Former ombudsperson says dissent is increasingly treated as hostility in Armenia

Former Armenian Human Rights Defender Larisa Alaverdyan claims that "internal racism" is widespread in Armenia, accusing the authorities of treating dissenting voices as enemies rather than as a legitimate part of a democratic political system.

Speaking at the inaugural news conference of a commission on the rights of people facing politically motivated prosecution on Tuesday, Alaverdyan said the scope of internal racism extends across broad segments of society.

She said educated, law-abiding citizens who respect both their own dignity and that of others have found themselves in a political climate where even some political analysts supporting the ruling Civil Contract party portray the opposition as an "enemy".

"In Armenia, those who express differing views are regarded by the authorities as enemies rather than as the opposition, which is an essential component of democracy," Alaverdyan said. "We have reached a point where we are obliged to unite in one way or another."