Severe penalties will be applied for attacks on healthcare workers in Armenia. This was announced by ruling faction MP Hasmik Hakobyan during the debates on the bill on amendments to the Criminal Code in Wednesday’s meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health Care.

In particular, the lawmakers propose to introduce a new Criminal Code article that provides for liability for obstructing the lawful professional activities of medical workers in Armenia.

“Discussions on this draft took place at a time when cases of attacks on medical workers and obstruction of their professional activities had become more frequent,” Hakobyan noted.

Also, she cited data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs as an argument. Thus, in 2023-2025, a total 27 cases of violence against medical workers were recorded in Armenia.

“The current legislation regulates such cases with general articles. But we consider it important to adopt a separate article that would reflect the specifics of these crimes and the need to protect healthcare workers,” the MP explained.

The bill stipulates that obstructing the lawful professional activities of a healthcare worker will be punishable in Armenia by a fine, community service, restriction of liberty, or short-term imprisonment.

But if obstructing the lawful professional activities of a healthcare worker is carried out through the threat of violence, the punishment may be increased to two years of imprisonment.

After a series of debates, aforementioned parliamentary committee approved this law initiative.