The Law is in Effect: Don't Say We Didn't Warn You, Vahagn Hovakimyan

Vahagn Hovakimyan, a member of the 'My Step' faction in the National Assembly, wrote on his Facebook page: 'The agenda for specifying electoral crimes and tightening penalties is now law.

On May 7, amendments to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia and the Code of Administrative Offenses, adopted by the National Assembly on April 28, came into force.

Accordingly,

1. Giving or promising electoral bribes is now a serious crime. It doesn't matter whether the bribe was given or promised personally or through an intermediary; the method of bribery is irrelevant—the perpetrator will be punished with imprisonment for three to six years.

2. Coercing or obstructing pre-election campaigning is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years.

3. Obstructing gatherings or coercing participation, or materially incentivizing participation during the campaign period, is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years.

4. Using violence or threatening violence at a polling station or its vicinity is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years.

I am writing this to warn all those who are trying to revive their old band of electoral fraudsters in these days; do not hope, do not try your luck, you will be punished.

Don't say we didn't warn you...'