Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) Artak Beglaryan today paid surprise visits to the Penitentiary Institution and Investigation Cell of the Penitentiary Department of the Police of the Republic of Artsakh, as reported on the Facebook page of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh.

“During the visit, the Human Rights Defender got acquainted with the ensuring of rights of prisoners, including the conditions for keeping them, the treatment, exercise of their right to communication with the outside world, the conditions for healthcare and food provision and more. Besides closed meetings in cells, the Human Rights Defender also had personal talks with some prisoners.

The Human Rights Defender particularly focused on improvement of the mechanisms for preventing tortures and other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment during a discussion with prisoners and the administration of the Penitentiary Department.

Prisoners raised issues related to protection of rights, and the Human Rights Defender will, within the scope of his competence, take the necessary measures stipulated by law in order to solve those issues,” the press release of the Office of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh reads.