I Practically Evaluate My Chances Highly: Ghazaryan on His Candidacy for Ombudsman

As previously reported, the National Assembly's "Honorary Group" and "Armenia" factions have jointly decided to nominate public figure and former head of the Constitutional Court staff Edgar Ghazaryan for the vacant position of Ombudsman of the Republic of Armenia. Earlier, although the leader of the "Civil Contract" faction, Hayk Konjoryan, announced that the faction had put forward the candidacy of Deputy Prosecutor General Anahit Manasyan for the Ombudsman position, no candidate was presented to the Assembly’s standing committee on human rights and public affairs.

Tert.am spoke with Edgar Ghazaryan, who rated his chances of being elected as Ombudsman very highly, while also expressing hope that Anahit Manasyan's candidacy would not be presented. “Anahit Manasyan, as an expert in constitutional law and a lawyer, I believe knows better than anyone that her candidacy does not meet the requirements of the Constitution for the Ombudsman position. I think that the Civil Contract party will not nominate a candidate, considering that both opposition factions have jointly proposed a candidate; especially in this case, I believe they will not put forward a candidate and will only elect the candidate proposed by the opposition,” said Ghazaryan.

He noted that the position of Ombudsman should not be held by someone who enjoys governmental favor, but rather, it should be the opposite. When asked how he relates to the discontent and criticisms that have arisen from within the opposition regarding his candidacy, Ghazaryan responded: “I do not take it personally; what is important for me is the decision of the factions, and it is a great honor that the two factions in the Assembly have simultaneously shown a united approach in proposing my candidacy. Moreover, the initiative for my candidacy does not belong to them. The factions have responded to a public call, and the author of this initiative is the ‘Together’ alternative civic-political movement, which includes several political parties, NGOs, and reputable figures.”

In response to a media question regarding whether he would be able to demonstrate impartiality in the Ombudsman position, considering he is viewed as the opposition's candidate, he stated: “Only in that case can I be impartial. The fulfillment of the Ombudsman’s duties implies that. It is a constitutional requirement that the person has public recognition and authority, which can only result from public activity. And, of course, not to be a tool of the authorities. I believe my characteristics fully meet not only the constitutional requirements of the Ombudsman but also its essence,” said Edgar Ghazaryan.