YEREVAN. – The maintenance costs of Armenia’s correctional system totaled about 7.3 billion drams (approx. $17,518,467) in 2012, thereby increasing by 3.9 percent as compared to 2011.  

Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan noted the above-mentioned during Friday’s National Assembly session devoted to the initial discussion of the 2012 State Budget performance.

He informed that 3.4 square meters were allocated for each prisoner in 2012, against the 3 square meters in the years past. Work is underway to make this reach 4 square meters, which meet international standards. 

As per Tovmasyan, solely two of Armenia’s thirteen correctional facilities are supplied with natural gas, and, as a result, the electricity costs are high.

In addition, it is planned to enlarge the correctional facilities and to have five, instead of today’s thirteen prisons.

In 2012, a total of 124,700 drams (approx. $300) were spent on each inmate per month, in the case when about $3,000 is spent in developed countries.