service through the introduction of GPS equipment. The same can be done here. A number of important issues were reported during the meeting, including:

1. The package for construction of a new prison based on the German model was transmitted to the Urban Development Committee, a tender was announced, there is a winning organisation, which will present the design and estimate documents by November 2024.
2. Higher and postgraduate education for 8 persons has been ensured within the scope of ensuring education for persons deprived of liberty.
3. Within the scope of construction and improvement works, a new building designed for 216 persons deprived of liberty will be built at "Sevan" Penitentiary Institution, inter alia, other works. The draft package has already been obtained.
4. Within the scope of review of the procedure for parcels, it is planned to conduct needs assessment and, based on the practice of the European Union, to review the assortment, portions and quality of the food and the hygiene accessories.
5. It is planned to introduce the "Personal Office for Persons Deprived of Liberty" module where all the information regarding the process of detention or serving of punishment will be gathered, i.e. opinion on risk and needs assessment, personal plan for re-socialisation, penalties, incentives, etc.

It was reported that the budget of the Service was performed 99.79%. In execution of the assignment of the Prime Minister, the certification system has been introduced in the Penitentiary Service. Currently, the works for development of the certification procedure are in progress, and it is planned to be launched in April 2024.

The paths to upgrading the fight against the criminal sub-culture were presented; it is planned to develop a draft of amendments to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia and envisage criminal liability for transferring any means of communication to persons deprived of liberty, and for the acquisition and keeping of such means of communication on the part of persons deprived of liberty.