YEREVAN. – In general, I can say that, unfortunately, hate speech, insults, insults to dignity reach very large dimensions today; this is a very worrying phenomenon. Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan mentioned this in a talk Tuesday with journalists in the National Assembly of Armenia.

"We just have to stop—whether it's an official or someone else—insulting, cursing at each other. This is a higher responsibility, especially in the case of public officials. (...). The risk is that it could move to real life," he added.

Referring to the force used by the Armenian police against citizens in recent days, Tatoyan said: "A person who has committed an offense must be held accountable, but the response of the state must be proportionate," he said, in particular.

"Public oversight over the state is an important institution. But it is completely different when a citizen exercises oversight over a citizen. Here, the state has a great role to play in ensuring that no set law, right are violated,” the Ombudsman added.