In Armenia, violent actions aimed at renouncing sovereignty, actions aimed at fully or partially limiting the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, and public calls will be criminally punished. The National Assembly adopted the bill on 3 May in the second reading and in its entirety.
Those who commit violent or restrictive actions aimed at renouncing sovereignty shall be punished with 10-15 years of imprisonment, while in the case of making public calls, the punishment shall range from an administrative fine to up to 3 years of imprisonment.
If calls containing violence or calls for violent actions are made publicly, through the media or by using information technologies, then the punishment may be 2-5 years.
For example, a publicly expressed opinion that one should renounce sovereignty because it is not needed by us and join country X is not a criminally punishable act, but if there is a call to surround one of the state institutions, take civil servants hostage and force them to take actions aimed at fully or partially renouncing sovereignty, that shall be considered a criminal offence.
The current Criminal Code established criminal liability only for overthrowing the constitutional order and inciting violence.
The Government of the Republic of Armenia approved the relevant bill on 29 December 2022.
