HRD challenges fresh anti-defamation law with Armenia's top courtOctober 14, 2021 - 11:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan has filed an application with the Constitutional Court of Armenia to challenge the country's fresh anti-defamation law. Tatoyan took the matter to the top court on Wednesday, October 13 and explained that the article considers insulting a person or their dignity in an extremely indecent way as a "serious insult", and gets complicated even more in later chapters. According to him, the article is full of vague wording, lacks legal specificity, and was adopted with gross procedural errors. "I would like to emphasize that hate speech, any speech against dignity and opposing freedom of speech is reprehensible, such unsound phenomena should not take place in our society," Tatoyan wrote. "But this does not mean that the state, instead of pursuing a systematic policy aimed at regulating this sensitive area, should immediately start using articles with vague wording and thus complicate the situation even more. Any method must be a necessary and useful one to achieve the legitimate goal set by the state." Authorities in Armenia are currently investigating a case against a social media user for insulting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a comment under a photo featuring the PM. Police say the alleged perpetrator has violated Article 137.1 of the country’s Criminal Code. The offense is punishable by a fine in the amount of AMD 3,000,000 ($6,000) or a three-month prison term. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. |