Insults and Intolerance on Social Networks Have Reached a Dangerous Level: Tatoyan

Any manifestation, call, or advocacy of violence is a phenomenon that is completely unacceptable and condemnable to me. This was expressed today by Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan during the report on the execution of the 2018 budget in the National Assembly, in response to a question from Sergei Bagratyan, a member of the Prosperous Armenia faction, regarding the incidents involving Hrant Margaryan in Freedom Square and later the opposition activist Vardan Harutyunyan.

In Tatoyan's assessment, the state must give a very strict and timely evaluation of such situations.

“This issue was raised at the government session, and the Prime Minister also highlighted the problem. I mentioned that I value the timely evaluation given by the state. I know that there are investigations initiated by law enforcement agencies regarding these matters. We should send additional inquiries about the cases of Hrant Margaryan and others to understand what the revealed circumstances by law enforcement relate to,” he said, adding that alongside this, the right to freedom of speech must be protected.

However, Bagratyan was also interested in what specific measures the Human Rights Defender’s office is taking to prevent acts of violence. In response to the Member of Parliament, Arman Tatoyan noted that the measures are varied. According to Tatoyan, they also hold law enforcement agencies to high standards.

“If I speak in a much broader sense, there are extensive awareness-raising activities. I believe that the current incidents of violence are influenced by the tense atmosphere present in social networks; indeed, intolerance is very high, insults are unacceptable, moreover, the level of danger is elevated. We are also working with our journalist colleagues to remove insulting comments and to choose headlines that do not provoke excessive emotions, etc.,” emphasized Arman Tatoyan.

The Chair of the NA Human Rights Committee Naira Zohrabyan also spoke as a former journalist.

“Our media are as correct as possible, while the propaganda of hatred is spread across social networks. As a representative of the PACE, I must note that the issue of legislatively regulating hate and violence propaganda on social networks has been discussed recently in the Assembly,” concluded Naira Zohrabyan.