Parliament votes down draft law on noise restrictions

The document proposed changing the period during which it is forbidden to disturb the peace and normal rest of citizens – from the current seven hours (23:00 to 06:00) to eight hours (23:00 to 07:00). On weekends and official public holidays, the quiet hours would be set from 22:00 to 09:00. During these periods, stricter administrative penalties for violating citizens’ peace were envisaged.

The draft also stipulated that construction and repair work in apartment buildings, if noise levels exceeded permissible limits, could only be carried out on working days between 09:00 and 18:00.

When put to a vote, deputies were divided: half of the parliamentarians – 64 – voted against the bill, 41 supported it, 17 abstained and 5 did not vote. The document has been returned to the responsible committee for revision and will be reconsidered at a future plenary session of the Legislative Chamber.