sentences:  The abolition of the anti-gay law along with the death penalty was among Armenia's pre-accession conditions to the Council of Europe in 2001.In December 2002, the Azgayin Zhoghov (National Assembly) approved the new penal code in which the anti-gay article was removed.On 1 August 2003, President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan ratified it, bringing to an end the decades of repression against gay men in Armenia.