Parliament Decides to Criminally Prosecute Those Who Obstruct Election Campaigns

During an extraordinary session, the National Assembly approved a package of amendments to the Criminal Code and related laws on a second and final reading (77 in favor, unanimous), authored by MP Vahagn Hovakimyan.

The main reporter, Hovakimyan, informed that the proposals submitted by the government have been accepted. These primarily relate to aligning the terminology used in the Criminal and Administrative Violations Codes with the Electoral Code.

Article 154.10, which proposed criminal liability for the publication of false information regarding parties (or party alliances) or candidates participating in elections, has been removed from the draft concerning the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia.

According to the new amendments, criminal liability is imposed for obstructing pre-election campaigns or actions. For these offenses, a prison sentence of up to three years is expected. Additionally, for threats of violence by a group of individuals with prior consent near polling stations or in their vicinity, up to six months of imprisonment is envisaged.

The positive conclusion of the Permanent Commission on State-Legal Issues was presented by committee member Arusyak Julhakyan. Deputy Minister of Justice Armen Hovhannisyan also noted that the proposals presented by the executive have been accepted, and the government has no objections regarding the initiative.

The draft law regarding amendments to the Tax Code of the RA, authored by MPs Sisak Gabrielyan, Alen Simonyan, Babken Tunyan, and Karen Hambardzumyan, was also discussed in a second reading. Sisak Gabrielyan stated that no suggestions had been made during the period between the first and second readings.

The positive conclusion of the Permanent Commission on Economic Issues was presented by committee member Hayk Gevorgyan. The parliament adopted the initiatives in their entirety in the second reading.