National Assembly Approves Bill on 'Thieves in Law'

The National Assembly of Armenia fully approved the draft law on 'Thieves in Law' in its second reading. The package of bills titled 'Amendments and Additions to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia' and 'Addition to the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia' authored by the Government of Armenia was accepted with 73 votes in favor, 20 against, and 15 abstentions.

The 'Bright Armenia' faction announced that it would abstain from voting on the bill. The legislation stipulates criminal liability for granting, obtaining, or maintaining the highest status in the criminal hierarchy, as well as for creating or leading a group that embodies a criminal subculture, participating in or being involved with such a group, and leveraging the illegal influence of participants in order to gain material or non-material benefits or other advantages.

Creating or leading a group embodying a criminal subculture is punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to ten years, with or without confiscation of property. The acts specified in the first part of this article, if committed by: 1) a person confined in a correctional facility, 2) by abusing official duties, 3) by a member of the armed forces or other military units, 4) involving a minor, or 5) by a person with the highest status in the criminal hierarchy, are punishable by imprisonment for a term of eight to twelve years, with or without confiscation of property.