The Defender’s representatives paid an unannounced visit to Prison Hospital penitentiary institution, had private interviews with the detainees, including with the persons on a hunger strike.
Once again a private interview was held with Vahe Meloyan who has gone on hunger strike from April 30th. As of June 18 visit it was recorded that Vahe Meloyan’s consciousness is clear, he has sufficient orientation, and clearly answered the questions. With the review of the medical documents, it was also recorded that his blood pressure was within the normal range.
The Defender’s representatives presented to the detainee the negative effects of the hunger strike on his health condition.
During one of the previous private conversations Vahe Meloyan mentioned that the hunger strike was conditioned with the charge brought against him and the chosen measure of restraint.
Earlier during the unannounced visit, Vahe Meloyan mentioned that had heart-related health problems, however he didn’t apply to the medical staff of the penitentiary institution. This issue was discussed with the administration of the penitentiary institution. As a result, the detainee was transferred to a civil hospital where the necessary examinations were conducted.
Meanwhile, conditioned with the results of the visit, on May 30 an official letter was addressed to the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice of the RA regarding V. Meloyan’s health condition, the process of the hunger strike and the issues related to the medical service provided during that time. The letter suggested to discuss transferring Vahe Meloyan to inpatient treatment to medical correctional facility or to the medical department of the penitentiary institution because of the hunger strike in order to provide appropriate medical care.
The letter also raised the necessity to strengthen socio-psychological explanatory works to prevent negative effects of the hunger strike. The aforementioned letter hasn’t been replied yet.
Moreover, on May 3, in her complaint addressed to the Human Rights Defender, Vahe Meloyan’s mother asked for the Defender’s assistance to take an additional testimony from his son, to have a face-to-face interrogation with him and the alleged victim of the criminal case, as well as to remove the ban on the visits and calls to her son.
On June 6, a letter was addressed to the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia regarding the aforementioned issues. In the meantime, the response is being studied.
Meanwhile, the representative of the Defender’s office was in a constant contact with the head of the medical unit of the Penitentiary institution, and on June 12, 2019 the head of the medical unit of the Armavir penitentiary institution provided information that on June 7 and 12, 2019 Vahe Meloyan was moved to a civil hospital were a number of examinations were carried out.
On June 14 late night the Defenders’ representatives were in contact with the administration of the penitentiary institution, we received information that Vahe Meloyan refused the medical care of the ambulance that arrived to the penitentiary institution. On June 17, the representative of the Human Rights Defender contacted the administration of the Prison Hospital penitentiary institution and learned that on June 15 Vahe Meloyan was moved to the Prison Hospital penitentiary institution.