Ombudsman: The Office of the Human Rights Defender determines its own areas of activity

ArmInfo. The Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia determines its own areas of activity. Ombudsman Anahit Manasyan stated this on November 9 at a joint meeting of the RA National Assembly committees, which was considering the draft state budget for 2027.

According to her, the office often receives orders from one MP or another to address a particular issue, but for the most part, these demands go beyond the scope of the office, which is an independent body that is not subject to political inquiries. The Human Rights Defender noted that the office can provide "excellent cooperation with MPs," but this does not mean fulfilling its obligations. orders from a number of parliamentarians, including a demand for a joint visit to a number of penal institutions.

Anait Manasyan recalled that the Criminal Code provides for penalties for interfering in the affairs of the Human Rights Defender, disrespecting this institution, and disseminating false information about the office's activities. "Members of Parliament cannot speak to the Ombudsman in the same language they use with each other, including in the context of political debates, because our standards differ. I should be asking you what has been done to improve the conditions of detention for prisoners in penal institutions and address their problems," since it was you, having received the votes of the voters, who assumed power. " , said Anahit Manasyan, adding that the government has responded to some of the issues and proposed solutions.

It should be noted that Anahit Manasyan has repeatedly drawn the attention of members of parliament to the fact that the Office of the Human Rights Defender has very limited financial resources to cover all of its assigned tasks. One of the pressing infrastructure issues remains the state of the agency's building in Yerevan, which is in need of repair. She previously stated her readiness to relocate, as this issue had even been raised by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. The Ombudsman also points to the urgent need for structural changes within the institution and further improvements to the legislation regulating the activities of the Office of the Human Rights Defender. -