YEREVAN. – Armenia welcomes Switzerland’s decision to petition that the Dogu Perincek case be submitted for a review by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).      

Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Secretary Tigran Balayan told the aforesaid to ArmInfo news agency. 

“Consistency in the fight against the denialism of the crime of genocide has an important role in the prevention of new crimes against humanity,” Balayan added.   

The Swiss government decided to appeal the ECtHR judgment on the Perincek case. Switzerland will request that the ECtHR forward the case to the Grand Chamber by March 17.

On December 17, 2013, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of Armenian Genocide-denying Turkish politician Dogu Perincek’s lawsuit that was filed against Switzerland. The said judgment by the ECtHR was made on the grounds of freedom of speech. In 2008, a Swiss court had convicted Perincek for denying the Armenian Genocide. Dogu Perincek is Chairman of the socialist Workers’ Party of Turkey. In addition, he heads the Talat Pasha organization, which actively fights against the Armenian Genocide’s recognition in Europe.