Armenian government opposes criminalisation of "genocide" denial

The Armenian government has issued a negative opinion on a draft law proposed by the opposition parliamentary faction “Armenia” that seeks to criminalise the denial of the Armenian “genocide”.

Earlier, secretary of the faction Artsvik Minasyan said that the project was introduced on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the “genocide” and concerns amendments to the Criminal Code, Caliber.Az reports with reference to Armenian media. 

The draft law includes amendments to the Criminal Code that would impose penalties, ranging from fines, public service from 150 to 250 hours, or imprisonment for a period of one month to four years.

This issue has become a topic of heated discussions and debates in the parliament. The ruling Civic Contract party also opposed it, citing an already existing article in the Criminal Code on the “denial of any genocide,” accusing the opposition of manipulation.

However, the “Armenia” faction insists that against the background of the authorities' decision to remove international recognition of the Armenian “genocide” from the foreign policy agenda, the draft is particularly relevant now.

Thus, the draft law will be submitted to the parliament for discussion with the negative opinion of the government.

By Sabina Mammadli