Committee against Torture

Information received from Armenia on follow-up to the concluding observations on its fifth periodic report *

[Date received: 8 May 2025]

Follow-up information on the concluding observations (CAT/C/ARM/CO/5)

1.Armenia takes note of the Concluding Observations of the Committee against Torture on its fifth periodic report under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and has the honour to transmit its comments herewith.

2.Armenia respectfully notes that some of the information and explanations provided by the delegation during the interactive dialogue at the 82nd Session (2184th and 2187thmeetings) were not fully reflected in the Concluding Observations and therefore submits the following clarifications regarding certain factual and contextual inaccuracies.

3.It is observed that Armenia’s Penitentiary and Probation Strategy applies to the period 2024–2026, not 2023–2026 as stated in paragraph 6(a). Additionally, paragraph 6(d) does not accurately reflect that Armenia’s Police Reform Strategy comprises two separate strategies for the periods 2020–2022 and 2024–2026, each accompanied by its own action plan. Armenia further notes that subparagraph 6 does not reflect the adoption of the 2025 Strategy and Action Plan for the Implementation of Gender Policy in the Republic of Armenia.

4.It is also observed that the staff of the Human Rights Defender (HRD) are remunerated in line with the general civil service scale. While some discrepancies exist in comparison with other state institutions, this does not in itself indicate inequality or inadequacy. Armenia respectfully observes that no empirical evidence was presented to substantiate the concern that the NPM lacks autonomy.

5.It is further observed that the assertions regarding alleged obstacles to the asylum procedure do not accurately reflect the information presented by the delegation. In this context, it is respectfully recalled that detailed statistical data were provided during the dialogue, demonstrating that 24, 45, and 85 asylum applications were submitted from penitentiary institutions in 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively. These figures clearly reflect both the accessibility of the asylum system for detainees and the increasing awareness among penitentiary staff of the relevant procedures.

6.It is also noted that the minimum penalty for torture under Armenian law is imprisonment for a term of four to eight years, with the possibility of heavier penalties in cases involving aggravating circumstances. Torture is classified as a serious crime, and the sentencing framework was established in line with international standards and best practices.

7.It is categorically noted that the reference to “desecration and mutilation of corpses” was not raised during the dialogue with the delegation, and that the inclusion of assertions which go beyond the scope of what was actually discussed during the dialogue constitutes a serious procedural concern. Furthermore, the paragraph does not reflect the information clearly presented by the delegation—namely, that the investigation revealed credible indications raising serious doubts about the origin and authenticity of the videos in question, concerns which, regrettably, were not acknowledged in the concluding observations.

8.In this respect, upon preliminary review and notwithstanding any substantive views and comments that may subsequently be conveyed regarding the concerned document, Armenia believes that some of the findings and recommendations (in particular paragraphs 6, 8, 10–11, 14, 28, and 37–40) should be reconsidered in the light of the information and explanations provided by Armenia during the review and in this follow-up note.