Violation of Privacy is Unacceptable: Armenia's Human Rights Defender

25 OCT 2025 08:49

Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan considers the widespread violations of the right to privacy and personal data protection and the lack of sufficient steps to prevent them to be unacceptable. This is stated in a statement released on the Defender's Facebook page.

"These rights are violated on a daily basis, but they receive a particularly large scale and distribution in cases with public resonance. Just a few weeks ago, in one of the cases with public resonance, the Human Rights Defender had publicly expressed concern about the increase in cases of violation of these rights, recording that cases of interference in private life are often expressed by the illegal acquisition and/or illegal dissemination of personal data or information related to private life.

Anahit Manasyan emphasizes that the collection of personal data in violation of the procedure established by law or the dissemination of personal data in violation of the procedure established by law not only contradicts the Constitution and international obligations but also constitutes a violation of a number of fundamental human rights. Such actions must lead to the responsibility provided for by law.

All subjects have a role in the illegal acquisition or illegal dissemination of personal data, and violations are widespread in the Republic of Armenia. At the same time, the Human Rights Defender emphasizes that the state is responsible for developing mechanisms to prevent violations, and in the presence of cases, for holding individuals accountable.

Therefore, the Defender demands that the competent state bodies make a proper subject of investigation the cases of violation of the right to privacy and personal data protection.

The Defender also demands that all interested subjects - state bodies, organizations, and citizens - strictly observe the guarantees of the right to personal data protection and the inviolability of private life, to collect and disseminate data exclusively on the grounds and in the manner prescribed by law.

Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan emphasizes that any issue can become a subject of democratic debate, but it cannot be carried out in a way that contradicts the values of human rights. Respect for the protection of personal data and the inviolability of private life are not just legal guarantees, but values, the level of preservation of which also demonstrates the legal culture of the state and society," the Defender's statement said.