Chief Prosecutor proposes allowing death penalty in case of treason

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan proposed to make changes to the country's Constitution, which would allow death penalty in case of treason.

Davtyan's statement, published on the website of the Prosecutor General's Office, mentions the need to strengthen the fight against treason and tighten punitive policies, especially against the backdrop of existing security challenges in the region.

"The study of criminal proceedings launched on cases of alleged treason during and after the 44-day war in Artsakh indicates frequent cases of treason, recruitment and involvement of Armenian citizens in the agent networks of enemy states," the Prosecutor General said.

According to him, there is a need to apply the most severe punishment, including death penalty, against persons who have committed treason.

"The prosecutor's office studied the scope of Armenia's international obligations in this area and found that the republic does not have a direct international legal obligation to establish an absolute ban on the death penalty," Davtyan said.

Death penalty has not been completely abolished in Armenia: instead, a de facto moratorium on the execution of a death sentence is in place, which is based on the constitutional right of the president to decide on a pardon. According to official data, no execution has been carried out in Armenia since 1991.

The Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia allows the death penalty for such types of crimes as treason, espionage, terrorist attacks, crimes against the state, banditry and a number of others.