Armenian parliament rejects amendments to Criminal Code
The Armenian National Assembly voted down today a draft law proposing to make amendments to the Criminal Code.
Prior to the voting, Yelk faction MP Edmon Marukyan, the author of the bill, highlighted the new measure as a significant initiative, calling on his colleagues to back it.
He said the bill refers to the respect and protection of human rights, stressing it is not politically motivated and is a purely humanitarian act.
Tsarukyan faction MP Naira Zohrabyan, as well as Deputy Speaker of the parliament Eduard Sharmazanov also voiced support for the lawmaker’s initiative.
However, the bill was rejected with 48 votes for, with no votes against or abstention. It required at least 53 votes to be adopted.
Under the proposed changes, one day of pretrial detention would have been calculated as one and a half days, which would have reduced convicts’ time behind bars.