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Lawyer Arsen Babayan, a representative of the opposition I’m Honored bloc, deplored the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code of Armenia, which call for criminalization of insults.

“I have never publicly sworn at any official, but by criminalizing swearing, you force me to swear constantly,” he wrote on Facebook on Friday.

“The criminalization of swearing at a government official is directly related to a secret agreement that is set to be signed in the near future. As soon as this law comes into force, the authorities will make the agreement public,” the lawyer said.

“You have already sworn at yourselves and deserve the worst swear words. Our public swearing is meaningless,” he added.

At a special sitting on Friday, the parliament discussed a package of bills submitted by pro-government MPs Vladimir Karapetyan, Anna Karapetyan, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Arpine Davoyan, Gevorg Papoyan, Vahagn Hovakimyan, Narek Zeynalyan and Lusine Badalyan on making amendments to Armenia’s Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code.

It is proposed to add new Article 137 to the Criminal Code, which would make insulting a person, including using foul language and hurting someone’s dignity in any other impudent way, a crime.

The parliament passed the package of bills in the first reading.