Aravot.am asked Prosecutor General Arthur Davtian and the Minister of Justice Davit Harutyunyan – if I tell to a high-ranking state official conducting her professional official responsibilities the following: “If you were a boy, I would have punched you, look at this whelp, illiterate”, is any crime not present in that? Can I undisturbedly tell any given official such thing?
Let us remind you that the member of the Electoral Committee has told the aforementioned expressions to “Aravot” journalist insulting her, and the police do not lodge an appeal, they do not consider it a crime.
The prosecutor general reminded us that years ago insult and slander deeds were decriminalized: “These are not crimes, but civil offenses. The person who finds that s/he has been insulted should apply for a civil procedure to receive a damage compensation.”
The prosecutor general told that still for a limited number of people the insult of a person is considered a crime legally. The journalists are not included in that number. When we told that we have not even been given the sample of the decision to be able to lodge an appeal, the prosecutor general promised: “You can apply to start a civil procedure as an offense against your person. As regards not being given the decision, you will receive that decision today for sure.”
And Davit Harutyunyan replied: “I consider it an insult.” We asked – it is presupposed that the insult requires a punishment, is it not? Davit Harutyunyan answered: “It is a civil liability. Depending on the situation, depending on the threat being real or not, it can acquire other names as well.” David Harutyunyan stated that situations may occur worth criminal-legal assessments.
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
