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The former Armenian and Artsakh human rights defenders, Arman Tatoyan and Gegham Stepanyan, on Monday issued a joint statement denouncing the promotion of hate speech against the Artsakh Armenians.

"We strongly condemn hateful rhetoric against the Artsakh people promoted by the Armenian authorities, which was also reflected in the Armenian prime minister’s statements at the parliament on June 12. It has further increased insults and hate speech targeting the Artsakh people on social media,” the ex-ombudspersons said.

"The vicious phenomenon of blaming and targeting the Artsakh Armenians, who are victims of ethnic cleansing, has given rise to public hatred against the Artsakh people.

“There are numerous cases of the promotion of this campaign by the Public TV Company of Armenia, which instead of encouraging the integration of the forcibly displaced Artsakh people into the Armenian society and public solidarity, is joining efforts to generate hatred against a part of the Armenians. This police of the Public TV Company established by the government indicates that it’s state sponsored,” reads the statement.

Citing numerous testimonies, Tatoyan and Stepanyan claimed police specifically targeted the Artsakh Armenians detained during anti-government protests in Yerevan, making humiliating remarks on them and calling them “guests” in Armenia. 

In addition, they rejected the charges against the exiled mayors of Stepanakert, Martakert, Askeran, and Haterk as politically motivated.