Human Rights Defender condemns brawl in parliament

Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan has strongly condemned the brawl in parliament involving lawmakers from the ruling and opposition factions.

A statement issued by the Office of the Human Rights Defender said parliament should be a platform for democratic debate, not a “battlefield.”

“Any manifestation of violence by high-ranking officials, including members of parliament, contributes to the spread in society of attitudes that perceive and justify violence as a means of resolving disagreements. Excluding violence from public speech and conduct is the responsibility of representatives of state authority,” the statement said.

The Human Rights Defender demands that not only conduct involving violence but also any speech justifying violence be ruled out.

“The incident must be properly investigated in accordance with the procedure established by law. Such incidents further reinforce attitudes that justify violence, the unacceptability of which the Human Rights Defender had addressed earlier today in a statement issued in connection with public discussions on the prevention of domestic violence,” the statement reads.