The NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs is discussing today the issue of Kristinne Grigoryan’s candidacy for the post of Human Rights Defender nominated by the “Civil Contract” Faction and proposing a candidate to that National Assembly.

Aregnaz Manukyan, a member of the “Armenia” Faction, said during the sitting that the Constitution stipulates that anyone with a higher education, meeting the requirements of a deputy and enjoying a high reputation in the society can be elected ombudsman.

“It is mentioned in the Constitution that the candidate should be a person who enjoys authority in the society. I suggest to go out into the streets after this session, to ask each of the 10 passers-by who Kristinne Grigoryan is. I assure that none of them will recognize her. Why did you assume that Grigoryan enjoys a reputation in the society? And why have you chosen her candidacy?” she said.

Vladimir Vardanyan mentioned that if he, Aregnaz Manukyan and Kristinne Grigoryan go out and walk in the streets, many people may not recognize him and Manukyan, but that does not mean that the deputy does not enjoy authority in the society. According to Vardanyan, the measurable features included in the package is “That criterion is a criterion subject to evaluation; the evaluator is the National Assembly.”

Vardanyan also mentioned that the survey has no legal basis.