300 NEW JOBS TO BE CREATED FOR ARMENIAN CONVICTS
ARMENPRESS
May 23 2007
YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS: Armenian justice ministry has designed
a program for opening new jobs for convicts. Ashot Martirosian, head
of a ministry’s department, which is in charge of prisons, said in
addition to 74 such jobs created last year they will open 300 more
within this year.
He said a woodshop will open soon in Sevan prison.
He said working convicts in Armenian prisons are engaged in
agricultural activity and work also as shepherds, at garment shops
and at semi-precious stones cutting shops.
The agricultural products grown by convicts are consumed by
themselves. They also make their uniforms and the cut stones are sold
to specialized enterprises.
At an open- air fair in Yerevan known as Vernisage there are two
pavilions called ‘Prison Art,’ which sell pieces of art created by
convicts and the raised money is transferred on their bank accounts.
Armenia’s overall prison population is 3,333 people.