The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg has ruled that Switzerland violated Dogu Perincek's right to freedom of speech.

Turkey, having intervened as a third party, welcomes the judgment.

“Based on the principles of democracy and law, we deem the judgment as a very strong signal against all efforts imposing the genocide allegation as the only and absolute truth along with attempts and practices which even forbid questioning it,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The judgment constitutes a significant legal gain from the point of democracy, freedom of expression and human rights and the policy that Turkey has been pursuing in recent years with patience and moderation on the events of 1915, the statement goes on to note.

According to the judgment, the ministry says, the events of 1915 is “a matter of legitimate debate. It is in no way possible to compare what happened in 1915 with the Holocaust.”

The judgment, according to the statement, is an important turning point as it provides a reply to the exploitation of history and law for political motives.