Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis issued a protest against French Senate’s adoption of the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial, the country’s parliament vice speaker Bahar Muradova said.

“Address has been issued at a parliamentary level to prevent passage of the draft law; moreover, activity is currently being promoted. Despite all this, the bill passed the Senate. However, we will not give up efforts and will take appropriate steps jointly with Turkey,” SalamNews quoted Muradova as saying at a press conference summarizing the outcomes of parliament’s activity in 2011.

The parliament vice speaker further noted that “every step against Turkey is aimed against Azerbaijan as well.”

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. To be signed into law within 14 days, the bill will impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.