New Bill to Criminalize the Dissemination of Obvious False Information

The International Center for the Development of Parliamentarism has issued a statement saying: "Dear opposition forces, considering the significant damage caused to the integrity of state institutions, the dissemination of obvious false information through official communications and public statements by high-ranking officials now poses a sufficient public danger to be classified as a criminal act under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, thus enabling us to prevent further instances of this socially dangerous act.

In this regard, the International Center for the Development of Parliamentarism has developed a draft law that criminalizes the dissemination of obvious false information on matters of public interest by officials, framing it as a crime directed against the constitutional order and state security. We recommend that the parliamentary opposition consider the proposal to present this bill as a legislative initiative during the first regular session of the newly elected parliament, should the decision of the Central Electoral Commission regarding the "Election of the National Assembly and Distribution of Mandates" remain unchanged following the Constitutional Court's ruling."