At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic National Assembly (NKR/Artsakh NA) approved Ruben Melikyan to the position of NKR Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman).

Earlier, Melikyan—who until this appointment was Rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia—had told Armenian News-NEWS.am that he had received an offer to work in this capacity, had met with NKR NA factions, and was ready to work in this position.

“I have worked actively with Nagorno-Karabakh in recent times,” Melikyan had said. “On [Wednesday] May 4, we discussed with MPs many issues regarding the attack by Azerbaijan in early April, and the resultant human rights [issues].”

Yuri Hayrapetyan, now NKR former Human Rights Defender, had submitted his respective resignation last week.