GOAM INVESTIGATES CLAIMS OF MENTAL HOME ABUSE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000875 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AM SUBJECT: GOAM INVESTIGATES CLAIMS OF MENTAL HOME ABUSE, HUMAN ORGAN SALES -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Armenia's sensationalist press has reported allegations of human organ sales from a state-run mental facility in a western province of Armenia. While the prosecutor's investigation has not turned up evidence of organ sales, it did uncover widespread malnutrition, abuse and medical malpractice. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The home, whose Armenian name translates roughly to "Vardenis Neuropsychological Hostel," first came under scrutiny in 2004, when the Gegharkunik regional prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the disappearance of a patient from the Vardenis home. More recent press reports alleged that the home's staff is selling human organs taken from the bodies of dead residents. Bagrat Petrosyan, an investigator from the prosecutor general's office, told us conditions at the mental home are awful. He said the regional investigation found that residents were dying as a result of malnutrition, medical malpractice and physical abuse at the hands of the staff. Petrosyan told us that, of 350 residents, 159 have died in the last five years. The case was transferred to the prosecutor general's office last February. Since then, according to the office spokeswoman, investigators have exhumed 11 bodies to look for broken bones and evidence of malnutrition. They also are investigating the home's financial records for evidence of embezzlement. ¶3. (U) The allegations of the sale of human organs came from a letter of complaint written by residents of Vardenis to MP Emma Khudabashyan. According to media reports, the residents told Khudabashyan that coffins ostensibly holding the remains of deceased mental home residents were in fact empty. Khudabashyan brought up the matter on the floor of the Armenian National Assembly and demanded an investigation. After Khudabashyan's demands hit the press, the prosecutor general's office responded, saying that the investigation was ongoing and had not turned up any evidence of the sale of organs. The press reported earlier this month that the regional prosecutor's office had launched a criminal case against the mental institution. ¶4. (C) Armenian human rights Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan told us he didn't know anything about the case other than what was reported in the press. He expressed confidence in the prosecutor general's investigation, and added that he didn't rule out the possibility that the press was printing rumors. He did say that, even if the allegations were only partially true, it was a serious problem. ¶5. (C) Human rights activist Misha Danielyan, who heads up the Helsinki Committee here, said he didn't believe that human organs were being sold in Vardenis. He said he was skeptical mainly because he didn't believe the alleged perpetrators had access to the equipment necessary to extract and transport human organs in a manner that would keep them viable for transplants. EVANS