The Armenian Genocide bill was approved in the first reading of the British House of Commons Tuesday, November 9, the Armenian National Committee of United Kingdom reports.

"The first reading of the Armenian Genocide Bill went through without objections. The next reading will take place on March 18 2022," ANC UK said.

MP Tim Loughton put forward in the House of Commons the bill that would require the UK Government to formally recognize the Genocide of the Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire and to establish an annual commemoration to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Loughton, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Armenia, told lawmakers on Tuesday that despite the fact that no fewer than 31 countries now officially recognize the Armenian Genocide, the UK has still “failed to follow suit”.

"Refusing to recognize the Armenian Genocide risk conveying a dangerous message of impunity that a crime unpunished is a crime encouraged or downplayed," he said

On April 24, 1915, a large group of Armenian intellectuals was rounded up and assassinated in Constantinople by the Ottoman government. On April 24, 2021, Armenians worldwide commemorated the 106th anniversary of the Genocide which continued until 1923. Some three dozen countries, hundreds of local government bodies and international organizations have so far recognized the killings of 1.5 million Armenians as Genocide. Turkey denies to this day.