Armenian Government Rejects Bill to Toughen Punishment for Genocide Denial

A major proposal to toughen Armenia’s laws against denying the Armenian Genocide was recently rejected by the Armenian government, sparking intense debate across the country and among the Armenian diaspora. The bill, introduced by the opposition “Armenia” faction in Parliament, aimed to make any form of denial of the 1915 Armenian Genocide a serious crime — punishable by hefty fines, community service, or up to four years in prison.

However, at a Cabinet session, the government chose not to approve the draft. Officials argued that the proposed changes were “inexpedient” and not necessary, given that Armenia’s current laws already penalize genocide denial. But critics — including genocide scholars and human rights advocates — say the existing law is too weak and too vague to protect the truth of what happened to the Armenian people over a century ago.

The proposed amendment would have criminalized any form of denial or questioning of the Armenian Genocide — without needing to prove that it was tied to hate speech or incitement to violence. This is what sets it apart from the current law, which only punishes genocide denial if it is used to stir hatred or encourage violence. The opposition argued that the truth of the genocide should be protected on its own, not just when connected to other crimes.

If passed, the bill would have:

• Fined violators between 100 to 300 times the minimum monthly wage;

• Required 150 to 250 hours of community service;

• Or sentenced them to 1 month to 4 years in prison.

  
  

These penalties would have applied even to those who deny the genocide in a peaceful setting — for example, in writing, online posts, or public speeches.

This issue reached a boiling point in Parliament on April 22. What began as a routine session turned into a shouting match, then physical fights, as lawmakers from the ruling party and the opposition clashed — not only over legal language, but over national identity, history, and trauma.

Opposition parties, especially the “Hayastan” alliance, accused the ruling government of weakening Armenia’s position on the genocide by avoiding strong legal protections. On the other side, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan said that the opposition was misleading the public and turning a legal issue into political theater. In a statement on Telegram, he claimed that the existing law already criminalizes genocide denial, calling the opposition’s argument “manipulation.”

Many Armenians believe the bigger issue is not just legal — it’s political. This controversy came months after a speech by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Switzerland, which raised serious concerns among historians and survivors’ descendants.

Speaking in January, Pashinyan said Armenians must “understand what happened” in 1915 and “what led the world to recognize the genocide.” His comments were seen by many as suggesting that recognition of the genocide was not based solely on historical fact, but may have been politically motivated — especially by the Soviet Union. That suggestion struck a painful nerve.

Critics argue that the Prime Minister’s statement, whether intentional or not, casts doubt on the historical truth of the genocide and undermines Armenia’s decades-long efforts to gain international recognition and justice. Some fear this softening of language could be part of a broader strategy to improve relations with Turkey — a country that continues to deny the genocide and refuses to take accountability for the crimes of the Ottoman Empire.

For the Armenian people, the genocide is not just history — it is living memory. One and half million Armenians were killed or forcibly removed from their homes by the Ottoman Turkish government starting in 1915. It was a planned campaign of ethnic cleansing. Survivors scattered around the world, forming the global Armenian diaspora we see today.

To question or deny this atrocity is seen not just as ignorance, but as betrayal — especially when such denial comes from within Armenia’s own government.

Many Armenians see the recent rejection of the bill as a missed opportunity to take a stronger stand for truth and memory. Countries like France, Germany, and the United States not only recognize the Armenian Genocide, but have laws protecting that recognition from denial. In Germany, for example, denying the Holocaust is a criminal offense. Armenians are asking: Shouldn’t we do the same for our own people?

What the Law Says Today

Armenia’s current Criminal Code includes articles that punish incitement to genocide and crimes against humanity. According to Chapter 22:

• Article 133 punishes genocide with up to life imprisonment;

• Article 134 punishes public incitement to genocide with 6 to 20 years in prison;

• Article 136 mentions the public denial, justification, or trivialization of genocide or crimes against humanity — but only if it's based on race, ethnicity, or religion.

  
  

This legal structure leaves room for loopholes. For example, if someone denies the Armenian Genocide for supposed “academic” reasons or political strategy — without hateful intent — they may not be punished. The opposition wants to close that gap. The government, however, says the existing protections are enough.

Over 30 countries around the world now recognize the Armenian Genocide. But recognition alone is not the end of the story. Armenians continue to fight for justice, education, and the protection of their truth — especially at a time when regional threats are growing, and historical revisionism is on the rise.

When even Armenian officials appear to soften their language, or hesitate to support stronger protections, it sends a troubling message to the world — and to future generations.

This debate is not just about law. It’s about who we are as a people. Do we protect the memory of those lost in 1915? Do we ensure that their stories are never questioned again? Do we stand up — not just to foreign denial, but to internal silence?

That is the challenge Armenia faces today. And it’s a choice the nation must make, not only in Parliament, but in every classroom, courtroom, and conversation.

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