CAT/OP/ARM/1/Add.1 crimes committed by them, as well as electoral processes envisaged by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia. 22. In other words, the Special Investigation Service is a specialized body that implements preliminary investigation of the criminal cases, incriminated to the officials, including the preliminary investigation of cases over torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. 23. Within the previous year the Special Investigation Service of RA has completed considerable work on investigation of the criminal cases over torture as well as on subjecting to responsibility the perpetrators of crime. The Service has also undertaken several types of measures for improvement of the efficiency of the struggle against torture and for legislative and systematic solutions of the raised problems. 24. Particularly, the Special Investigation Service of RA has proceeded and put into circulation a package of legislative amendments about forming structural sectionsdepartments in the Service. It is planned to involve the conduction of the preliminary investigation of criminal cases over torture in functional jurisdiction of one of the departments of the Service. 25. The formation of separate structural sections is required for specialization of the investigators carrying out the preliminary investigation over the concrete types of crimes /including torture/. 26. Such specialized structural sections will promote the perfection of the skills and professionalism of the investigators, the resume of practice, more purposeful organization of struggle against torture and will provide objective, full and comprehensive fulfillment of preliminary investigation of the criminal cases. 27. The package of projects of laws on additions and amendments has already been confirmed on the first reading of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and at present, is going to be submitted to discussion on the second reading. 28. It is also planned to apply to the General prosecutor of the Republic of Armenia to charge the specialized prosecutors with the supervision of preliminary investigation Service of RA, which will promote the efficiency of prosecutors’ supervision of the preliminary investigation on such type of criminal cases. 29. Besides, taking into consideration the difference of legislative and conventional descriptions of the 119th article of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia and for the purpose of elimination of defects and provision balance with the Convention, the Special Investigation Service of RA has already made a suggestion to the Ministry of Justice of the RA about corresponding changes to the Criminal Code of RA. 30. The next step was the recommendation of Head of the Special Investigation Service of RA “On effective organization of investigation of criminal cases, initiated on the fact of torture”/11.03.2014/ that foresees undertaking measures for improvement of the quality of preliminary investigation over such crimes. Particularly, it was recommended to initiate without delay criminal case in existence of proper report and bases about torture and venturing the necessity of undertaking urgent investigative measures by the criminal case. 31. The same legal act recommends not involving in the investigative groups the investigators of those Law-enforcement bodies of RA, where the perpetrator of torture had been served or serves, temporary suspend the authorities of the alleged suspected or accused, as well as the authorities of the participants of procedure, foreseen by law, and undertake proper protection measures related to the sufferer. 32. In addition, the Special Investigation Service has also recommended making periodical records on the cases over torture and on their proceedings. The results of 7

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