Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia Ara Zohrabyan has issued the following statement:

“The initiative of the Government of Armenia to change the regulations for the funds allocated from the state budget to the Office of the Human Rights Defender is a cause for deep concern. The regulations serve as a major guarantee for the independence and effective activities of the Human Rights Defender.

Taking into consideration the functional features and special role of the Office of the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) in human rights protection, the proposed changes will lead to undermining of the regular activities of the Ombudsman as a constitutional body and the Office of the Ombudsman, and this may lead to worsening of the state of human rights protection in the country.

What is particularly troubling is the information about changes based on discrimination, as well as the activities of the Human Rights Defender that are not pleasant for state bodies.

What deserves appraisal is the consistent activities that the Human Rights Defender carries out to protect and advance citizens’ rights at the international level, and this became of greater significance during and after the hostilities that Azerbaijan launched in 2020.

Interfering in the activities of the Human Rights Defender or creating disproportionate restrictions may have a negative impact on the state of human rights protection in Armenia, the activities of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia abroad and the reputation of Armenia in the international arena.

The Chamber of Advocates of Armenia expresses its support to the Human Rights Defender and suggests that the government of Armenia reviews the negative stance on the Human Rights Defender by taking into consideration the mentioned concerns and annul the legislative initiative that has become a topic for criticism.”