Harsh Penalties to Be Imposed for Certain Actions During Wartime

The Armenian National Assembly, during an extraordinary session held on October 27, approved changes to the Criminal Code in the first reading, introducing harsher penalties for certain actions during wartime.

Specifically, avoiding conscription during martial law and wartime, or evading military service or mobilization, will be punishable by 6 to 12 years of imprisonment, up from the previously stipulated 4 to 8 years.

For those who evade military service or fail to pay taxes during wartime, the maximum penalty has changed from no more than 4 years of imprisonment to 1 to 5 years.

The punishment for failing to execute orders during wartime will increase from 5 to 15 years of imprisonment to 8 to 15 years. Additionally, desertion committed during martial law, wartime, or combat situations will now be penalized with 8 to 15 years of imprisonment, up from 6 to 12 years previously.

According to Deputy Minister of Defense Gabriel Balayan, the adoption of this bill aims to deter citizens from such acts, as there are already individuals against whom criminal cases have been initiated under these articles.

It is noteworthy that lawmakers unanimously approved the bill proposing amendments to the Criminal Code in the first reading.