Schabas argues that the legal term " genocide " is a loaded one that should not be used to describe every atrocity involving mass killings . He argues that , in the strict legal sense , the only true " genocides " in recent history were the Armenian Genocide , the Jewish and Gypsy Holocaust , and the Rwandan Genocide . In his book '' Genocide in International Law : The Crime of Crimes '' ( Cambridge University Press , 2nd ed. , 2009 ) he supports the view that Stalin 's atrocities in the Ukraine , the killings of Slav and Soviet citizens under the Nazi occupation , and the Holodomor were not , legally , genocide . He has been criticized for denying the internationally recognized Srebrenica Genocide . In his book he summarizes the legal opinions regarding the status of the atrocities committed in Bosnia , deeming them ethnic cleansing and not genocide , stating that " Ethnic cleansing is also a warning sign of genocide to come . Genocide is the last resort of the frustrated ethnic cleanser . " Schabas also criticises the United Nations General Assembly for recognising ethnic cleansing as genocide
Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
William Schabas