YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The bill envisaging the criminalization of animal abuse has been adopted at first hearing in parliament.

The bill is authored by opposition MP Naira Zohrabyan from the Prosperous Armenia (BHK) party.

The law gives a detailed definition of what “cruel treatment against animals” is. The law will also cover the organization of animal fights, as well as illicit animal testing and other actions.

Premeditated animal abuse committed against two or more animals in the presence of a minor will be punishable by a fine of 300-500 times the minimum wage or 1-3 years imprisonment.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan