In Armenia use of criminal prosecution system for violations with  excisable goods will be decriminalized

ArmInfo.The use of a system of criminal prosecution for violations with excisable goods in Armenia will be decriminalized. The parliament of the country of  Armenia at the meeting on September 16 in the first reading approved  the amendments to the Criminal Code, the Code of Administrative  Offenses and the Tax Code.

Presenting the draft amendments, RA Deputy Minister of Economy Naira  Margaryan emphasized that at present, in the absence of excise  stamps, expired excises or excises that can be reused, various  measures are applied, including criminal prosecution. Now it is  proposed to exclude the possibility of criminal prosecution, limiting  itself only to the application of administrative and tax measures.

With a minimum violation, the amount of penalties will be reduced;  with a maximum violation, on the contrary, it will be increased.  Currently, as Naira Margaryan noted, when determining the amount of  penalties for goods worth not more than 50 thousand drams, an  administrative fine of 300 thousand drams and a fine of 500 thousand  drams established by the Tax Code are applied. Now it is proposed to  establish an administrative fine in the amount of 70 thousand drams  while maintaining the previous rates stipulated by the Tax Code. If  the cost of the goods exceeds 50 thousand drams, but not more than  200 thousand drams, sanctions are currently applied in the form of an  administrative fine in the amount of 1 million drams and the same  amount under the Tax Code. Now it is proposed to introduce an  administrative fine in the amount of 300 thousand drams and 1.5  million drams through the Tax Code. 

Thus, as Naira Margaryan reported, instead of 2 million drams, the  violating entities will have to pay 1.8 million drams. With the cost  of goods over AMD 200 thousand, penalties will be toughened.  Currently, the amount of penalties is 1 million drams under the Code  of Administrative Offenses and the same amount through the Tax Code.  Now the penalty rates will be 1.2 million and 1.5 million drams,  respectively. Thus, fined entities will have to pay 2.7 million drams  instead of 2 million drams. The purpose of the legislative package is  to decriminalize offenses of low public danger in the field of  economic activity.