Will Personal Connections Hinder the Ombudsman's Candidate? Grigor Minasyan Responds

After the government meeting, the Minister of Justice of Armenia, Grigor Minasyan, addressed journalists regarding the nomination of Deputy Attorney General Anahit Manasyan as a candidate for the Human Rights Defender by the ruling Civil Contract party. He noted that the nomination process took a long time because it does not proceed from a single individual.

“The selection of a candidate undergoes a democratic process, is discussed, and if there are disagreements, the nomination can be withdrawn. The law sets deadlines that have not been violated, and the ongoing search indicates how healthy the processes are,” said Minasyan.

He emphasized that Anahit Manasyan possesses high professional knowledge, stating that they have put forward a very good candidate.

When asked how Manasyan, currently serving as Deputy Prosecutor General, would be able to defend the rights of someone who, for example, claims their rights were violated by the Armenian Prosecutor General, and whether personal connections might hinder this, the minister responded, “First of all, Manasyan has been working as a deputy prosecutor for several months and has coordinated the block of international cooperation. And then, if a person works normally and is professional, they will never exceed the limits of their authority.”