The Ombudsman’s Reaction to Media Allegations Regarding the Status of the Guarantee of Rights of Certain Individuals of Armenian Origin Whose Involvement in Crimes Against Peace and Humanity, War Crimes, Terrorism, Financing of Terrorism, and Other Serious Crimes Was Established by a Court of Law and Who Were Sentenced to Imprisonment

Within the remit of the National Preventive Mechanism of the Ombudsman, meetings were held with the individuals of Armenian origin, including Ruben Vardanyan, during the processes of their preliminary investigations, court hearings and after the sentencing and their transfer to penal institutions where they are currently detained; the status of guarantee of their rights, their detention conditions, and their treatment standards were regularly monitored.  

These inspections were conducted in compliance with international standards, and the status of the guarantee of their rights and freedoms was constantly kept in the spotlight. During the unannounced monitoring visits conducted by me, as Ombudsman, and by the members of my National Preventive Group (NPG), those individuals, including R. Vardanyan, were provided with legal guidance in their native language; their health status was checked by the physician member of the NPG; they were provided, upon their request, with relevant publications and legislation in their own language. Furthermore, upon their request, they were  provided with the works of fiction in various languages.

It should be noted that each of them has the opportunity to contact the Ombudsman via the “916” Call Center, and each application was responded to in a timely and lawful manner.   

In the course of our consecutive visits to the penitentiary institutions where the persons in question are held, it was established that their detention conditions aligned with modern standards, no discriminatory treatment was applied to them, and that their rights and freedoms established by the international and national regulatory frameworks, including the right to engage in sports, and the rights to walk and leisure, were guaranteed. In addition, upon their transfer to the penal institutions, and despite the lack of funds in their accounts, they were provided with unrestricted opportunities for phone calls with family members and access to information.      

Furthermore, we have observed that applications of the said imprisoned persons regarding notary and medical services are being satisfied as provided for by the legislation.  

The most recent request for notary services by Arayik Harutyunyan was executed, and because this coincided with the day of the visit, members of the Ombudsman's NPG observed the execution of this service on-site.

Likewise, matters raised to the Ombudsman by those individuals concerning the conduct of additional medical examinations, extra phone calls with family members, and continuous petitions submitted to state bodies by them and their legal counsel were satisfied.

Based on the results of the independent monitoring and visits conducted by the Ombudsman, we would like to state that the rights of those persons who were convicted by the court of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, and other serious crimes, and sentenced to imprisonment, are ensured without any discrimination. In this regard, the allegations published online on behalf of the said individuals are entirely groundless, do not reflect the truth, and serve biased political motives.