On January 18, Deputy Justice Minister of the Republic of Armenia Suren Krmoyan participated in the final event of the “Abovyan Prison: Establishing a Culture of Transparency, Efficiency and Rehabilitation” program. An official from the Department of Information and Public Relations of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress” that it was organized jointly with the Ministry of Justice, the Civil Society Institute and the US Embassy in Armenia. Gayane Vardanyan, Head of “Abovyan” Penitentiary Institution, Gayane Hovakimyan, Deputy Director of the “Legal Education and Rehabilitation program Implementation Center” SNCO of the RA Ministry of Justice, Artak Kirakosyan, Director of the Civil Society Institute and others were present at the meeting.

Deputy Minister Suren Krmoyan welcomed the attendees and thanked all those involved in the event, in the person of the whole staff of the Civil Society Institute for effective and professional work, and expressed his gratitude to the US Embassy for financial support and implementation. “The implementation of the program has been a responsible and intensive work for the Ministry of Justice, I am hopeful that the values invested will be consistently maintained and we will witness their continuity,” the Deputy Minister said.

Krmoyan presented also complex rehabilitation work in penitentiary institutions: physical and mental health of prisoners, education, employment, application of business ideas, etc. In this context, the Deputy Minister emphasized that Abovyan Penitentiary is one of the best institutions where there are sufficient resources for holding conditions and organization of full-fledged education. “For example, today prisoners have the opportunity to engage in sports, yoga, acquire computer, kitchen, hairdressing skills and relevant certificates, learn English, master the nuances of crochet and carpet weaving, pottery, and engage in digitalization of books,” said the Deputy Minister, adding the efficiency of complex work is not only noticeable and welcomed by professionals, experts and agencies in this field, but it is also appreciated by prisoners themselves.

Civil Society Institute Director Artak Kirakosyan summed up the results of the program, he presented the works done, the problems and the ways to solve them in detail.

Representatives of the Human Rights Defender's Office, experts and specialists who took part in training prisoners were also present at the final event.