National Assembly Fully Adopts Bill Tightening Isolation and Self-Isolation Requirements

The National Assembly is discussing the package of bills aimed at amending the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia and the Administrative Offenses Code, which has been submitted for consideration in a special session. Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan presented the package. After the first reading, parliamentary factions made various proposals.

Thus, it is proposed to amend Part 8 of Article 1823 of the Administrative Offenses Code to stipulate that “violating the rules of publication and dissemination of information defined during a state of emergency by a media entity results in a fine ranging from fifty to three hundred times the minimum wage.” Furthermore, failure to eliminate a published violation of these rules within one day during a state of emergency will incur a fine of five hundred to one thousand times the minimum wage.

“Violating the rules of isolation or self-isolation or other restrictions on the right to free movement during a state of emergency declared on the basis of an extraordinary situation will result in a fine ranging from three hundred to five hundred times the established minimum wage,” Badasyan continued.

According to the minister, the boundaries of isolation and self-isolation will also be defined in the legislation. Isolation is considered the separation of individuals, including patients or those infected, or their contacts, to specific designated areas to exclude direct contact with others and prevent the spread of infection. Self-isolation refers to the separation of individuals, including patients or infected persons, or their contacts, in their permanent residence or another preferred location to limit direct contact with others and prevent the spread of infection.

It is proposed to add the following content to Article 277.1 of the Criminal Code: “Violating the rules of isolation or self-isolation or other restrictions on the right to free movement during a state of emergency declared on the basis of an extraordinary situation, which negligently causes an individual's infection, is punishable by a fine ranging from three hundred to five hundred times the minimum wage, or imprisonment for a term of up to 1 month, or deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a maximum of 2 years, or without it.”

The Justice Minister also clarified what the rules of isolation or self-isolation entail during a state of emergency. The National Assembly approved the package of bills with 117 votes in favor.