Statement on the Unacceptability of Hate Speech, Insults, and Threats in Public Discourse
The CSO Network for the Protection of the Rights of Persons Forcibly Displaced from Artsakh condemns the incidents that have occurred in Armenia during the election campaign ahead of the 2026 National Assembly elections and expresses its concern over them. During these incidents, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made statements directed at citizens that were insulting, degrading, and threatening to freedom of expression.
The statements made during encounters with various citizens are incompatible with the standards of conduct expected of a public officeholder and with the principles of political ethics, respect for human dignity, and social cohesion. The subsequent developments are also concerning, particularly the detention of a citizen and the initiation of public criminal prosecution against him in connection with an opinion he expressed during a meeting with the Prime Minister. According to a statement issued by the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia, the alleged conduct constituted hooliganism and obstruction of the election campaign.
We reaffirm that, in a democratic society, political disagreement, criticism, and the free expression of opinions must not lead to the prosecution of, pressure on, or disproportionate criminal measures against an individual.
In this regard, we call on:
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The Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia to examine the aforementioned incidents within the scope of the Defender’s constitutional mandate and issue an appropriate legal assessment of them.
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Law enforcement authorities to ensure the uniform, proportionate, and impartial application of the law and to rule out any form of politically motivated or selective justice.
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The Corruption Prevention Commission of the Republic of Armenia to assess, within the scope of its competence, whether the conduct of public officials complies with the principles of integrity and the proper observance of public service ethics.