Armenian opposition pushes new Genocide denial bill

PanARMENIAN.Net - The opposition Armenia faction has introduced a bill to criminalize denial of the Armenian Genocide. MP Kristine Vardanyan accuses the ruling Civil Contract party of misleading the public by claiming that such legislation already exists.

In a Facebook post, Vardanyan stated: “Now the Civil Contract is again misleading the public by asserting that a law criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide already exists, and that our proposed bill is therefore ‘pointless.’ This is a distortion of facts.”

She explained that while Article 136 of Armenia’s Criminal Code does exist, it only applies if the denial incites hatred, discrimination, or violence.

“In other words, if someone merely denies the Armenian Genocide or casts doubt on its reality—without intending to incite—the current law doesn’t apply,” Vardanyan wrote.

“For example, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statements are not covered by current legislation. But under the amendment proposed by the Armenia faction, such statements would be subject to criminal prosecution,” she added.

Vardanyan emphasized that the fundamental difference in their proposal is that it treats genocide denial and trivialization as criminal acts in themselves, regardless of accompanying hateful intent.

The bill aims to introduce explicit criminal liability for denying the Armenian Genocide. In response, National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan stated in a press briefing that the Criminal Code already contains relevant provisions.