Armenia to triple penalties for insult and defamation
The government and press have had a combative relationship since the coming to power of Nikol Pashinyan, himself a former journalist. New Armenian legislation that would impose crippling penalties for insult and defamation is coming under criticism from local and international press freedom advocates, who are urging the president not to sign it into law. The law would triple the existing penalties for “insult” and defamation to three million drams ($5,700) and six million ($11,400), respectively. Armenia’s parliament passed the legislation on March 24 on a 76-40 vote. The two opposition parties opposed the legislation
