BUDGET OF SURVIVAL: THE ASSESSMENT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
05.11.2009 14:28

Discussions of the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2010 continued today at
the Standing Committees of the National Assembly. This morning the MPs
listened to Human Rights Defender Armen Harutyunyan. The draft budget
for FY2010 envisages 125 million AMD for the Human Rights Defender’s
Office, which is 10 millions less as compared to allocations of the
current year.

Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan characterized the draft budget as a
"budget of survival" although he said he understands that it’s a
result of the global financial-economic crisis.

Armen Harutyunyan complained today that the flow of cadres from the
Ombudsman’s Office continues because of cuts in salaries. Harutyunyan
pointed out that the office has a 47-member staff, with only 28 of
them being experts. Over the past two years, 50% of the experts have
quitted because of low salaries.