DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY SAVES GENOCIDE DENIER BAGIS FROM CRIMINAL PROBE
PanARMENIAN.Net
April 3, 2012 - 13:08 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Swiss prosecutors will drop a criminal probe
against Turkey's EU Affairs Minister, instigated after he denied
Ottoman Turks committed genocide against Armenians, because he is
protected by diplomatic immunity, Reuters reported.
Zurich prosecutors began investigating Turkey EU Minister Egemen Bagis
after comments he made at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January,
and also at a concert in Zurich. Swiss anti-racism legislation outlaws
genocide denial.
Turkey summoned the Swiss ambassador in Ankara to complain after the
investigation was launched.
"After consulting with the Swiss foreign ministry, the prosecutor
has concluded that criminal charges against Egemen Bagis cannot be
pursued because, as a Turkish EU Minister, he enjoyed immunity during
his entire stay in Switzerland," the prosecutor said in a statement
on Monday, April 2.
Swiss authorities have taken legal action against several people who
have denied the Armenian Genocide. The most prominent case is the
conviction of Turkish politician Dogu Perincek, who was fined 3,000
Swiss francs in 2007.
In January, the French Senate approved similar legislation, prompting
an angry response from Turkey.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
PanARMENIAN.Net
April 3, 2012 - 13:08 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Swiss prosecutors will drop a criminal probe
against Turkey's EU Affairs Minister, instigated after he denied
Ottoman Turks committed genocide against Armenians, because he is
protected by diplomatic immunity, Reuters reported.
Zurich prosecutors began investigating Turkey EU Minister Egemen Bagis
after comments he made at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January,
and also at a concert in Zurich. Swiss anti-racism legislation outlaws
genocide denial.
Turkey summoned the Swiss ambassador in Ankara to complain after the
investigation was launched.
"After consulting with the Swiss foreign ministry, the prosecutor
has concluded that criminal charges against Egemen Bagis cannot be
pursued because, as a Turkish EU Minister, he enjoyed immunity during
his entire stay in Switzerland," the prosecutor said in a statement
on Monday, April 2.
Swiss authorities have taken legal action against several people who
have denied the Armenian Genocide. The most prominent case is the
conviction of Turkish politician Dogu Perincek, who was fined 3,000
Swiss francs in 2007.
In January, the French Senate approved similar legislation, prompting
an angry response from Turkey.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress