MPs from the 'My Step' faction spread false information about the Ombudsman in an organized manner, claims Armenia's Human Rights Defender

In recent days, several members of the Armenian National Assembly's 'My Step' governing faction, responsible for the activities of the 'Civil Contract' party within the public domain, have been spreading misinformation about Armenia's Human Rights Defender. They are making superficial assumptions and engaging in speculation, while also provoking false perceptions about the role and functions of the Ombudsman. This was stated in a press release by the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia.

The full statement reads as follows:

“In recent days, several MPs from the 'My Step' governing faction have been disseminating false information regarding Armenia's Human Rights Defender. They are making superficial assumptions and engaging in speculation, while also clearly inciting false perceptions about the Ombudsman's role and functions. This is being done in an organized and targeted manner, accompanying media or even the MPs' publications with offensive remarks and hatred directed at the Human Rights Defender from fake accounts on social networks.

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia finds it very strange that these MPs and other high-ranking officials do not appeal to the Ombudsman to obtain evidence regarding the responsibility of Azerbaijani servicemen for torturing our compatriots and other war crimes. Instead, they do not attempt to assist the Ombudsman in documenting and analyzing evidence. Moreover, they do not take the same diligence in contacting the Ombudsman to understand what issues an independent body has recorded concerning the rights of our compatriots forcibly displaced as a result of the war and how they can be better supported. They also do not reach out to the Ombudsman to know how to use or obtain evidence acquired by the Ombudsman for the return of our compatriots currently held captive in Azerbaijan.

Conversely, these MPs have set their ‘unsatisfied’ expectations from the Ombudsman, singling out issues that the Ombudsman has not only continuously criticized but has also specifically addressed regarding systemic dangers in his extensive statement of December 22, prepared ahead of the announced mass events (including very harsh criticism of the deplorable phenomenon of certain opposition figures insulting society with labels such as 'riffraff', 'zombies', or similar, as it endangers the entire system of human rights in our country and exacerbates tensions).

It remains unclear why, as members of the only supreme body that adopts our country's laws, these MPs expect actions from the Human Rights Defender that are reserved for law enforcement agencies or the judiciary under the laws adopted by that body. If this is a matter of lack of awareness, the Ombudsman’s institution is ready to provide the necessary information to these MPs, including the active use of international experience.

One MP from the governing faction has publicly made an indirect threat concerning the notion that no previous Human Rights Defender has served their term until the end due to their activities. The same MP also concludes generously that Arman Tatoyan, being the current Human Rights Defender, will serve until the end because they [the political authority] do not care about how the Defender relates to them.

It is regrettable that a member of the governing faction has such an attitude towards this crucial democratic institution.

In another instance, as noted above, the head of public relations from the political party that constitutes the majority of the governing faction in Parliament regularly makes public comments regarding the Human Rights Defender, which are not only due to apparent ignorance of the law but are also outright speculations.

The Ombudsman’s office confirms that this individual’s postings are particularly correlated with insults and hatred against the activities of the Human Rights Defender from fake accounts. Moreover, there are also officials making such postings who are being examined for their clearly illegal behavior.

Given the degree to which the recent ‘government campaigns’ have escalated and the resources used, it is evident from the observance by the Ombudsman’s office that several other MPs from the governing faction and other senior officials have confirmed these MPs' posts with their likes. This clearly indicates that we are dealing with a reprehensible and obviously illegal act aimed at forming erroneous impressions of the Ombudsman's activities and spreading organized speculation.

It is regrettable that instead of joint efforts to address the existing human rights issues in our country, overt attempts are being made to create obstacles for the activities of the Human Rights Defender. We strongly warn that any MP or other official from the governing faction stepping outside the framework of rights cannot speculate about the activities of the Human Rights Defender or spread erroneous impressions about them in society.

Moreover, it is clearly out of the legal status of these MPs to publicly or even discreetly claim that Arman Tatoyan continues to serve due to their generosity. To the MP who made this statement, we remind that the National Assembly elects the Human Rights Defender, but the Defender is independent in their work, guided solely by the Constitution and laws. Therefore, Arman Tatoyan will continue to fulfill the constitutional mission of the Human Rights Defender until the expiration of his term with maximum exertion of legal possibilities and resources.

No direct or indirect threat from anyone, nor any ‘fake’ attack can influence the Ombudsman’s assessments and statements, as every publication is based on professional studies, specific facts, and objective analyses grounded in international requirements.

The Ombudsman eagerly awaits posts from all the MPs and senior officials who made the aforementioned posts with the same intensity about what results each of them has recorded or what steps they have taken regarding the protection of the violated rights of our compatriots as a result of this war, so that we can work together to ensure the necessary effectiveness and urgency in documenting evidence. Regardless, the Ombudsman’s institution continues its work in this direction.

P.S. It is unfortunate that we are compelled to address this non-primary issue during this highly responsible and crisis-prone period for the country.”