The debates on the bill on the agenda of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia regarding Criminal Code amendments, which provide for the criminalization of Armenian Genocide denial in Armenia, will be held during the next four-day sittings, speaker Alen Simonyan announced at the NA session Monday.

Simonyan recalled, however, that the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs had not approved this law initiative.

Under the current Armenian legislation, the denial of the Armenian Genocide is criminalized in Armenia only if this act was committed with the aim of inciting hatred or violence on the basis of race or nationality.

But the opposition "Armenia" Faction of the NA proposes to tighten accountability in a number of points. Thus, according to this draft, the denial, mitigation, confirmation, or justification of the Armenian Genocide or similar crimes shall be punishable in Armenia by a fine, community service, or up to 4 years of imprisonment.

Also, if this act was committed with the aim of inciting hatred, discrimination or violence on the basis of racial, national or religious affiliation, then a term of imprisonment of 4 to 8 years shall be imposed.

But if it was committed through the use of the media, information technology or official power, then a more severe punishment shall be applied: imprisonment for a term of 10 to 15 years and deprivation of the right to hold certain offices in Armenia for a term of up to 5 years.