A number of Armenian public organizations expressed outrage at the  reaction of the Armenian Foreign Ministry to the situation regarding  the protection of LGBT rights

ArmInfo. The attitude of the head of the parliamentary commission on human rights Naira Zohrabyan and a number of other deputies to the LGBT community Lilit Martirosyan is a gross violation of human rights. This is stated in a joint statement  of the organizations "Transpension International", the Vanadzor  office of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly, the Asparez Journalists  Club and the Open Society-Armenia Foundations, received by ArmInfo.

The statement reads, in particular: "We are members of these  organizations joining citizens who are concerned about the violation  of human rights in New Armenia after speaking from the podium of the  National Assembly Lilit Martirosyan. We express deep concern about  the reaction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of  Armenia, which the position of the government of the country on this  issue. In its statement, the Foreign Ministry, in fact, considers  fundamental human rights to be of secondary importance, in  particular, equality, giving priority to "moral," "the statement  emphasized.  The organizations call on the Armenian government to  reconsider its official position and reaffirm its commitment to the  principles of protecting human rights and its obligations in  accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and  international agreements to show high respect for the dignity of all  people without exception. "We urge the Government of Armenia,  firstly, to immediately take effective measures and bring to justice  all those who grossly violated human rights, showed discrimination  under the guise of" public morality. "Secondly, at the state level  and all related institutions priority attention to the values of  human rights and democracy. And finally, thirdly, to conduct  large-scale educational and awareness activities to eliminate  dangerous discrimination and incitement of hatred, which has  intensified in recent years, as well as the restoration of the  violated rights of citizens, " notes in the statement.

To note, on April 10, the Foreign Ministry responded to the statement  of the ambassadors of the EU member states accredited in Armenia, in  connection with the situation around LGBT community in the republic.  Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan noted that the  Government of the Republic of Armenia is fully committed to its  obligations to protect and promote human rights. And human rights, as  a rule, act effectively if they become part of and are perceived as  social and moral values. "Therefore, in this context, our  international partners should show greater respect and sensitivity to  the Armenian society, and refrain from inappropriate attempts to  direct public debates in the country, even if they do not agree with  their tone," Naghdalyan said at the same time recalling morality is  part of international human rights obligations and cannot be ignored.   Earlier, the EU Delegation to Armenia and the embassies of EU member  states accredited in Armenia issued a statement expressing deep  concern about a number of recent events in the country, in  particular, serious threats against minorities and human rights  defenders, including death threats. The EU recalled the international  obligations undertaken by Armenia and called on all those who are  committed to protecting fundamental human rights and freedoms to  condemn manifestations of hatred, and law enforcement agencies to  take immediate steps to guarantee the physical safety of the citizens  of the Republic of Armenia motivated by hate and identify those  involved in this.  To note, the speech from the tribune of the  Armenian parliament of transgender Lilit Martirosyan caused a rapid  public response in Armenia. The society was divided into two camps -  those who do not see anything reprehensible in this speech, and those  who consider it unacceptable. Opposite the Armenian parliament  building, a protest was held in defense of family values, the  organizers and participants of which sharply condemned Martirosyan's  speech in parliament.