Protest action held in front of French embassy in Baku

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 22 / Trend E. Mehdiyev / The International Centre for Diaspora and Azerbaijani society of war veterans have today held a rally in front of the French embassy in Baku as a sign of protest against the discussion of the bill criminalizing the denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide" in the French Senate. The participants chanted "France! Be fair," "Down with Sarkozy," "Long live Turkey". About 100 people participated in the protest action. They adopted a resolution condemning the actions of the French Senate, and presented it to the representative of the embassy. Members of the French president's party, the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) which have the parliamentary majority, presented a bill to the legislative committee of the National Assembly earlier this month. The bill which was signed by 40 members of the UMP party and the New Centre party, provides up to one year's imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros for those who deny the so-called 'Armenian genocide'. The Armenians and the Armenian lobby claim that the predecessor of Turkey - Ottoman Empire has carried out 'genocide' against Armenians living in Anatolia in 1915 and achieved recognition of these events as genocide in the parliaments of several countries. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az