Actions and Public Calls Aimed at Renouncing Armenia's Sovereignty to Be Punished with Imprisonment: New Bill

The Ministry of Justice of Armenia has presented for public discussion (e-draft.am) a draft law to amend the Criminal Code of Armenia, which, if adopted, would classify actions aimed at renouncing sovereignty through the use or threat of violence in favor of another state or an international or supranational public organization that limits the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, as a criminal offense. Public calls directed at renouncing sovereignty would also be punishable.

The justification for the draft states: “Special criminal legal protection has been established for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia in the Criminal Code, providing for responsibility for actions aimed at violating territorial integrity, namely, separating a part of the territory of the Republic of Armenia through violence or the threat of violence, or transferring the territory of the Republic of Armenia or parts thereof to another state.”

Article 422 of the Criminal Code already provides for criminal liability for public calls aimed at seizing power, violating territorial integrity, or violently overthrowing the constitutional order. The draft law proposes to supplement Article 421 of the Criminal Code with the following second part: “2. Actions aimed at renouncing sovereignty through the use or threat of violence in favor of another state or an international or supranational public organization that limits the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, whether wholly or partly, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of twelve to fifteen years.”

The draft will be discussed until November 6.