BUDENNOVSK: PARALLEL BETWEEN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND EVENTS IN RUSSIA

PanARMENIAN.Net - A manifestation, a rally and a requiem were held in the Russian town of Budennovsk on April 24 to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide, Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians of Russia reported. The demonstrators marched from the central square to the Saint Cross Church passing by the monument to the founders of Budennovsk, Armenians in origin. The rally participants adopted a statement to the town duma with a call to recognize and condemn the Armenian genocide. The residents of Budennovks draw a parallel between the tragedy of 1915 and the events that took place in Budennovsk ten years ago when the Chechen terrorists headed by Shamil Basayev attacked the town. "The series of events of the 20-th century turned the town into the southern bastion of our country. Russia's enemies were aware of this role of Budennovsk and tried to test its strength by committing an unprecedented terrorist act against its residents. It is tragic and symbolic, as the citizens of two states - Armenia and Russia - fell victims to terrorist acts. The Budennovsk tragedy shows that the founders of caliphate did not abandon the bloody plans they started to execute on April 24, 1915. We, the residents of Budennovsk gathered here today to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide and call the deputies of the town duma to recognize and condemn it as an utrageous act of misanthropy", the statement says. To note the Mayor of Budennovsk, chairman of the town duma, Cossack leaders and other officials took part in the in the event. It should be also mentioned that the town of Surb Khach (Saint Cross), presently Budennovsk, was founded in 1799 by Armenian migrates from Karabakh with the patent by Russian Emperor Pavel I.