Powerful torchlight march pays tribute to Genocide victims April 23, 2016 - 23:46 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The traditional torchlight procession commemorating the Armenian Genocide started from the Freedom Square on Saturday, April 23. This annual procession is the symbolic part of struggle for the recognition of the mass killings. Prior to the launch of the march, the youth paid tribute to the 1.5 million innocent victims of the first Genocide of the 20th century with a moment of silence, then burned Turkish and Azerbaijani flags to protest Ankara's denialist policy. Carrying Armenian tricolors and chanting national songs, the protesters processed towards Tsitsernakaberd the Armenian Genocide memorial. The youth will set up shifts to guard the eternal flame of the monument throughout the night. 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. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. |