YEREVAN. – Sexual crimes should be punished by forced castration, Armenian independent MP Victor Dallakyan said at the Parliament on Wednesday.

According to him, existing cases of pedophilia are alarming for Armenia. About hundred underage children suffered from sexual abuse in Armenia in 2000-2010, according to the court data.

“This is a top of the iceberg. Majority of parents do not turn to the court for obvious reasons. Besides, the judges use the opportunity of limiting responsibility of the accused by the fine amounting to AMD 100,000 ($270), the MP said. “Recently another type of crime was revealed, which is attack of young people on old women. I offer seriously to toughen the punishment, increase imprisonment terms and apply castration against these criminals.”

In response, Armenian Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan said that castration will hardly reduce numbers of crimes.

“Crimes can only be toughened. It is true that a number of EU states implement castration. However, we should first of all think on the environment where those people are brought up,” the Minister said.