ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTED BILL ON MEETINGS AND RALLIES

Today after the third final reading the Armenian parliament adopted the bill “On meetings, rallies, marches and demonstrations”. In the words of the Armenian minister of Justice David Harutyunian, who had presented the document, the parliamentarians completed the bill on the basis of the OSCE proposals. In part, the bill strictly limits the subjectivity of the power and court bodies for sanctioning such measures. In case the representatives of the state structures illegally hinder mass actions, administrative or criminal proceedings can be initiated against them. The terms of providing permissions for the actions as well as for appeals against the court’s decision have been shortened. Besides the plenipotentiary bodies should provide alternative time or place for the actions planned. The bill taboos to hold mass meetings at the distance of 150 meters from the constructions of state and strategic importance as well as near community facilities. To note, the Armenian opposition stated the project as “repressive” as the adoption of it by the parliament became one of the reasons for breaking off the dialogue with the authorities on normalization of the internal political situation.