Avetik Ishkhanyan: state should keep as many prisoners as it is able to do

PanARMENIAN.Net - Head of Helsinki Committee of Armenia Avetik Ishkhanyan said that the practice of arrest application as a measure of restraint is among reasons of overpopulation of criminal executive institutions of Armenia.

Armenia's courts often apply the aforementioned practice, as in reality they are not independent, Ishkhanyan told a discussion in Yerevan on overpopulation of criminal executive institutions.

"Armenia's courts uphold decisions of investigative bodies on arrest as a measure of restraint. And such decisions result in increase in the number of prisoners in Armenia," said Ishkhanyan.

According to him, non-governmental organizations dealing with issues of prisoners should demand from the state that it keep as many prisoners as it is able to do.