Up to 2 Million Drams for Defamation, 3 Million for Slander: Bill Passed in First Reading

The National Assembly has approved in the first reading a bill amending the Civil Code of the Republic of Armenia, presented by MP Alen Simonian. The vote resulted in 72 in favor, 30 against, and 2 abstentions.

The bill proposes to increase the compensation for defamation from up to 1 million drams to up to 5 million drams, and for slander from up to 2 million drams to up to 10 million drams.

Additionally, a bill on amendments to the Criminal Code of Armenia, proposed by several MPs from the Prosperous Armenia faction, was also approved in the first reading with 109 votes in favor, 1 against, and 2 abstentions. This bill aims to increase penalties for treason and espionage, proposing life imprisonment for treason and 15-20 years of imprisonment for espionage.

The National Assembly also approved in the first reading a package of amendments to the Law on Attracting Bank Deposits, presented by MPs Artak Manukyan and Babken Tunyan, with 93 votes in favor, 1 against, and 19 abstentions. Furthermore, amendments to the laws on Public Records, Trade and Services, Electronic Communications, and Public Procurement were also accepted in the first reading.

In addition, the bill on amendments to the Law on the Public Council was fully adopted in the second reading.

The Assembly rejected a bill presented by the Government concerning amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Diseases Caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The vote was 45 in favor, 46 against, and 10 abstentions. The bill aimed to protect the rights of individuals living with HIV, address existing legislative gaps, align the regulatory framework with new international approaches in the fight against AIDS, and ensure maximum accessibility of HIV prevention and treatment services to more effectively respond to the challenges in the field of HIV/AIDS resistance.