Data reported by police are not disaggregated by bias motivation.
On 1 July 2022, a new Criminal Code – including amendments to the hate crime provisions – entered into force following its adoption by the Parliament of the Republic of Armenia on 5 May 2021. The new Criminal Code includes an extended list of protected characteristics under both the general penalty enhancement provision (Aggravating circumstances for liability and punishment under Article 71) and the specific penalty enhancement provisions for a number of substantive offences, including murder, severe harm, moderate harm, minor harm, kidnapping, illegal deprivation of liberty, mental abuse, physical abuse, and damage to property. The following protected characteristics are now covered by the amended hate crime provisions: racial, national, ethnic or social origin, religion, political or other views, or other personal and social circumstances.
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published relevant recommendations in its "Final report on Armenia adopted on 29 March 2023 by ECRI at its 91st plenary meeting (28-30 March 2023)".
ODIHR recognizes Armenia's efforts to enact hate crime legislation that is more comprehensive and to build the capacities of police, investigators, and prosecutors in responding to hate crimes. However, based on the available information, it observes that the law enforcement agencies of Armenia do not record the biased motivations of hate crimes. In addition, ODIHR observes that Armenia would benefit from strengthening collaboration with and facilitating the work of civil society on hate crimes, including on victim support.
ODIHR recalls that in the Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, OSCE participating States committed to promptly investigate hate crimes and ensure that the motives of those convicted of hate crimes are acknowledged. To that end, law enforcement agencies must first record the bias motivation of hate crimes.
In Ministerial Council Decisions 9/09 and 13/06, OSCE participating States committed to take a proactive and inclusive approach towards civil society, which plays a key role in addressing hate crimes comprehensively, and to reach out to and provide assistance to hate crime victims and victimized communities. ODIHR stands ready to support Armenia in meeting these commitments through its comprehensive resources and tailored assistance in the area of hate crime recording and data collection, as well as through further resources and assistance addressing effective co-operation between state authorities and civil society on hate crime.
🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.
🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.