Armenian lawmakers on Wednesday voted in to adopt amendments to the country’s Civil Code, which will raise penalties for defamations and insults. The bill, which passed by a vote of 72-40 with three abstentions, could severely curtail the right to freedom of speech and expression in Armenia, which is already facing a major political crisis following the disastrous Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan.
The amendments raise the damages for defamation and insults from 2 million ($4165) and 1 million drams ($2082) to 6 million ($12,496) and 3 million drams ($6248), respectively. However, it has to be inked by Armenian President Armen Sarkisian in order to become law, and several media organizations have urged the leader to send the bill to the country’s Constitutional Court before signing it.
The move to amend the Civil Code comes amid a steep decline in Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s popularity. Armenia’s loss to Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh war was seen as a national humiliation by the Armenian population, as Yerevan had to cede control of a majority of its territories in Karabakh to Azerbaijan. Pashinyan, who was largely held responsible for the defeat, has been trying to save face ever since, amid increasing calls for his resignation, both from the general public as well as from within his own administration. The leader is also under a lot of pressure to bring back Armenian soldiers under the custody of Azerbaijani forces. A Human Rights Watch report has accused Azerbaijan of “torturing” Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) who were kidnapped during the conflict. Furthermore, the government has also been accused of using martial law—which was put in place in the country during the war with Baku in 2020—for its own political gain, and to forcefully hold on to power.
To that end, the parliament on Wednesday also voted on a measure to immediately lift martial law, which passed easily with 118 votes. The bill was introduced by the opposition bloc after an agreement with Pashinyan’s My Step party. During the session, the Pashinyan also announced that his parliamentary bloc planned on passing amendments that would alter Armenia’s Electoral Code from a mixed system to a purely proportional one before the parliamentary elections in June. Though opposition parties such as Bright Armenia and Prosperous Armenia have said that they are not in favour of changes to the Electoral Code before the summer polls, they have indicated that they will participate in the election nonetheless.
Armenia Adopts Controversial Amendments to Civil Code Curtailing Freedom of Expression
Amid widespread popular discontent against the ruling government, Armenia has now raised penalties for defamation and insults.
March 25, 2021
SOURCE: AFP