YEREVAN. - Today, April 24, Armenians throughout the world are marking the 96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey (photo session). The atrocities claimed over 1.5 million Armenian lives.

The Armenian Genocide is being commemorated in almost all the cities of the world Armenians live in. Thousands of people are flowing to Tsitsernakaberd, the Memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims in Yerevan, a symbol of mourning for the victims and of national revival. Families, public and political figures, all those not indifferent to the Armenian people’s tragedy are flowing to the memorial to lay flower and wreaths at it. Many representatives of Armenian communities worldwide come to Armenia to take part in the procession on April 24.

Torchlight procession in commemoration of Armenian Genocide victims reached Tsitserbnakaberd (video), photo session

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and his wife are to visit the Memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims. The Armenian leader will be accompanied by Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Armenian government and parliament  members, foreign diplomats, representatives of the Armenian Diaspora, numerous guests, workers of culture and intellectuals.

During World War I, the Turkish authorities accused Armenians of showing favor to Russia and used it as a pretext for declaring the Armenian population the nation’s enemy. Many historians consider the events in 1915-1923 as a state-sponsored massacre, genocide. The Armenian side claims over 1.5 million victims, half of the Armenians early in the 20th century.

Many states have recognized the Armenian Genocide. Uruguay was the first to do it in 1965. The Armenian Genocide has since been recognized by Russia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, as well as by 42 of the U.S. states. The Armenian Genocide has also been recognized by Vatican, the European Parliament, and World Church Council.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives approved an Armenian Genocide resolution on March 4.