The head of Hay Dat French office cited Turkish pressure and underhand intrigues behind the French Constitutional Council’s ruling that the bill punishing Armenian Genocide denial is unconstitutional.

As Hrach Varzhapetian told a PanARMENIAN.Net, a number of Turkish and Azeri media reported that the bill was ruled as unconstitutional before the official announcement, which proves the decision was pre-planned. According to the politician, some French media outlets raised the issue, questioning the impartiality of some of the Council members.

“Some of the members of the Council are known to have business and other ties with Turkish circles,” the politician said.

Varzhapetian further pledged to raise the issue during the meetings with the Armenian community. “It’s time to call a spade a spade,” he said.

The French Constitutional Council ruled that a bill recently adopted by the French Senate making it a crime to deny the Armenian Genocide was anti-constitutional.

In a statement the Council said the bill adopted by parliament on January 23 represented an “unconstitutional breach of the practice of freedom of expression and communication.”

Turkey reacted furiously when the Senate approved the law. Ankara halted political and military cooperation with France and was threatening to cut off economic and cultural ties if the law took effect.