Armenian MP proposes exempting domestic violence victims from court  fees 

ArmInfo.  Zaruhi Batoyan, a member of the National Assembly of Armenia from the ruling Civil Contract faction, proposes exempting individuals subjected to  domestic violence from paying court fees. The National Assembly  Committee on State and Legal Affairs approved the bill submitted by  the member of parliament at its February 5 meeting.

According to Batoyan, the exemption from court fees will apply to  individuals filing appeals and cassation complaints against court  verdicts overturning warnings or decisions requiring urgent  intervention, as well as in matters related to divorce, the exercise  of parental rights, determination of paternity, and the restriction  or termination of parental rights. "Currently, plaintiffs applying to  court for protective orders under the Law on the Prevention of  Domestic and Family Violence and the Protection of Victims of  Domestic and Family Violence are exempt from paying the state fee.

Meanwhile, as experience shows, perpetrators of domestic violence  appeal the protective measures applied by the police-warnings and  urgent intervention orders-through administrative proceedings.  Victims of violence, in turn, are forced to appeal administrative  court decisions without preferential terms for paying the state fee.  Thus, victims of violence, already in a difficult psychological and  social situation, find themselves doubly disadvantaged and  vulnerable. Taking into account the above and the proposals of public  organizations in this area, I have introduced a draft amendment to  the Law on State Fees to establish additional benefits for victims of  violence," noted Zaruhi Batoyan.