The subject of “Aravot” online program “Face to Face” is debated by Deputy Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, Margarit Yesayan, and the Head of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office, Arthur Sakunts.
Hripsime Jebejyan – The name of the candidate nominated by the Republican Party is already known. It is the Deputy Justice Minister Arman Tatoyan. Ms. Yesayan, yesterday, the whole Internet was full of news that our 4th Ombudsman is Armen Tatoyan, although no elections has been held. This incurs from the situation that people think that the Ombudsman is not elected but appointed by the known methods. I would like to ask you to comment.
Margarit Yesayan – You are expressing a biased opinion. Changes took place in the Regulation Law and a decision was made on which committee should be the HQ for the HRD election. Each committee member is entitled to present a candidate. In the state and legal affairs department, RPA has 6 members, others – 1 member each, it is not me to teach them. If they can present one candidate, the score of the game will be equal. It would be right for the other political forces to have the skill and the ability to unite. Let them unite and present 1 candidate. It is totally neither my nor anyone’s fault that they do not unite. You know, Zaruhi Postanjyan’s name was voiced by Edmon Marukyan, everyone can join this the offer and protect her.
Arthur Sakunts – I cannot imagine an HRD be a person who takes a post in the government. The man who works at the government is an implementer of the political course and program. How is he going to criticize, let’s say, the issues related to the penitentiary service in the Ministry of Justice and the problems of the Compulsory Enforcement Service after being appointed? There is a concept of conflict of obvious interests. I believe that the person taking an office especially at this point cannot be a candidate for the HRD, it is a psychological matter. Ultimately, there is a constitutional requirement: it should be a legal person known in the human rights field. We are not saying anything about Arman Tatoyan’s specialty, but whether we can consider that he is a person known to the public in the field of human rights activities. The question should be put on how to measure the reputation. The minimum standard is the critical remarks on the human rights issues thru mass media, let us compare Tatoyan with Zaruhi Postanjyan. The RPA candidate obviously does not meet the requirement to be known.
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M. Ye. – It will be no problems for the professional lawyer to shake off the jacket of a public official and be engaged in the human rights protection. Arman Tatoyan will become known. I will give the man a chance to become famous. Over the past days, the media published various names of possible candidate for the position of the Ombudsman, let’s agree that Tatoyan’s option for this case is not a bad one. Let’s recall that once when Karen Andreasyan was becoming a Human Rights Defender, similar opinions and assessments were voiced. It was the same during Armen Harutyunyan’s time. But Karen Andreasyan at his work proved that he is a good human rights defender.
H. J. – Can a man who has been in the staff of this government criticize his colleagues? How do you imagine it?
M. Ye. – If the person is professional and conscientious performs his duties, no matter where he is, he will not be embarrassed.
A. S. – Even if the government has a superb reputation, a high rating, even in this case, the nominations of a person working in the government for this position in such cases, who must raise questions about the activities of this government with regard to human rights, it is also unacceptable.
M. Ye. – Did you have a desire to become a human rights defender?
A. S. – As a candidate for the political majority, definitely not. I do not have such an ambition, desire and intention, because the activities that we carry out, we have more opportunities than the Defender.
Prepared by HRIPSIME JEBEJYAN
