The Armenian parliament approved a controversial government bill that grants law-enforcement authorities the discretion to refrain from pressing charges against individuals who confess to serious crimes, including murders.

The bill, which has faced criticism from opposition lawmakers, includes amendments to the Criminal Code that outline certain conditions under which suspects may avoid prosecution. These conditions include cooperating with investigators, admitting to committing serious or particularly serious crimes, and agreeing to compensate for the damage caused by their actions.

During the presentation of the bill to the National Assembly, Justice Minister Grigor Minasyan stated that its primary objective is to reduce the workload of law enforcement agencies and courts, as they are currently overwhelmed with their responsibilities.

Deputies from the main opposition Hayastan alliance dismissed the official justification for the proposed extrajudicial clemency, expressing concerns that it would essentially grant judicial powers to Armenia’s security apparatus.

“This clearly contradicts the fundamental principles of criminal justice,” a deputy Artsvik Minasian said.

Armenia’s national bar association, the Chamber of Advocates, also expressed concerns about the proposed amendments, stating that granting prosecutors and investigators unregulated discretionary powers to pardon felons could lead to an atmosphere of impunity and increase the risk of corruption. The association emphasized that such measures could cause significant harm to the efforts in combating crime and the justice system's integrity.