"It’s Unpleasant but I Must Address It": Artsakh Human Rights Defender

The Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, Gegham Stepanyan, has issued a statement: "It’s unpleasant but I must address it. Unreservedly and strictly condemnable are the expressions of offensive and discriminatory attitudes towards various groups of Armenians within the framework of the electoral campaign in Armenia, especially the use of divisive terminology like 'Armenian from Armenia – Armenian from Artsakh' and the hostile and accusatory rhetoric directed at Artsakh Armenians.

Statements such as 'Go back to your Artsakh', 'the Artsakh resident didn’t fight', 'when we get rid of the Artsakh residents', 'Turkish Artsakh resident', and similar declarations are nothing but unacceptable attempts to divide the Armenian nation and incite internal animosity. It is condemnable that divisive statements that insult the dignity of Artsakh Armenians are widely disseminated on social networks by real or fake users supporting political forces.

It is even more condemnable when such irresponsible statements come from a political figure who has submitted a candidacy to become a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, either without realizing, or perhaps realizing, the public nature of their speech and its ramifications on the already vulnerable psychological situation of the Armenian community in Artsakh.

Not only did the Artsakh residents fight in this war, but they also bear the heavy and honorable mission of keeping Artsakh Armenian every day. Throughout the 30-year struggle for liberation, together with all Armenians, the Artsakh residents have dreamed daily of rejoining the motherland, enduring the constant threat of war, isolation from the international community, and the negligence under the most sacred idea of remaining Armenian.

I join my colleague, the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, in calling for the cessation of mutual accusations, insults, and abuse during the electoral campaign, and I strongly demand that we refrain from behaviors that insult the dignity of the Artsakh Armenians, including cursing and labeling the Artsakh residents as enemies."