Armenia`s Human Rights Defender condemns brawl that broke out at  meeting of the Yerevan Council of Elders

ArmInfo. Armenia's Human Rights Defender, Anahit Manasyan, condemned the brawl that broke out on June 23 at a meeting of the Yerevan Council of Elders between representatives of the ruling Civil Contract faction and the  opposition.

As the Office of the Human Rights Defender (HRD) of Armenia  emphasized in this regard, political forces cannot constantly talk  about the importance of rights while simultaneously perpetrating  physical violence or other forms of violence, including insults, hate  speech, and manifestations of intolerance. 

"The Human Rights Defender considers the incident that occurred on  June 23 at Yerevan City Hall alarming from a human rights perspective  and incompatible with democratic governance and civilized political  debate. Individuals in such positions, by such behavior, not only  promote violence and intolerance as models of behavior but also  hinder the development of the entire system of human rights  protection and promotion. This is a highly condemnable phenomenon,"  the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia emphasized.

As a reminder, during the meeting chaired by Deputy Mayor Armen  Pambukhchyan, a verbal altercation ensued between government and  opposition representatives, accompanied by mutual accusations.   Specifically, after Deputy Mayor Suren Grigoryan's speech,  representatives of the Mother Armenia opposition faction began  delivering harsh criticism of the ruling party. In response,  Pambukhchyan called the participants to order, but the argument  continued. The verbal conflict soon escalated into a scuffle, and  then a physical altercation. Security service personnel, as well as  Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan, intervened to resolve the situation,  after which the meeting was adjourned.