Last edited: February 14, 2005

Armenia

• Statute: Repealed. Article 116
• Penalty: 5 years.
• Restrictions: Applies only to anal intercourse between men.

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History

From the International Lesbian and Gay Association 

The legislation of Armenia still follows the corresponding Section 121 from the Former Soviet Union, which only specifically criminalized anal intercourse between men. Lesbian and non-penetrative gay sex between consenting adults was not explicitly mentioned in the law as being a criminal offense. 

The article of the penal code is 116, and the maximum penalty 5 years. There were 7 prosecutions in 1996 and 4 in 1997 under this law (Amnesty International 1999 Report on Armenia); and 4 in 1999 (Opinion of the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee of the Council of Europe on the accession of Armenia - Doc. 8756 - 6 June 2000).

On 28th June 2000 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe made repeal of Article 116 a condition of membership of the Council of Europe (see Council Of Europe Pressure Brings Progress For Lesbian, Gay And Bisexual Rights In Europe).

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News

• Bigots on Baghramian?: Parliament Members Continue Gay Debate - October 2004
• Armenia Removes Anti-Gay Laws From Criminal Code - January 10, 2003
• Armenia Decriminalizes Sex Between Men - January 9, 2003
• Armenia Removes the Anti-Gay Law from Country’s Criminal Code - January 7, 2003
• Armenian Activists Threaten to Out Politicians - December 12, 2002
• Armenia Pressured to Drop Anti-Gay Laws - March 12, 2002
• French Group Demands Armenia Abolish Anti-Gay Penal Code - February 26, 2002
• For Gay Armenian Refugee, Prayers for Asylum Finally Answered Armenian Refugee Joins Trend of Gays Granted Asylum in U.S. - August 12, 2001

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