Tigran Postanjyan, who has been under preliminary detention for 88 days, announced hunger strike protesting against inhuman and degrading attitude toward detainees in Nubarashen penitentiary institution (PI) of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia (MoJ).

Tigran Postanjyan has been held in cell No. 39 of 25 square meters by the administration of Nubrashen PI of MoJ. According to Tigran Postanjyan the cell housed 18 other inmates. The bunk beds are fixed to walls all over the cells. There are more inmates than the 11 bunks available in the cell, so that they have to take turns sleeping, by sharing the bunks and bedding. Smokers and non-smokers are kept together. The TV and lamp are turned on twenty-four-hours a day. The toilet is only half meter far from the place where they have meals.

With lack of ventilation system, the temperature reaches up to 38 degrees in the cell. Tigran Postanjyan had to sleep with his clothes on because of abundance of various biting insects. There is constant noise and understandable turmoil because of holding 19 detainees designated for 11. 

A number of Armenian NGOs, as well as the Group of Public Observers Conducting Public Monitoring of PIs of MoJ, have repeatedly mentioned and released a statement on overcrowding of PIs (statement on the overcrowding of the penitentiary institutions).

Keeping Postanjyan and other inmates in such conditions is not only in breach of the Armenian legislation but also Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights on torture ban: "No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."

In case of Kalashnikov v Russia judgment by European Court of Human Rights, which described nearly identical situation as Tigran Postanjyan and other detainees faced, European Court of Human Rights held that there had been a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

We demand and call on the Armenian authorities to take immediate measures to end the inhuman and degrading treatment against Tigran Postanjyan and other inmates held in Nubarashen PI. 

Civil Society Institute NGO
Lawyers for Human Rights NGO
Transparency International Anti-corruption Center NGO
Helsinki Citizens Assembly Armenian Committee 
Helsinki Committee of Armenia
Youth for Democracy NGO
National Citizens' Initiative NGO
Ekodar NGO
Lawyers against Torture
Huys NGO