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Armenia’s main opposition Hayastan (Armenia) faction has introduced a bill that would criminalize all statements questioning the territorial integrity of the country.

Hayastan MP Aram Vardevanyan, one of the co-authors of the bill, says the bill seeks to criminalize any statement questioning the territorial integrity of Armenia or a part of it as well as public justification or propaganda of such statements.

He highlights the urgency of the new measure in the light of the 44-day war in Artsakh in 2020.

“In my opinion, this bill will be aimed at prosecuting persons outside the territory of Armenia and not allowing such statements made by them to go unanswered," he said.

Vardevanyan pointed to the statements made by the military and political leadership of Azerbaijan, alleging that Armenia’s Syunik Province, Lake Sevan and even the capital of Yerevan are “Azerbaijani lands”.

"The bill will also open up a good opportunity to prosecute those who make such statements even outside the territory of Armenia. This tool will allow us to issue arrest warrants against these persons even outside the country," he said.

Vardevanyan added that the bill would also apply to Armenian citizens.