Armenian Genocide denier Perincek to appeal against court's verdict

PanARMENIAN.Net - Leader of Turkish Workers' Party Dogu Perincek, who was convicted for racial discrimination for denying the 1915 Armenian Genocide, is going to appeal against Lausanne court verdict in the Strasbourg Court of Human Rights. "I shall appeal against this verdict. I still believe in Swiss justice. We shall go till the end, and if necessary we will turn to the European Court of Human Rights," Perincek stated to an Anatolian agency.



Being in Switzerland in 2005 Perincek twice declared that the Armenian Genocide is an "international lie". During the process judge Pier-Anri Winzap said those statements were "of unconcealed racist and nationalistic character. And there are no mitigating circumstances in defendant's actions". Perincek himself was characterized as an "arrogant provocateur" by the judge. He stressed that although the Armenian Genocide issue is not included in the list of similar crimes by the International Court, it is a "historical fact, which was recognized by the Swiss society, and Perincek's statements were of provocative character".



The court in Lausanne agreed with the prosecutor's demand and handed Perincek a suspended fine of SFr 9,000 ($7,336) as well as a one-off financial penalty of SFr 3,000. The court also ruled that Perincek would have to pay SFr 1,000 to the Swiss-Armenian Association as a symbolic gesture, which appeared as civil plaintiff. Perincek has to pay all costs, which exceed SFr 15 000. According to the Swiss law of anti-racist discrimination the defendant also was threatened by 3 years of imprisonment, NEWSru.com reports.