1 / 10

On April 11, the National Assembly started the work of regular sittings. The deputies approved the agendas of the NA fifth session of the eighth convocation and the regular sittings. Some agenda drafts will be debated in a special procedure, their debate in the second reading will be carried out within 24 hours after their adoption in the first reading.

Parliament debated the issue of the selection of the RA human rights defender (HRD). In accordance with Article 145 of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly constitutional law, the NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs proposed the candidacy of Anahit Manasyan nominated by the Civil Contract Faction for the post of HRD.

The Secretary of the NA Civil Contract Faction Artur Hovhannisyan presented the candidate’s biography.

Artur Hovhannisyan expressed confidence that Anahit Manasyan, if elected, will use her knowledge and high qualifications to protect human rights.

Anahit Manasyan presented her vision for the protection of human rights, noting that she will strive to use all her knowledge and skills to fulfill the mentioned objective. “When I thought about whether I could take on this mission, I began to analyze the values that I carry myself. They have accompanied me since childhood, thanks to the upbringing I received, and I have never betrayed those principles. Those are: humanity, compassion for people and their destinies, honesty, justice and infinite faith in knowledge,” she said.

Regarding the protection of human rights, Anahit Manasyan emphasized the ideas of tolerance and dignity, excluding politicization in this field. “I will do my best to keep the HRD Institute completely free from politicization,” Anahit Manasyan stressed.

The HRD candidate noted that it is necessary to do a lot of work with joint forces against the negative phenomena that are widely spread among the public: targeting of persons, hate speech, and propaganda of violence.

The deputy of the Civil Contract Faction Zaruhi Batoyan inquired from Anahit Manasyan whether it is possible for her to give up the position of HRD if she receives another offer, as happened in case of the previous HRD, in response to which Anahit Manasyan said that the position of HRD is not just a position for her, it is a responsibility and a mission that she will undertake with high responsibility. “I am definitely committed to try, to strive, to do everything in order to complete this mission and improve the sector to a proper level,” she underscored.

The deputy of the NA Armenia Faction Artur Khachatryan inquired if an apparent crime, insult, threat, beating takes place in the presence of a law enforcement officer, how should the Prosecutor General, in particular, react? “We should be able to create such an environment together where we will be proud to live with dignity, therefore we should exclude all those situations with our joint efforts, first of all starting with ourselves,” Anahit Manasyan stated.

The Head of the Civil Contract Faction Hayk Konjoryan gave a speech on behalf of the Faction.

“When nominating Anahit Manasyan, the Faction was guided by her professional knowledge, career path, and moral values. Anahit Manasyan made us reaffirm our position and conviction that we have nominated the right candidate for this important position as a result of the meeting with the Faction, the speech presented at the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, today’s sitting and the Q&A session”.

Hayk Konjoryan added that the Faction will vote for Anahit Manasyan’s candidacy for the post of HRD.

The Head of the Faction also touched upon the views expressed in the speeches of the opposition colleagues regarding the candidate, urged to ensure political dialogue in Parliament.

In her final speech, Anahit Manasyan answered the deputies’ questions. She stated that she will use all her knowledge and skills to perform the mission of the Defender at a proper level while performing the HRD function.

The Chair of the NA Counting Commission Narek Babayan introduced the voting procedure, place and time for the HRD election.