Yerevan State University Law Faculty's Scientific Council Condemns Targeted Attacks on the Human Rights Defender's Institution

The Scientific Council of the Law Faculty at Yerevan State University has issued a statement condemning the targeted attacks on the institution of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia by political authorities.

“The dissemination of hate speech, threats, and insults is categorically condemnable,” the statement reads. “It undermines the foundations of a legal state and is particularly dangerous when it is organized and directed against a constitutional institution—the Human Rights Defender.”

The statement emphasizes that according to the observations of the Human Rights Defender, the institution’s activities are regularly subjected to directed attacks from fake accounts on social media. Moreover, there are credible grounds to suggest that these attacks are organized or coordinated by high-ranking officials.

The Scientific Council points to recent public statements by certain representatives of the political power, including members of parliament, which evidently aim to shape misunderstandings regarding the role and functions of the Human Rights Defender. Such directed actions are especially condemnable during these challenging times for our country, when every official is obligated to tackle the urgent issues facing the state to the fullest extent of their powers.

Instead, however, “state resources” are being employed to target one of the unique institutions that is committed to its constitutional mission and enjoys high credibility in both the domestic and international arenas.

This all testifies to the political authorities’ attitude towards the overall human rights system in the country and the challenges involved in overcoming those challenges, as well as their own responsibilities and priorities in their work. It is regrettable that political priorities have no relation to the pressing problems that concern the state and the people.

This not only cannot aid in stabilizing the situation in the country but also hinders the Human Rights Defender's active efforts aimed at addressing existing urgent issues, including those under the direct responsibility and authority of the political power.

We condemn such conduct by the political authorities, demand an acknowledgment of their own status and the resulting obligations, and call for refraining from any illegal interference in the operations of the independent institution of the Human Rights Defender.