Dear compatriots!

 

The package of draft laws of the Republic of Armenia “On making supplements to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Armenia” and “On making supplements to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia” came into force. According to the latter, articles envisaging 2 new crimes are included in the RA Criminal Code.

 

In particular, the infection with a new coronavirus (2019n-CoV) is also included in the Code under Art. 124.1 among the crimes directed against life and health.

 

Thus:

For infecting a person with a new coronavirus (2019n-CoV), a fine is envisaged in the amount of four-hundred-fold to eight-hundred-fold of the fixed minimum salary, or detention for up to 1 month, or imprisonment for up to 1 year.

 The same acts committed in relation to:

 

1) two or more people;

2) a minor;

3) a pregnant woman;

 

shall be punished by a fine from eight-hundred-fold to a thousand-fold of the fixed minimum salary, or by detntion from 2 to 3 months, or by imprisonment from 1 to 3 years.

 

The same act, entailing by negligence the death of a person, shall be punished by  deprivation of liberty for a term of 3 to 5 years.

 

Among the crimes against public health, Article 277.1 has been added to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, which concerns violation of the rules of isolation or self-isolation or other restrictions on the right to freedom of movement during the announced state of emergency.

 

According to the latter:

 

Violation of the rules of isolation or self-isolation or other restrictions on the right to freedom of movement during the announced state of emergency which, by negligence, resulted to the infection of a person, shall be punished by a fine from three-hundred-fold to five-hundred-fold of the fixed minimum salary or by detention for a maximum of one month with the deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or be engaged in certain activities for a maximum of 2 years or without it.

 

The same act, which by negligence caused serious harm to the health of a person or by negligence resulted to infection of two or more people, shall be punished by a fine in the amount of five-hundred-fold to seven-hundred-fold of the fixed minimum salary or by detention for a term of 1 to 3 months or by imprisonment for a maximum of 2 years with the deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or be engaged in certain activities for a maximum of 3 years or without it.

 

The same act, which, by negligence, resulted in the death of a person, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of 2 to 4 years with deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or be engaged in certain activities for a maximum of 3 years or without it.

 

In the sense of this article, isolation is the separation of citizens, including patients or the infected or who have come into contact with them at a certain place, provided for this with a view to prevent direct contact with other people and the spread of infection.

 

In the sense of this article, self-isolation is the separation of people, including patients or the infected, or those who have come into contact with them at their place of permanent residence or at another place at the discretion with a view to limit direct contact with other people and prevent the spread of infection.

 

Taking into account the fact that the World Health Organization has declared novel corona virus outbreak (2019n-CoV) as well as the fact that a state of emergency has been declared in the Republic of Armenia, the RA Prosecutor General's Office warns that law enforcement bodies will strictly carry out control over the rules and restrictions envisaged by decision 298 -Ն “On declaring a state of emergency in the Republic of Armenia”, adopted by the RA Government on March 16, 2020 and decisions adopted by the commandant with a view to prevent criminal acts provided for by the above supplements included in the RA Criminal Code, as well as find out such cases and give a criminal legal assessment.

 

At the same time, we consider it necessary to inform that under Point 13 of Part 1 of Art. 63 of the RA Criminal Code it is envisaged that the commission of a crime during the state of emergency is a circumstance aggravating liability and punishment. Thus in case of crimes committed in violation of the restrictions stipulated by the decision of the RA Government “On declaring a state of emergency in the Republic of Armenia”, to this circumstance will be given a corresponding assessment within the framework of consideration of the issue of establishing liability and punishment of a person.

 

We urge you to show wisdom, high civic consciousness, discipline and refrain from such actions that are full of consequences of criminal liability and can threaten individuals, especially health and life of members of vulnerable social groups, and jeopardize public health.