RA Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan commented on Armenian Republican Party (HHK) MP Rafik Petrosyan’s statement saying that Ombudsman “brings grist to Azeri mill” while criticizing the state of human rights in Armenia in his reports.

“We have managed to make NKR Ombudsman a full-fledged member of the European Ombudsman Institute (EOI). I became EOI Board member despite the fact that our institute is only 5 years-old, whereas Azerbaijani — 12. We have gained such a prestige that enables Ombudsman to do his utmost regardless. If all this means we ‘bring grist to Azeri mill’, I am ready to add some more,” Harutyunyan told NEWS.am.

According to him, if Ombudsman is able to loosen up of human rights issues, it means there is no totalitarian regime is this state. “Azeri Ombudsman cannot take the liberty of doing even half if this, even if tries hard. This is already a criterion itself, and international community sees and indicates that situation in Armenia is more favorable compared to Azerbaijan. Based on Ombudsman’s speaking without disguise the conclusion on freedom in the country is made. I have no clue why they have decided that we bring grist to Azeri mill,” RA Ombudsman stated.