IWPR reports that a year after her controversial appointment by the President, the Armenian Ombudsman, Larissa Alaverdian, appears to have put a foot wrong by actually defending human rights in Armenia. After showing herself able to do her job and speak out, President Kocharian has requested that the constitutional court curb her powers.

“If this provision of the law is changed, then they are clearly attempting to turn the ombudsman and her office into some kind of compliant addendum to executive government,” said Alaverdian.

“All this goes to show that the powers accorded to the human rights ombudsman by law do not have substance,” said Khachatrian. “The ombudsman’s position is strictly formal, or decorative. And whenever the ombudsman speaks out, they claim it violates the constitution.”

The Armenian Centre for Strategic and National Studies conducted a poll in March which found that Alaverdian had gained popular support over the last year. A total of 22.6 per cent of the sample said they trusted the ombudsman the most as a human rights defender. By contrast the president, parliament, government and courts all received approval ratings of less than ten per cent.

The full article can be read online here.