Armenian ombudsperson reports surge in public complaints against state institutions

Armenian Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan has reported a sharp increase in complaints against state institutions in 2025, with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (MoESCS) and the Yerevan Municipality registering the most pronounced surges.

Presenting the annual report at a special session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, Manasyan said her office received 22,655 complaints in 2025, around 2,900 more than in 2024.

According to the data, complaints concerning the ministry surged from 189 in 2024 to 910 in 2025. Grievances involving the Yerevan Municipality also rose sharply, increasing from 357 to 919 over the same period.

Manasyan noted that despite ongoing public outreach clarifying that judicial proceedings fall outside the ombudsperson’s jurisdiction, complaints regarding the judiciary continued to grow. The number increased from 244 cases in 2024 to 382 in 2025.

She further pointed to systemic concerns within the justice system, particularly in relation to pre-trial detention practices and cases involving involuntary psychiatric hospitalization.

Addressing the growing number of criminal cases linked to public statements, including those initiated by government officials, Manasyan cautioned against the expansive use of criminal liability in freedom of expression cases. She stressed that such measures should be reserved for only the most severe instances of harm to public order, warning that overreach risks creating perceptions of selective or discretionary justice.