Human rights defenders held a ceremony in commemoration of Armenian Genocide victims at Haydarpasa rail station in Istanbul.

The action under the slogan “Genocide - a crime against humanity” was organized by the Istanbul branch of Union for protection of human rights, Bianet reports.

The participants were carrying pictures of Armenian intellectuals, arrested on April 24, 1915 and sentenced to death. They commemorated innocent victims and threw carnations into the sea.

The human rights defenders also issued a statement, condemning the genocide against Armenians.

“The then government put an end to the existence of Armenians in Anatolia. Armenians’ property and money was confiscated,” they said in a statement.

However, during the event, about 15 provocateurs, including diplomats and retired General Edip Baser came up to the crowd and started shouting that “Turks did not commit a genocide.”