YEREVAN. – If the budget request is not met, the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia will close down the rapid response service.

Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan stated the aforesaid at Thursday’s National Assembly discussions devoted to the 2014 State Budget.    

Andreasyan informed that even though he had asked for 244 million drams from next year’s state budget, the latter envisions solely 213 million drams. As per the human rights defender, this means only three of the six regional offices will continue functioning plus the rapid response service will be closed.   

As per Armenia’s ombudsman, this helpline service needs 10 million drams and three staff to run normal operations.

“In 2013, this service received 1,025 calls day and night, [and] quickly responded to 273 of them,” he added.

Karen Andreasyan also stated that the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia refused grants, to protect its independence.