Artsakh Ombudsman: “Process of ‘black listing’ is concerning” (video)
As of May 1, 2016 to February, 2017, 20 Armenian servicemen were killed by the Azerbaijani side. “During the recent months tension has been unstable at the border, there have been both escalations and peaceful periods. That tension should be used for getting stronger,” says Artsakh Human Rights Defender Ruben Melikyan. He says that today dealing with the cases of human rights violations after April War is a priority. But Ombudsman states that they also deal with the elimination of human rights violations during the relations between the state and the citizens, “We receive application-appeals from the citizens in connection with military service and social field,” says Artsakh Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan. He states that there are problems in the human rights defense sphere in closed institutions, “We will try to be more active in PIs for improving the situation.” After April War, Artsakh HRD presented an interim report. What was done after that? “We carried out fact-finding mission and presented it to the international community and voiced the issue.” Even after war Azerbaijan violates human rights in Artsakh. According to the assessment of Ruben Melikyan the process of ‘black listing’ is more concerning, “We should realize that Azerbaijan arouses number one problem threatening security of Artsakh residents. We take our counteractions for it.” By the way, Ruben Melikyan doesn’t compare level of human rights defense in Armenia and Artsakh, “I can make observations, but they may not be professional.”
