Armenian Genocide denier's sentence to be announced March 9March 7, 2007 - 18:23 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The verdict on the case of Dogu Perincek, head of the leftist-nationalist Turkish Workers' Party, will be announced in Lausanne March 9. In the words of chairman of the Armenian-Swiss Union Sargis Shahinyan, the Turkish side was accompanied in the court by Prof. Norman Stone, Prof. Justin McCarty, Paul Leidenberg and Jean-Michel Thibaux, the latter requested Turkish citizenship after the adoption of the French bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial. The Armenian side was represented by Tessa Hoffman and Raymond Gevorgyan. Perincek's supporters tried to prove that "there was no Armenian Genocide and the Turkish government was unable to plan and perpetrate a genocide within several months." However the Armenian side refuted their statements by submitting documents. The court session transformed into a historical discussion. The conviction may become a precedent. However, it was not our goal. We wanted a condemnation for the violation of the Swiss law. The verdict to be announced on Friday will show the extent of importance of the issue for both sides," Shahinyan said. The prosecutor demanded a 6 months' imprisonment for Perincek, reports RFE/RL. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. Prosecutors to appeal Armenia ex-President’s acquittal Sargsyan was acquitted on Friday, May 31 more than four years after going on trial on corruption charges. |