Armenia’s Ombudsman Sees No ‘Political Pressure’ in Musician’s NSS Questioning

Following his last week’s questioning at the National Security Service, Yerevan-based musician Vahan Artsruni had sent an appeal letter to Armenia’s human rights defender Arman Tatoyan, asking the ombudsman to assess the NSS’ “invitation to talk” and, if necessary, take steps to protect his rights.

In his response, which Artsruni received on Tuesday, Tatoyan enclosed the musician’s claims of “political pressure” and “restrictions of freedom of speech” in quotation marks, insisting that Artsruni had gone to the NSS voluntarily.

Note, in his appeal the musician had asked the ombudsman to clarify whether being invited to the National Security Service on the phone, without an official summons and a subsequent meeting protocol, did not contain a political pressure element and a free speech violation.

“The claims of ‘political pressure’ and ‘restrictions of freedom of speech’ included in your appeal cannot be assessed as such since, as stated in your application and media publications, you went to the NSS and answered their questions willingly,” Tatoyan said in the reply.

Commenting on his correspondence with the official, Artsruni wrote on his Facebook page; “It seems to me that the ombudsman’s letter was not actually an answer, but yet another example of skillful avoidance of giving answers and assessments.”