The National Assembly has passed the draft criminalizing animal abuse submitted by MP Naira Zohrabyan with 74 for, 11 against and 17 abstentions.

A fine from 100 up to 300 times the minimum wage may be imposed for the maltreatment of a pet or a homeless animal (mutilating, fragmenting, poisoning, testing, amputation, skinning, throwing down from the height, organizing and conducting battles), or detention from 1 to3 months or imprisonment for up to 1 year.

The same act committed by a group of individuals with the prior consent and particular cruelty, is punishable by fine from 300 to 500 times of a minimum wage or by imprisonment for the term of 1-3 years.

The Draft also defines the pets. They are pets kept at home. Homeless are the animals that are not wild and have no possessors or masters.