PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN SIGNS INTO LAW BILL ON STATE PROTECTION SERVICE

ARMENPRESS
March 21, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS: President Robert Kocharian signed
today into law a bill on making changes to the law that regulates
state protection of former and serving top government officials,
Kocharian’s press service said.

The bill was pushed through the parliament on Wednesday in the second
and final reading.

According to a major amendment, former presidents, serving top
government officials and top clergymen may reject the service of
state-provided bodyguards by renouncing it in writing.

The bill also says that in case people who are eligible to state
protection, except for incumbent president, prime minister and
parliament chairman, commit administrative or other crimes, they
could be temporarily or irreversibly stripped of armed protection.