AMENDMENTS
TO THE DRAFT LAW OF APRIL 2008
on amending and supplementing the law
on conducting meetings, assemblies, rallies and demonstrations
of the Republic of Armenia
Submitted on 9 June 2008
Article 1: In Article 2 of the Republic of Armenia Law on Conducting Meetings, Assemblies, Rallies and Demonstrations (Law HO-63-N dated April 28, 2004, hereinafter “the Law”), add the following new paragraph after Paragraph 7:
“A spontaneous public event”: “a peaceful public event, which has the need to respond immediately to a specific phenomenon or happening and which has not been announced before that phenomenon or happening.
Article 2: In Article 9 of the Law:
1). Restate sub-paragraph 4(3) to read as follows:
“3. If, according to credible data, the conduct of the event creates imminent danger of violence or real threat to the national security, the public order, the health and morality of society, life and health of persons, the constitutional rights and freedoms of others or is aimed at forcibly overthrowing the constitutional order, or inflaming ethnic, racial, or religious hatred, or preaching violence or war, or may lead to mass disorder or cause a substantial material harm to the state, community, physical or legal persons.
In paragraph 2 of the same Article, add the word “justified” before the word “official”, remove the words “Such an opinion is also issued in the event of Paragraph 6 of this Article”.
2) At the end of Paragraph 4, add a new paragraph to read as follows:
“The decision to prohibit the conducting of a mass public event may be appealed to court. The Court shall be obliged to render a judgment within 24 hours. The court’s judgment on invalidating the decision to prohibit the conducting of a mass public event shall become effectively from the moment it is promulgated”.
3) Remove Paragraph 6.
4) After Paragraph 5, add a new paragraph to read as follows:
“6. A spontaneous mass public event may not last more than six hours. Any subsequent mass event conducted on the same phenomenon or happening may not be deemed spontaneous and must be conducted in accordance with the notification procedure”.
Article 3: In Article 10 (1) of the Law, add the words “With the exception of spontaneous public events,” before the word “Mass”.
Article 4: In Article 12 (8) of the Law add the words “within 72 hours of receiving the notification,” after the word “If”.
Article 5: In Article 14 of the Law:
1) Add a new sub-paragraph after sub-paragraph (1) of Paragraph 1, to read as follows:
“1.1) A spontaneous mass public event continues for more than six hours”.
2) At the end of the penultimate sentence of paragraph 3, part 3, after the words “reasonable time-frame” add the following words “by indicating the legal grounds for the request to terminate”.
Article 6: This Law shall enter into force on the day following its official promulgation.