Russia deputies seek accountability for Armenia genocide denialNovember 26, 2015 - 11:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Russian MP said on Wednesday, November 25, that his party submitted a bill to parliament on holding to account anyone who denies that the 1915 extermination of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire was genocide. “We have just submitted a bill on responsibility for failure to acknowledge the fact of a Genocide of Armenians by Turkey in 1915,” Sergei Mironov, the leader of the opposition Just Russia party, said in a tweet, a day after the Turkish air force shot down a Russian jet. In related news, Russia’s State Duma has supported the idea of returning Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Cathedral to the Christian church, RBK reports, according to Asbarez. Sergey Gavrilov, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) representative and coordinator of inter-faction deputy group on protecting Christian values, urged this to Turkey. “We expect from the Turkish side a friendly step—to return the Hagia Sophia Cathedral to the Christian church. The Russian side is ready to participate materially, and also to engage the best Russian restorers and scientists to the restoration of the ecumenical Christian monument. This step would help Turkey and Islam to demonstrate that the good will is above politics,” Gavrilov said. According to the CPRF, as Russian-Turkish relations are experiencing a strength test after the downing of a Russian jet near the Syrian border, “mutual friendly initiatives and proposals are especially important.” Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |