BREACH OF CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER DOES NOT MEAN USURPATION OF POWER

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The Working Group created to draft the bill on making amendments and additions to articles 225 and 300 of the RA Criminal Code held its second session today headed by Head of the NA standing committee for state/legal issues David Harutyunyan.

Head of the Working Group David Harutyunyan presented the proposals made by him and NA Deputy Artsvik Minasyan on making amendments and additions to articles 225 and 300 of the RA Criminal Code connected to the articles on usurpation of power, breach of constitutional order, violation of territorial integrity, usurpation of state authority and public calls for violation of territorial integrity, compelling the President, the National Assembly, the government and the Constitutional Court to take actions, riots, organizing and implementing public events by breaking the law.

Mr. Harutyunyan presented the international legislation regarding articles on constitutional order and usurpation of power. Harutyunyan proposes to separate the concept of “usurpation of power” from “breach of constitutional order”. According to him, breach of constitutional order does not always mean usurpation of power. The head of the working group suggests differentiating between “seizure of power” and “keeping power” in the article entitled “Usurpation of power”.

NA Deputy Artsvik Minasyan proposes to reject the expression usurpation of state power. He also touched upon the articles regarding keeping power by force and the attempt to seize power.

Experts and members of the working group and the ad hoc committee for investigating the events of March 1-2 and their motives presented their comments and proposals for the amendments to be made in the articles in question.