Domestic Violence in Moldova - The Advocates for Human Rights
Domestic Violence in Moldova - The Advocates for Human Rights
Domestic Violence in Moldova - The Advocates for Human Rights
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violent acts that result <strong>in</strong> physical pa<strong>in</strong>, <strong>in</strong>tentionally hitt<strong>in</strong>g or beat<strong>in</strong>g, or systematicbeat<strong>in</strong>g). 167 Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code Article 222 168 prohibits hooliganism, disruptive behavior thatviolates public order. It is used to punish family quarrels, particularly those that <strong>in</strong>volvebehavior such as swear<strong>in</strong>g, throw<strong>in</strong>g and break<strong>in</strong>g furniture, or attempt<strong>in</strong>g to beat or kicksomeone. 169Armenia’s Adm<strong>in</strong>istrative Code is also frequently applied <strong>in</strong> cases of domesticviolence. <strong>The</strong> article most often applied is Article 172 (m<strong>in</strong>or hooliganism). 170Adm<strong>in</strong>istrative <strong>in</strong>fractions are considered less serious than crim<strong>in</strong>al violations and are notpassed on to higher-level <strong>in</strong>vestigators. <strong>The</strong>y are processed more expeditiously thancrim<strong>in</strong>al cases and carry a lesser penalty. <strong>The</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al decision to deal with an <strong>in</strong>cidentas an adm<strong>in</strong>istrative offense is made at the police level. 171<strong>The</strong> Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code <strong>in</strong>cludes several other levels of assault that are less frequentlyapplied to domestic violence cases. <strong>The</strong>se <strong>in</strong>clude Article 105 (<strong>in</strong>fliction of serious167 Article 110. Beat<strong>in</strong>g and torture(1) Deliberate strik<strong>in</strong>g or beat<strong>in</strong>g as well as other violent acts that result <strong>in</strong> physical pa<strong>in</strong> are punishableby correctional work <strong>for</strong> a period of up to one year or by f<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> the amount of ten to twenty times theestablished m<strong>in</strong>imum wage or by public censure or imposition of measures of public coercion.(2) Systematic beat<strong>in</strong>g or other acts with the nature of torture, if they do not result <strong>in</strong> the consequences<strong>in</strong>dicated <strong>in</strong> Articles 105 and 106 of this Code, are punishable by imprisonment <strong>for</strong> a period of up to fouryears.168Article 222. HooliganismHooliganism, that is, <strong>in</strong>tentional actions that constitute gross violations of public order and express anobviously disrespectful attitude towards society, is to be punished by imprisonment <strong>for</strong> a period of up toone year or by correctional work <strong>for</strong> the same period or by f<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> the amount of twenty to thirty times theestablished m<strong>in</strong>imal wage.Malicious hooliganism, that is, acts set <strong>for</strong>th <strong>in</strong> paragraph 1 characterized by exceptional cynicism orparticularly disrespectful behavior or committed <strong>in</strong> connection with the per<strong>for</strong>mance by the victim of hisofficial or public duty, as well as committed by a person previously convicted <strong>for</strong> hooliganism, is to bepunished by imprisonment <strong>for</strong> a period of one to five years.<strong>The</strong> acts set <strong>for</strong>th <strong>in</strong> paragraphs 1 and 2 of the present article, committed by us<strong>in</strong>g fire-arms or knifesor other weapons, or result<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> bodily harm, are to be punished by imprisonment <strong>for</strong> a period of three toseven years.169 Review of files, February 16, 2000 (Yerevan).170 Article 172. M<strong>in</strong>or HooliganismM<strong>in</strong>or hooliganism, that is, swear<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> public, offensive accost<strong>in</strong>g of other people, as well as otheracts <strong>in</strong> violation of public order and citizens’ security, is punishable by f<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> the amount of one and a halfto three times the m<strong>in</strong>imum established wage or by correctional work <strong>for</strong> a period of one to two months orby adm<strong>in</strong>istrative detention <strong>for</strong> up to 15 days.171 Interview, February 22, 2000 (police chief, Yerevan).M<strong>in</strong>nesota <strong>Advocates</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong>, <strong>Domestic</strong> <strong>Violence</strong> <strong>in</strong> Armenia, December 2000 30