Armenian parliament criminalizes calls for violence
15.04.2020,
15:03
Armenian Parliament has approved today in the second and final reading a package of amendments to the Criminal Code, which criminalize calls for violence.
YEREVAN, April 15. /ARKA/. Armenian Parliament has approved today in the second and final reading a package of amendments to the Criminal Code, which criminalize calls for violence.
More specifically, the amendments criminalize calls for violence, its justification or campaigning based on sex, race, color, ethnic or social background, genetic characteristics, language, religion, political or other views, belonging to national minorities, property status, birth , disability, age, or other social and personal reasons.
According to the amendments, a person or persons who have publicly issued calls for violence will be fined in the amount of 50,000 or 100,000 drams. They also may be placed under arrest for up to two months, or imprisoned for up to one year.
If these actions were committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, or by an organized group, or with abuse of official position, the punishment is a fine in the amount of 100,000-300,000 d drams or an arrest from 1 to 3 months. These offenses may be punished also with 1 to 3 years in prison along with losing the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a period of 1 to 3 years.
Deputy Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan said the amendments had been revised between the first and second readings. She explained that calls for violence in cultural or scientific works of great significance, expressions and thoughts reminiscent of calls for violence, as well as dissemination of scientific and fiction literature, in which such calls are present, will not be punishable. -0-
More specifically, the amendments criminalize calls for violence, its justification or campaigning based on sex, race, color, ethnic or social background, genetic characteristics, language, religion, political or other views, belonging to national minorities, property status, birth , disability, age, or other social and personal reasons.
According to the amendments, a person or persons who have publicly issued calls for violence will be fined in the amount of 50,000 or 100,000 drams. They also may be placed under arrest for up to two months, or imprisoned for up to one year.
If these actions were committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, or by an organized group, or with abuse of official position, the punishment is a fine in the amount of 100,000-300,000 d drams or an arrest from 1 to 3 months. These offenses may be punished also with 1 to 3 years in prison along with losing the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a period of 1 to 3 years.
Deputy Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan said the amendments had been revised between the first and second readings. She explained that calls for violence in cultural or scientific works of great significance, expressions and thoughts reminiscent of calls for violence, as well as dissemination of scientific and fiction literature, in which such calls are present, will not be punishable. -0-
