French Constitutional Council Member: Armenian Genocide Has Never Been the Subject of A Court Decision

Viktoria Dementeva; Constitutional Council of France considers that the law criminalizing denial of the Armenian genocide contradicts the country's Constitution, as it restricts discussions among historians," member of the Constitutional Council of France Guy Canivet told APA. He said memorial laws were passed several times in the history of France, these laws determine how to speak and think about painful events faced by peoples and communities in France.

“Such a law has been adopted on the Jewish genocide. This law has not been examined by the Constitutional Council, because no one filed a complaint against the document. The Constitutional Council rejected the law passed by the French Parliament envisaging minor criminal liability for written denial of Armenian genocide, as it contradicted the principle of freedom of expression in the Constitution. We thought why free public discussion of a historical fact should be banned. It restricts debates among historians," he said.

Guy Canivet also touched on the difference between the Jewish genocide and the so-called "Armenian genocide" claims. He said the Jewish genocide is a historical fact recognised by the court and is reflected in the decision of Nuremberg court.

“We have determined that the Armenian genocide has never been the subject of a court decision, nor has been investigated by a local or international court. It does not mean that if a court hearing was not held, such a fact did not happen. But we have reviewed the issue and come to a conclusion...