Armenia`s human rights defender applies to CC over sixfold increase  in taxation of lawyers

ArmInfo. Armenian Ombudsman Anahit Manasyan appealed to the Constitutional Court in connection with the sixfold increase in taxation of lawyers' activities.

As ArmInfo was informed by the press service of the Chamber of  Advocates of Armenia, the office of the Human Rights Defender  notified the Chamber about this on November 18.

It is noted that on November 1, 2024, the Human Rights Defender filed  an application with the RA Constitutional Court to review the  constitutionality of the draft law "On Amendments to the Tax Code of  the Republic of Armenia", adopted by the RA National Assembly on June  12, 2024. 

"The Armenian Ombudsman also reported that the application filed with  the Constitutional Court also included the positions presented by the  Chamber of Advocates regarding the inconsistency of the problematic  law with Articles 29, 60, 61, 64, 73 and 78 of the country's  Constitution," the Chamber of Advocates informed. It is also noted  that on July 29, 2024, the Chamber of Advocates applied to the Human  Rights Defender on this issue, presenting problematic norms  regulating the law, which contradict the RA Constitution and the  provisions of the chapter defining the fundamental rights and  freedoms of man and citizen.

In connection with the amendments initiated by the government, which  were adopted by the country's parliament, the taxation of legal  activity will increase from the current 5% to more than 30%, plus an  additional burden on accounting: previously there was accounting from  turnover, and now it will be necessary to also keep track of  expenses, which, in turn, will lead to additional costs. Lawyers  criticized this initiative of the authorities, noting that this will  increase the cost of legal services for citizens several times and  will lead to a situation where a certain segment of the population  will simply be deprived of the opportunity to use legal services.