The protocol on the abolition of the death penalty once and for all was signed by all 46 members of the Council of Europe, but it entered into force in only 44 of them; Armenia and Azerbaijan have not ratified it yet. Deputy Minister of Justice Karen Karapetyan announced this at Monday’s session of the National Assembly of Armenia, during the debates on the ratification of the convention on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

It is, in particular, about Protocol No. 13—on the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances. According to the deputy justice minister, the ratification of this protocol is consistent with Armenia's position.

"The republic [of Armenia] is in favor of completely abolishing the death penalty. However, it remains one of the most important unfulfilled international obligations of the country," said Karapetyan.

According to him, this topic is regularly raised in the PACE agenda. As the representative of the government noted, Armenia has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights’ Protocol No. 6, according to which the death penalty is limited to the period of military actions or the immediate threat thereof.

"And [Protocol] No. 13 considers the final step to abolish all forms of capital punishment," added the Armenian deputy minister of justice.

This ratification will be assessed by Armenia as an important positive progress in terms of the protection of human rights, the Armenian official noted.

Earlier, the respective bill was sent to the Constitutional Court of Armenia, which did not find any contradiction in it with the constitution of the country.