By a vote of 107 to 0, Armenia’s National Assembly today approved a bill obligating the Police to videotape all interrogation sessions of suspects and other detainees.

Today's vote came after the first reading of the bill, designed to prevent possible cases of police torture.

Deputy Chief of Police Tigran Yesayan reports that the European Union has allocated financial support for the program and that at least ten police departments in Armenia will be outfitted with video recording equipment by the end of the year.

Yesayan said that recording equipment will be installed at the entrance and exit of police buildings and specially designated interrogation rooms.

 Currently, interrogations take place in whatever rooms are available at a given police station and in the offices of high-ranking officials.

The second reading of the bill takes place tomorrow.