Ombudsman Tatoyan asks not to use this word
«The 96 ballots cast for Mr Tatoyan represent the vote of confidence of the entire palette of the political landscape since almost all factions (in the National Assembly) partook in the elections of the Human Rights Defender», - said Hovhannes Sahakyan, the chairperson of the Standing Committee of State and Legal Affairs of the National Assembly, introducing newly elected Arman Tatoyan to the staff of the Ombudsman’s Office.
«The work of the Ombudsman cannot be conditioned by any political factors whatsoever», -said Arman Tatoyan in a briefing after the official introduction.
The journalists asked Tatoyan whether he plans to visit detained activists Gevorg Safaryan and Vardges Gaspari, as newly elected Ombudsman reiterated an earlier answer that he had not have a chance to investigate all the aspects of the aforementioned cases just yet.
«I am new, it’s my day one, let me go upstairs and see where we begin. There are many issues to tackle», - the Ombudsman added.
Responding to a question about some statements heard during the debates in the parliament, claiming there is no human rights defender, but in fact a “mid-fielder”, Tatoyan said: «I would really appreciate you not to use that word. That does not help (to raise) the image of the Defender. I cannot agree with those statements. All the previous Defenders fulfilled their duties. The powers of Ombudsman are unique, there are difficulties, but these are workable challenges», - Tatoyan concluded.