YEREVAN. – Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper has learned that rector Ruben Melikyan of the Justice Academy of Armenia will become the new Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman), according to the daily.

“Melikyan, by the way, was in Artsakh yesterday [Tuesday], and he was meeting with the NKR parliamentary factions.

“NKR Human Rights Defender Yuri Hayrapetyan had resigned last week.

“Ruben Melikyan, in a telephonic conversation with us, responding to the question as to whether indeed he will be the NKR new ombudsman, said: ‘I cannot officially confirm it.” He added that he is currently on vacation.

“And in a telephonic conversation with us, Artur Tovmasyan, head of the Fatherland faction at the NKR National Assembly, confirmed that meetings are held in parliament, with Ruben Melikyan,” Haykakan Zhamanak wrote.