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The bill on recognition of crimes against humanity, submitted by MP from Turkey’s Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Sebahat Tuncel, will not be put on the agenda of Turkish parliament, Turkish studies expert Hakob Chakryan told reporters on Friday. 

According to the bill, the Turkish President has to publicly apologize for the Armenian Genocide in the parliament. The next day the President will have to read out the text of apology in one of the sites of the slaughter. Then a parliamentary commission should be formed within a year, which should be provided access to all state archives.

According to the expert, the Turkish parliament will not approve the bill, but this will create a precedent. “It will become illogical to arrest those people in Turkey, especially representatives of intelligentsia, who will speak for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” Chakryan noted.

This is a serious move and a step forward, Chakryan said, because the demand to face the history is legalized in Turkey.