The Armenian National Assembly is currently debating a bill that would increase jail time for those convicted of “high treason” to twenty years or life imprisonment from the current maximum sentence of 10-15 years.

The bill, approved at the first hearing, was introduced by three Prosperous Armenia Party MPs.

The bill would also increase sentences for “espionage” from 8-15 years to 12-20.

“High treason”, according to Article 299 of Armenia’s Criminal Code is defined as:

Siding with the enemy, espionage, transfer of state secrets to a foreign state or foreign organization, or assisting in the implementation of hostile action committed by a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, against the self-government, territorial inviolability or external security of the Republic of Armenia, is punished with imprisonment for the term of 10 to 15 years, with or without property confiscation.