Armenian parliament passes bill to criminalize animal abuse
The Armenian National Assembly adopted in the second reading a bill seeking to criminalize animal cruelty.
Lawmakers voted 99 to 4 to pass the bill at a regular session on Wednesday.
The draft law was authored by Prosperous Armenia MPs Naira Zohrabyan, Arman Abovyan, Eduard Babayan, Shake Isayan and Vahe Enfiajyan.
The new measure envisages a fine of up to 300-fold the minimum salary or a prison term of 1-3 months for maltreatment of pets and stray animals, including mutilation, dismemberment, poisoning, testing, amputation, skinning, throwing animals down from heights and organizing and conducting animal blood sports.
The same offenses committed by a group of persons in a prior agreement and with particular cruelty are punishable by a fine of 300-500-fold the minimum wage or a prison term of 1-3 years.