The Senate of France adopted a bill of criminal prosecution for denial of genocide of the Armenians

The Senate of France adopted a bill stipulating criminalization of denial of the genocides acknowledged by the laws of France, including the one of genocide of the Armenians.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that on December, 22, 2011, the Lower Chamber of the French Parliament approved the bill of criminal penalty for denial of genocide of the Armenians. On January, 6, President of France Nicolas Sarkozy approved this decision and referred the document for adoption to the Senate. On January, 18, Constitutional Committee of the Senate of France voted down the bill of criminal liability for denial of genocide of the Armenians considering its text unacceptable.

On January, 23, the Senators of France voted against the decision of Constitutional Committee which declined the bill of liability for denial of genocide of the Armenians, IA "Novosti-Armenia" reports.

Then the Senate of France divided a bill of criminalization of denial genocides. The debates lasted over seven hours and a result the senators adopted the bill of criminalization of denial of genocide of the Armenians in Ottoman Empire by a majority vote, "Interfax" reports.

127 deputies voted for the bill and 86 against it. All in all 213 senators took part in the voting, PanARMENIAN.Net reports.

The bill stipulates a penalty in from of one year of custody and a fine of 45 thousand euros for denial of genocide.

Prime Minister of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan earlier declared that he would refuse visiting France in case of adoption of the bill on genocide of the Armenians by the Senate of the country. In Erdogan's opinion, this French initiative contradicts freedom of speech valued in Europe so high, "ITAR-TASS" reports.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" informed that on January, 21, a meeting was held in Paris where the Turks called for the Senate of France to refuse support of the law of criminal punishment for denial of genocide of the Armenians in Ottoman Empire. On the same day civil activists held an action of protest in front of the Embassy of France in Baku.

Besides, on January, 21 the French Senate received two letters. In the first one "Committee for Coordination of French-Turkish associations" declared that adoption of such a law would be "immoral" and just the "use of the historical tragedy for political purposes". In an open letter on behalf of Armenian Community "Coordination Council of Armenian organizations of France" called for the senators to respect the victims of genocide of the Armenians.