Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan today raised concerns regarding the recent spate of assaults against citizens viewed as opponents of the government and the setting on fire of their vehicles.

In his statement, Andreasyan said that his office was closely following the case of Souren Sargsyan, an Artsakh War veteran, who was attacked and beaten by masked men on December 10.

The human rights defender said that his office was ready to launch judicial proceedings on the assault immediately after receiving a complaint from Sargsyan.

Andreasyan stressed that it was vital that the public be convinced that those behind such attacks would not go unpunished.

“Parallel to unearthing these crimes, I call on all, especially government and political servants to adhere to the norms of restraint and legal ethics in their public statements,” Andreasyan said in his statement.