BREACH OF CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER DOES NOT MEAN USURPATION OF POWER
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[07:49 pm] 10 February, 2009
The Working Group created to draft the bill on making amendments and
additions to articles 225 and 300 of the RA Criminal Code held its
second session today headed by Head of the NA standing committee for
state/legal issues David Harutyunyan.
Head of the Working Group David Harutyunyan presented the proposals
made by him and NA Deputy Artsvik Minasyan on making amendments and
additions to articles 225 and 300 of the RA Criminal Code connected to
the articles on usurpation of power, breach of constitutional order,
violation of territorial integrity, usurpation of state authority and
public calls for violation of territorial integrity, compelling the
President, the National Assembly, the government and the Constitutional
Court to take actions, riots, organizing and implementing public
events by breaking the law.
Mr. Harutyunyan presented the international legislation regarding
articles on constitutional order and usurpation of power. Harutyunyan
proposes to separate the concept of "usurpation of power" from "breach
of constitutional order". According to him, breach of constitutional
order does not always mean usurpation of power. The head of the
working group suggests differentiating between "seizure of power"
and "keeping power" in the article entitled "Usurpation of power".
NA Deputy Artsvik Minasyan proposes to reject the expression usurpation
of state power. He also touched upon the articles regarding keeping
power by force and the attempt to seize power.
Experts and members of the working group and the ad hoc committee for
investigating the events of March 1-2 and their motives presented
their comments and proposals for the amendments to be made in the
articles in question.