Within the frames of the working visit to Brussels, the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia staff and I met with Dr. Andrey Kovatchev, the Permanent Rapporteur on Armenian Affairs of the European Parliament.
We discussed the vital issues related to the gross violations of International Law by Azerbaijan, the security challenges of Armenia and Artsakh, the border tension, and the checkpoint illegally installed by Azerbaijan in Artsakh.
I also presented to Mr. Kovatchev the continuous human rights violations in the “bastion of democracy” Armenia, particularly the discriminatory treatment between those with oppositional views and supporters of the government or representatives of the ruling team.
I mentioned the wrongdoings that occured in the disgraceful session of the National Assembly’s Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, during which Arthur Hovhanniayan, the secretary of the ruling “Civil Contract” faction, threatened to cut off the ears and tongue of the candidate nominated by opposition factions, and he remained unpunished.
Speaking about violations of freedom of speech, I emphasized that a discriminatory policy is being implemented in this regard as well. When “undesirable” persons for the government call for violence, they are immediately punished. While officials of the ruling faction who have made similar calls and threats of violence and have demonstrated behavior unbefitting a Deputy are not held accountable.
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I presented that during a political action, the Security Officers, on the order of the Head of the National Assembly, forcibly took my Deputy colleagues and me out of the National Assembly Hall during the break and did not allow us to enter the National Assembly session hall again. No one else, again, was held responsible for these wrongdoings.
The Permanent Rapporteur on Armenian affairs of the European Parliament expressed his concern about the security situation in Armenia and Artsakh and the Democratic situation of Armenia.
We both expressed willingness to continue our permanent cooperation on the most salient issues for Armenia and Artsakh.
Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, nonpartisan Taguhi Tovmasyan
