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Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan responded to the claims of a number of lawmakers from the ruling Civil Contract faction in a statement late on Friday.

“All along, my tenure as the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia has not been due to any political force’s expression of good will, but a testament to my perseverance and allegiance to my oath,” the ombudsman said.

“I have to respond to allegations made by a number of deputies from the ruling faction of the National Assembly in various public interviews and speeches, which have attempted to create the impression or depiction that my tenure thus far is the result of their "tolerance". Moreover, it has been stated that the ruling faction has never evaluated the activities of the Human Rights Defender, presenting it as its achievement. I declare responsibly that such allegations do not correspond to reality.

“During my tenure as ombudsman, especially after the war, there have been a variety of forms of influence prohibited by law, ranging from halting or substantially reducing public service demands, to reducing ombudsman's vehicles to serve the public, to weakening our capabilities, as well as consistent attempts to eliminate financial independence and organized campaigns against the HRD, discrediting the work being done. All this, was carried out with the participation of high-ranking executive and legislative officials.

“Regardless of the difficulties, I have never presented myself, nor am I going to present myself as a victim. I have exclusively performed, and will continue to perform, human rights work based solely on apolitical and impartial principles,” reads the statement.