The new Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia extends the types of restraint measures by introducing administrative control and house arrest, the latter being closest to detention in terms of restriction of the rights and freedoms. To ensure the proper implementation of the new provisions of the Code the Council of Europe supports criminal justice actors for setting-up of new practices by strengthening their professional skills and changing their mind-set as duty-bearers towards the other participants of criminal proceedings based on the new legislation.

More specifically, on 19-20 June the Council of Europe Projects "Strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia” and “Support to the Effective Execution of the Judgements of the European Court of Human Rights in Armenia” jointly organised a discussion on the practical Guides that were prepared for the national legal professionals, including from probation services, which address various issues that hinder the effective application of certain restraint measures alternative to detention.

Prior to the preparation of the Guides, information on the concerns raised by the Court of Cassation, the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Probation Service was collected in view of designing possible solutions as regards the application of house arrest, administrative control, bail and prohibition to leave the country. The workshop addressed issues of the national legislation related to the application of alternative restraint measures, challenges encountered when using these measures, and practical issues of implementing house arrest and administrative supervision at the national level in the light of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, and European best practices. The discussions also focused on future steps to promote the use of alternative measures of restraint and the need for closer cooperation between probation services and other key players in the criminal justice system of Armenia.

"Support to the effective execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in Armenia" project funded by Human Rights Trust Fund and along with “Strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia” project are implemented in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia for 2023-2026.