Certain Lawyers Guided Detained Individuals Not to Disclose Information to Ombudsman Staff: Ombudsman

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Armenia, Kristine Grigoryan, has released a statement: “In the recent rapid response visits, representatives of the defender have registered cases of certain lawyers obstructing the implementation of the Ombudsman's powers. Specifically, some lawyers have directed detained individuals not to have private conversations with the Ombudsman’s staff and not to disclose any information to them.

In this regard, it is essential to emphasize that lawyers are important partners of the Human Rights Defender, and their professional work holds particular significance for the effectiveness of the Ombudsman’s activities. Trust and cooperation between the Defender's institution and lawyers are crucial as they primarily serve the interests of individuals deprived of liberty.

Therefore, I call on them to refrain from harmful actions that may violate the constitutional right of every individual to receive support from the Ombudsman and negatively affect the professional reputation of the lawyer. At the same time, it is equally important to highlight that during the recent rapid response visits, many lawyers have demonstrated a collaborative and cooperative approach with the Ombudsman’s representatives, which has contributed to obtaining a more comprehensive picture of the problematic actions of the police and the violations of individual rights.

There has traditionally been a high level of effective cooperation between the Ombudsman’s institution and the Chamber of Advocates, which serves the effective protection of human rights and freedoms.”