“The A.D. Sakharov Armenian Human Rights Protection Centre” NGO condemns the incident that took place on March 22 of this year in the Yerevan metro with the participation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and a woman forcibly displaced from Nagorno- Karabakh.
In a constitutionally declared “social and legal” state, the behavior and approaches displayed by politicians and public servants that cause unacceptable divisions among members of society and turn historical realities into a stigma labeling these individuals cannot be considered permissible.
It should be noted that disrespectful speech by individual politicians towards our compatriots forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh devalues the numerous human rights projects and events implemented by the state for years in their favor, as well as creates grounds for various political actors to exploit national humanitarian efforts as ideological dividends.
In the Republic of Armenia, democratic values are largely based on moral, social and legal principles, and cannot deviate from the indissoluble bond and mutual care of the state and society. In the Republic of Armenia, political figures are obliged to be guided by the requirements of the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, to keep a sober awareness of serving the public, and to demonstrate politeness, emotional restraint and behavior befitting their position in their relations with each other and citizens.
It is important to remember that members of society are also obliged to observe the limits of the admissibility of criticism established by international legal standards when criticizing political figures, as well as to refrain from provocative actions.
Thus, our Organization is hopeful that the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and all persons holding public office in the Republic of Armenia will respect the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia when exercising their powers, will exclude the recurrence of similar incidents in the future, as well as will take adequate measures to prevent the polarization of society and ensure the inviolability of the right to human dignity.
“The A.D. Sakharov Armenian Human Rights Protection Centre” NGO March 23, 2026