Alen Simonyan Never Doubts the Reports of the Human Rights Defender and Activists: Spokesperson

The spokesperson for the Chairman of the National Assembly, Alen Simonyan, Tsovinar Khachatryan, wrote:

“In response to the statement released by Armenia's Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan, as well as by the defenders of the interests of Armenian captives in the European Court of Human Rights, human rights activists Siranush Sahakyan and Artak Zeynalyan, I would like to note that the secret video recording of December 7 regarding the Chairman of the RA National Assembly, Alen Simonyan, has given rise to further misinterpretations.

Specifically, the Chairman of the RA National Assembly has never doubted the extraordinary public report released on August 9, 2021, regarding 'Azerbaijan’s Responsibility for Torturing and Inhumane Treatment of Armenian Captives' by the Human Rights Defender and activists.

In the video released yesterday, the young man inquires about the remark made by Alen Simonyan directed at MP Anna Mkrtchyan during the regular session of the RA National Assembly on September 14, to which Simonyan responds directly.

“Question: Should we say that this person (referring to Anna Mkrtchyan) made it up, or was it Arman Tatoyan who made it up ... Alen Simonyan: No, no, no, Arman Tatoyan did not make it up, but what she (referring to Anna Mkrtchyan) did was unnecessary, because I can say here that people are being tortured, but those guys should return after 40 days, for example, and tell the whole nation: you know what, we were raped and humiliated in front of the Armenian society on this issue ... you are not recording, right ... you should say that it is unacceptable to stand up. She (referring to Anna Mkrtchyan) is sitting and describing in detail how the Armenian man is being humiliated. Why is she (referring to Anna Mkrtchyan) doing this? We come and say people are being tortured, being killed, being tormented, we are fighting with the internationals, we say bring them back. This is not being discussed ...”

It is at least unclear why the Human Rights Defender and the activists attribute this conversation to them or to the report in which the facts presented have never been questioned by the Chairman of the National Assembly. I would also like to remind that following the National Assembly session on August 9, 2021, in response to a journalist's question from “Aysor.am” regarding to whom Alen Simonyan’s remark was directed, the spokesperson of the Human Rights Defender agreed with my comment that the remark was related to the speech of 'Civil Contract' faction MP Anna Mkrtchyan, not to the facts presented in the Human Rights Defender’s report.

(https://www.aysor.am/.../ՄԻՊ-.../1869174)

However, I thank the Human Rights Defender and the activists for their joint statement deeming it unacceptable to record and distribute his private conversations and dialogues without the awareness of the individual.”