Vladimir Zhirinovsky: Armenian Genocide most appalling crime in history of humanity

April 26, 2010 - 12:01 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Around 3000 people participated in the Armenian Genocide memorial rally held in Moscow on April 24 on the initiative of the Russian-Armenian Commonwealth and the Union of Armenians of Russia.

Deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma, leader of the LDPR Vladimir Zhirinovsky, MPs Maxim Mischenko (United Russia) and Kira Lukyanova (Just Russia), heads of national communities, representatives of public and youth organizations were present.

“Recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a universal issue and we should combine efforts to seek historical justice,” UAR president Ara Abrahamyan said in his opening remarks.

For his part, president of the Russian-Armenian Commonwealth Yuri Navoyan emphasized that neighborly relations between Armenia and Turkey can be established only in case if the latter acknowledges the fact of Genocide.

“Functioning as a united force, Armenia, Arstakh and Diaspora can prove that Armenians will never let anyone infringe their rights,” he said.

“This day can never be forgotten. We share in the pain of the Armenian people,” said Dmitry Gudkov, the leader of Young Socialists of Russia.

“The Armenian Genocide is the most appalling crime in the history of humanity,” stated Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

“We want peace and neighborly relations but there can’t be trust without repentance,” remarked Levon Mukanyan, vice president of the Union of Armenians of Russia.

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.