Sargis Farmanyan, a convict serving his sentence at the "Nubarashen" Penitentiary in Armenia who has been incarcerated since 2019, has developed severe behavioral disorders and repeatedly attempts self-harm. This alarm was raised to NEWS.am by Farmanyan's defense attorney, Samvel Petrosyan. According to the lawyer, although the head of the psychiatric department of the "Hospital for Convicts" branch of the "Penitentiary Medicine Center" state non-commercial organization diagnosed Farmanyan with "personality and behavioral disorders," no forensic psychiatric or psychological commission evaluation has been ordered for the convict to date.

By the January 18, 2022 verdict of the Court of General Jurisdiction of the Shirak Province, Sargis Farmanyan was found guilty under Article 38-104, Part 2, Point 8 (inciting murder out of mercenary motives) and Article 38-266, Part 1 (inciting drug trafficking) of the former Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia and was sentenced to 16 years of imprisonment.

According to the lawyer, while being held in the penitentiary since March 2, 2019, initially under pre-trial detention and later serving his prison sentence, Sargis Farmanyan developed several illnesses and dependencies that have worsened over time. Specifically, according to a document provided back in September 2024 by the "Nubarashen" branch of the "Penitentiary Medicine Center" of the Ministry of Justice, the convict suffers from familial Mediterranean fever (periodic disease), mixed form, with frequent attacks, as well as mental and behavioral disorders resulting from drug use, and dependency syndrome with psychotic episodes. Diagnostic scans also showed isolated gliosis foci in the brain.

Furthermore, Farmanyan has repeatedly committed self-harm in prison. According to his own statements, these actions occur during episodes of clouded consciousness, as he frequently experiences hallucinations of deceased people, and a loss of self-control. The attorney noted that during his incarceration, his client was transferred several times to the "Hospital for Convicts" and the Nubarashen Psychiatric Hospital, where he received psychotropic medications.

Samvel Petrosyan stated that a month ago, formal written requests were sent to the "Penitentiary Medicine Center" to conduct a comprehensive forensic psychiatric and psychological commission evaluation. Despite assurances from both the convict and relevant officials regarding the necessity of proper medical examinations, no positive response has been received.

When contacted by NEWS.am with a written inquiry regarding the issue, the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice stated that information concerning the health status of a convict is considered protected personal data and cannot be disclosed.

At the same time, Tsoghik Aleksanyan, Head of the Department of Social, Psychological, and Legal Work of the Central Body of the Penitentiary Service, referenced the order of the Minister of Justice "On the Examination and Assessment of Suicide and Self-Harm Risk in the Penitentiaries of the Ministry of Justice." Aleksanyan explained that incarcerated individuals undergo screening and assessment for suicide and self-harm risks, and based on the results, a risk management plan is initiated and a multidisciplinary team is formed when necessary. This team carries out relevant work with those who have an active risk management plan, providing psychological support and, if necessary, psychiatric intervention. Documentation compiled for every single case of self-harm committed by incarcerated individuals is forwarded to the competent investigative body.