Representatives of Armenia’s Human Rights Defender visited a police detention facility on March 30 to meet individuals detained following the March 29 incident at Saint Anna Church in Yerevan, acting on instructions from Ombudswoman Anahit Manasyan.

The Defender’s representatives held private conversations with the detainees and examined the documents related to their detention.

The results of the visit will be summarized, and necessary measures will be taken within the Ombudsman’s mandate to ensure the protection of individuals’ rights.

“The Human Rights Defender notes that everyone has the right to freely express their opinion, including presenting critical views on the activities of the authorities. At the same time, the exercise of any right must not be accompanied by violence against others, including officials, calls for violence, manifestations of hate speech, and so on.

The Defender emphasizes the importance of an independent, comprehensive, and objective examination of all circumstances of the incident. At the same time, the Defender calls on competent authorities to observe the principle of legality in any actions, refrain from disproportionate use of force, and ensure the proper realization and protection of all citizens’ rights. In this regard, the Defender will continue to monitor the situation to guarantee citizens’ rights.

The Human Rights Defender also continues to record a concerning trend of the spread of hate and intolerance in public discourse. In this context, the Defender calls for refraining from statements that escalate the situation or incite hatred or violence, given their dangerous impact on public cohesion,” the statement said.

The Ombudsman also noted that hate speech in Armenia has reached worrying levels and is used almost on a daily basis.

“This is an extremely dangerous trend that may lead to deeply negative consequences. Therefore, it is necessary to combat this phenomenon through joint and consistent efforts,” the statement added.