YEREVAN. – Republic of Bashkortostan—which is a federal subject of Russia—National Assembly Vice Chairman Raphayil Zinurov, who is in Armenia’s capital city Yerevan, on Saturday visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial at Tsitsernakaberd Hill. He was escorted by Armenia’s National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker, Eduard Sharmazanov.    

Zinurov placed flowers to the nearby tombs of the Armenian soldiers who lost their lives in the Karabakh War and to the Genocide Memorial, and paid tribute to the memory of the innocent victims, NA Public and Media Relations Department informs.

“I am in Armenia for the fourth time, and every time I experience a great pain by being at Tsitsernakaberd. This memorial is a sanctuary for the Armenian people and all mankind alike. What happened in 1915 is the greatest loss for Armenia and all Armenians. The Armenian Genocide must be recognized by the whole world,” Raphayil Zinurov told news reporters.           

Next, the deputy head of the Bashkortostan parliament toured the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. “I cannot find any words [to say]. I am deeply shocked. All perished, Armenia, Armenians: the Bashkirs, [and] Bashkortostan are with you!’, Raphayil Zinurov wrote in the Museum-Institute guestbook.