State Duma Deputy Speaker: Armenian Genocide bill is sent to Government and Supreme Court of Russia VIDEO

In RUSARMINFO exclusive interview, Nikolay Levichev, Vice-Speaker of the Russian State Duma and Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of «A Just Russia» political party, has explained the reason to introduce in the State Duma the bill, criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide. He has also mentioned the possible terms and conditions of its adoption.

According to Nikolay Levichev, the bill was introduced in the State Duma on the eve of the visit of French President Francois Hollande to Moscow, during which were discussed possible joint actions of Russia and France against the disseminating terrorist threat.

The vice-speaker has mentioned that today, when Turkey is looking for support in the EU, as a result of its unprecedented actions in relation to Russia, Ankara needs to listen to the decision of the European Parliament of April 15, 2015 on declaring April 24 as a day of remembrance of victims of the Armenian Genocide, and to follow the recommendation to recognize the Armenian Genocide. According to Nikolay Levichev, otherwise, Turkey can’t count on the understanding, even taking into consideration its though pressure on Europe in relation to the factor of refugees.

Regarding the adoption of the bill in the State Duma of Russia, Nikolai Levichev has no illusions: «I am far from thinking that our bill will be adopted, what is called, momentously. Such laws can’t be adopted like this. We’ve deliberately come to this, knowing that a public debate will arise, not only within the walls of the State Duma.”

The bill on the Armenian Genocide is a “carbon copy” of the law of Nazism, adopted by the State Duma of Russia in 2014. According to Nikolay Levichev, the measures provided for the bill on the Armenian Genocide are identical to those in accordance with the law of Nazism. This should stop the debate about what is more serious — the negation of facts recognized through the Nuremberg Trials, or the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

Vice-Speaker of the State Duma has said that currently the bill is in the process of obtaining the conclusion of the Government and Supreme Court. The answer will be received in 30-days from the date of filing, which means that their position will become known before the New Year holidays.

The bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide is not related to the measures taken in relation to Turkey in response to its aggression: it is the logical link of the implemented initiatives in the year of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, — has noted Nikolay Levichev in his interview to RUSARMINFO.

Note: On November 25, the State Duma introduced a bill on responsibility for the denial of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. “A Just Russia” political party leader Sergey Mironov informed about this via Twitter on the same day. Under the bill, in the case of denying or approving the Armenian Genocide, one faces a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles or imprisonment for up to three years. If the crime is committed through the media, the penalty is proposed to increase to 500 thousand rubles, and the punishment of imprisonment — up to five years.