YEREVAN. - Any law can be turned into a lever for pressing, Armenian Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Karen Andreasyan told journalists Monday as he commented on journalists’ discontent with recent amendments to the Civil Code of Armenia.

The amendments provide for fine for libel instead of prosecution.

Andreasyan also pointed out a much lower number of cases of violence against journalists since the amendments were approved. Amendments save journalists from prison and hospital.

“The purpose of the law is not making journalists bankrupt,” Andreasyan said.

Any law can be abused, but the most important thing is inadmissibility of libel and disparagement, he added.