Istanbul-based Bilgi University dismissed the reports that they blocked the conference titled “The Armenian Genocide: Concepts and Comparative Perspectives” planned to be held at the university on April 26.

The statement issued by the university claims that an official request to organize the conference had never been submitted to the rector’s office, and that therefore the university could not be said to be hosting such an event, Agos newspaper reported.

However, the organizers of the conference said the event had been announced on the events page of the university, but that it was then removed when they had been notified by e-mail that the venue reservation had been cancelled.