The Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC)-Armenia Foundation on Monday released the Caucasus Barometer 2021. According to the findings of the survey, Armenia’s former Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan has the highest rating among citizens.

In particular, the poll conducted during Arman Tatoyan's tenure as the ombudsman of Armenia (from December 18, 2021 to February 4, 2022) reveals that 81% of citizens trust him, 9% of citizens are neutral (neither trust nor does not trust), 7% do not trust him and 2% do not know him.

The Caucasus Research Resource Center also conducted a survey of the opinion of the population of Armenia on which institutions they consider the most reliable.

Among the 17 institutions, according to citizens, the Human Rights Defender’s Office is in the first place.

According to this section, 61.2% of citizens fully trust Arman Tatoyan, 21.4% rather trust, 6.7% neither trust nor do not trust, 3.8% rather do not trust and 6.9% do not trust at all.

Tatoyan served as Armenian ombudsman from 23 February 2016 to 23 February 2022. The Caucasian Barometer survey covers the period from December 18, 2021 to February 4, 2022.

“I feel honored to have 81% of trust of citizens. On my behalf and on behalf of the entire team that worked with me during the research period, I express my sincere gratitude to our citizens for such a high level of trust,” Tatoyan said in a statement on Tuesday.

“This irreplaceable, binding, high-confidence trust is the result of the fact that we have always been honest, compassionate, objective and truly independent at work. One thing was paramount – commitment to the human rights mission,” he added.