Government rejects bill to criminalize Armenian Genocide denial

The Armenian government has rejected a bill drafted by the opposition Hayastan faction that sought to criminalize the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

The cabinet issued a negative opinion at a meeting on Thursday, citing a lack of justification for the proposed changes.

The bill, introduced ahead of the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, called for fines (100–300 times the minimum wage), community service, or imprisonment of up to four years for those denying the genocide.

However, the government deemed the amendments to the Criminal Code unnecessary and inappropriate.