Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to the Armenian people on the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, stressing that the consequences of reprisals against defenseless people show what “incitement of religious hatred, nationalism, and xenophobia” can lead to.
He noted that the international community must “unite efforts to prevent the recurrence of such barbarity as the genocide of the Armenian people,” RIA Novosti reports.
“Today we bow our heads in memory of the hundreds of thousands of victims of one of the most horrific tragedies of the 20th century — the Genocide of the Armenian people. Brutal reprisals against defenseless, innocent people, who were killed, wounded, and expelled from their native cities and villages, shocked the entire civilized world, and its catastrophic consequences convincingly demonstrated what the incitement of religious hatred, nationalism, and xenophobia leads to,” the message says.
It is noted that the persecutions and violence of that period became an unhealed wound for many generations of the Armenian people, but the tragedy also united people, demonstrating their resilience and wisdom.
Putin also noted that Russia’s position on this issue has remained unchanged, having been expressed as early as May 1915 in the joint declaration of Russia, Great Britain, and France, and later in the statement adopted by the State Duma on April 14, 1995.
Putin expressed confidence that citizens of Armenia will continue to preserve their national identity, culture, language, and spiritual values while facing all challenges.
“I wish the friendly Armenian people well-being, prosperity, and all the best,” the Russian leader’s message states.
The Armenian Genocide has been recognized by 23 countries, with Uruguay being the first in 1965, as well as by the European Parliament, the World Council of Churches, and a number of other organizations.
