The Armenian parliament’s ruling Civil Contract faction has nominated Deputy Justice Minister Kristineh Grigoryan to replace Arman Tatoyan as the country’s Human Rights Defender when his tenure expires in early 2023.

Opposition Hayastan faction MP Areknaz Manukyan countered that Grigoryan doesn’t satisfy the requirement of “being a personage of high prestige” needed for the job.

Civil Contract MP Vladimir Vardanyan responded that the parliament would assess Grigoryan’s qualifications via an election and added that the candidate was active in the human rights field.

Grigoryan promised that if elected, she would be impartial.