PARLIAMENT VOTES TO CHANGE LAW ON RALLIES, PROCESSIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS

ARMENPRESS
March 18, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS; With a vote of 91 to 6 and 1 abstention
Armenian lawmakers pushed through late on Monday a set of changes
and amendments to the law on mass assemblies, processions and
demonstrations.

The draft bill was presented by Rafik Petrosian, a member of a
parliament committee on legal issues, who said the move was prompted
by the recent standoff between the opposition and the authorities
showing that the law has some loopholes and vague wordings.

"The events in Yerevan on March 1 demonstrated that the existing law
has a number of drawbacks which need to be addressed. This is prompted
by the lesson we learnt," he told the parliament.

One of the amendments allows the authorities to ban a rally "if they
receive trustworthy police or security service reports that such
an action may threaten national security, public order or violate
citizens’ constitutional rights".

According to Rafik Petrosian, this amendment is in line with relevant
international conventions and Armenia’s Constitution.

Under another change, the organizers will have to inform authorities
about their wish to hold a public rally 5 days prior to it, up from
current 3 days.

The bill was defended, apart from the governing Republican Party
and its junior partner -the Prosperous Armenia-also by the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and was voted against by the opposition
Zharangutyun (Heritage) party.

Shortly before midnight the emergency session of parliament voted
90-6 to pass the two readings of the law.