February 8, 2012 - 13:09 AMT
Swiss lawyer: Bağış is likely to be found guilty of a crime

International law professor at Geneva International Research Institute Eric Wyler answered a question by Haberturk agency regarding Turkey's EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bağış’ remarks, claiming that “there was no Armenian Genocide.”

“Bağış ran risks uttering the words. He is likely to be convicted if a criminal case is instigated,” Prof. Wyler said.

Earlier, a Swiss prosecutor has launched a probe into remarks by Turkey’s chief EU negotiator Bağış, who said in Davos that "the Armenian Genocide doesn't exist."

Zurich public prosecutor Christine Braunschweig confirmed the probe and told Doğan news agency that they were looking into whether or not Bağış had said the words.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. Expected to be signed into law by President 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.