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The Armenian National Assembly unanimously adopted in the second reading on Tuesday a draft law proposing stricter punishment for suicides in the army. 

The measure passed by a vote of 120-0.

The bill is authored by Prosperous Armenia opposition faction lawmakers Naira Zohrabyan, Vahe Enfiajyan, Shake Isayan and Arman Abovyan.

Speaking ahead of the vote, MP Zohrabyan pointed to the unfortunate statistics according to which more Armenian soldiers commit suicide or die during the military service than get killed in action.

“The bill is aimed at toughening penalties for diving soldiers to commit suicide punished by up to three years in prison under the current legislation,” she said.

The new measure seeks punishment between four and eight years for those who drive soldiers to commit suicide or suicide attempt by hazing.

In addition, the bill envisages up to 10 years in prison for committing this crime by a group of persons, officers, commanders or subordinates against the same person periodically and up to 12 years in prison for those who commit this crime during wartime.