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Kosh Prison Inmate: “For more than one year now I feel like a captive”

The following letter was written by Rouben Amatouni, now serving a seven year sentence at the Kosh Correctional Facility after being found guilty of robbing a gasoline station employee, at gunpoint, of 143,000 AMD.

After a long hiatus, I am forced to take pen to paper and re-launch my battle in defense of my rights and the justice due me that I was stripped of, thus violating several RA laws.

For more than one year now I feel like a captive. On July 28, 2013 the deadline for my conditional release passed; after serving one half of my sentence. However, the correctional facility’s administrative committee has rejected my early release on three occasions.

For the past ten months I have raised this issue of my violated rights (and that of others. I have written complaints to various officials and the media.

In the end, I decided to take my case to the courts. I have appealed the parole rejections of the Kosh administrative committee to the Aragatzotyn Provincial Court.

Judge Mnoyan partially found in my favor, obligating the Kosh administrative staff to bring me before an independent parole committee given that I have been classified as a positive inmate that has recognized past errors. I was convinced that justice does indeed exist. After this verdict by the court, the Kosh adminirtaion convened a special meeting and presented a letter of intervention to the independent committee calling for my release.

According to protocol, psychologist RoubenAghouzoumyants and Public Council member HovhannesHovhannisyan (both members of the independent committee) paid me a visit. They told me I still had years to serve as punishment. I couldn’t believe that the verdict of the court could be overridden and that the independent committee would overlook the fact that I’ve been classified as a model inmate now on the straight and narrow.

On July 23, in a closed door session, the independent committee rejected my early release, overlooking the court’s decision and reserving to itself powers above the court.

The independent committee, certain of its immunity, is taking illegal measures since there are top officials as its members. For example, the president of the independent committee, in the service of the Kosh Correctional Facility, is none other than Major General GagikHambardzoumyan, Head of the General Investigation Department of the RA Police.

Today, in the same court, I am appealing the decision of the independent committee.  My appeal is now being processed.

I hope that this time the court will sustain my appeal, at least partially. Myappeal is being heard by M. Mnoyan, the same judge who handed down a just and objective verdict once before.

I should have been released one year ago, alongside my mother. I should have been working and starting a family, and not subject to psychological torture via these constant rejections.

Nevertheless, after serving four years and seven months, I have not become an evil person or have gone mad. On the contrary, my knowledge of the law has increased; I am educating myself, and serve as the president of the “Self-education Group”.

Hetq: The personal details of others have been erased in the last photo

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