A New Package of Draft Laws Fighting Cruelty Against Animals Has Been Adopted
Members of the “Civil Contract” faction of the National Assembly, Mery Galstyan and Arusyak Manavazyan, have introduced the “Responsible Attitude Towards Animals” and related draft laws. These drafts propose legal changes to regulate the process of recording and investigating cases of cruelty against animals, as well as introducing new legislative approaches to ensure the protection and well-being of animals.
Arsen Ayvazyan, Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee, reported that in 2024, 41 cases of animal cruelty had been recorded.
Of the 41 cases, 10 were closed, 3 were sent to court, and the investigation is ongoing for 28. One of the notable cases involved a high-profile incident in the Ararat region (related to the torture and killing of a cat). The case was sent to court with an indictment on January 7, 2025, – Arsen Ayvazyan detailed.
Mery Galstyan emphasized that both animal rights organizations and citizens have raised concerns about problems in the process of uncovering and investigating animal cruelty cases. She stated that cruelty towards animals is directly related to public safety.
It should be noted that since November 2021, all residents of Yerevan who keep dogs and cats at home or in the yard must register their animals. One of the main goals of this program is also to prevent the “habit” of abandoning animals on the streets.