Opinions of international experts about amendments to RA Criminal Code
received
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YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. During the March 10 sitting, the
parliamentary working group set up to make amendments to Articles 225
and 300 of the RA Criminal Code discussed the amendmed version of the
bill to be presented in second reading.
The head of the working group David Harutyunian presented the amended
articles, saying that they also reflect the proposals and approaches of
deputy Artsvik Minasian, the minister of justice, the prosecutor
general, and the staff of the parliament. The conclusions of experts of
the Venice Commission, the U.S. resident legal advisor and German
experts of constitutional law about the bill passsed in first reading
were also received. Taking into account these proposals and comments,
the group decided on the following formulation: "Mass disorders are
group actions expressed in violence, pogroms, arsons, destruction or
damage of property, use of fire-arms, explosive substances or devices
or offering armed resistance to a representative of authorities, as a
result of which public security in the given place is endangered".
For such actions, 3-8 years’ imprisonment (4-10 years’ imprisonment for
an organizer of mass disorder) is envisaged. By the bill, inciting or
assisting the commitment of mass disorder is a punishable action: a
fine, arrest or imprisonment have been envisaged in these cases.
The point stipulating responsibility of a person, who has participated
in mass disorder but has not committed acts of violence, has been
restored in the amended bill. In the article on power usurpation and
territorial integrity, only calls for violent overthrowing of
constitutional order have been considered as subject to criminal
responsibility. In Article 301 on compelling the president of the
country, the National Assembly, the government, the Constitutional
Court, differentiated penaties have been envisaged, with severest
punishment being envisaged for crimes with most serious consequences.
Some other amendments, including editorial ones, have been made as well.