Former Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan commented on the recent brawl at the Nor Nork district administration, stating on Facebook that the conduct of district head Tigran Ter-Margaryan and other officials—“beating a person in a group so brazenly”—amounts to sheer thuggery and disrespect for the state.

“This is the outcome of high-level political patronage that has imported criminal codes of conduct into the state system,” he wrote.

Activist Arthur Chakhoyan, who sustained bodily injuries during the incident with Ter-Margaryan and his subordinates, was hospitalized and required inpatient treatment.

Tatoyan criticized the ruling Civil Contract party, accusing its leadership of appointing officials who engage in “criminal-style showdowns” with critics, thereby degrading state institutions.

“They even collectively justify the incident by referring to some political issues, showing that narrow political and personal interests outweigh those of the state. This has become one of the greatest threats to our statehood,” he added.

According to him, officials must tolerate harsh and shocking criticism and have no right to retaliate in such a manner. He condemned the conduct as particularly audacious, given that it occurred in front of cameras and during a live broadcast.

Tatoyan stressed that failing to prosecute the officials involved would amount to legitimizing the violence and signaling continued political protection.

On the morning of April 30, Arthur Chakhoyan was assaulted by district staff—along with the district head himself—while attending a public hearing at the Nor Nork district administration. After the incident, police detained Chakhoian before transferring him to the hospital.

A criminal case has been initiated under Article 195, Part 2, Clauses 1 and 5 of Armenia’s Criminal Code, involving group assault.