Person to Be Punished for Calls for Renunciation of Sovereignty with Up to 3 Years in Prison

In Armenia, violent actions aimed at renouncing sovereignty, as well as actions that fully or partially restrict the sovereignty of the Republic, will be penalized criminally. Today, the National Assembly adopted the bill in its second reading and in full.

Those who engage in violent acts to renounce sovereignty or limit it will face penalties of 10-15 years, while public calls for such actions could lead to an administrative fine or up to 3 years of imprisonment. If calls for violence or violent actions are made publicly, through media or using information technologies, the punishment can range from 2-5 years.

For example, publicly stating that one should renounce sovereignty because it is unnecessary and join country X is not a prosecutable act, but calling for surrounding a state institution or taking public servants hostage to force them to take actions aimed at fully or partially renouncing sovereignty will be considered a criminal offense. The current criminal code previously only set penalties for undermining the constitutional order and inciting violence.