A memorial gathering dedicated to the remembrance of the genocide of the Pontic Greeks took place at the Mission of the Republic of Western Armenia in Yerevan. The event was initiated by Nelli Harutyunyan, President of the National Assembly of Western Armenia.

In her opening remarks, Nelli Harutyunyan emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory, stressing that the recognition and condemnation of genocides are essential steps toward preventing new crimes. According to her, “the historical pain of peoples cannot be silenced until justice is fully restored.”

During the event, Ashot Harutyunyan, deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Western Armenia and head of the Artsakh Affairs Committee, also delivered a speech. He addressed the continuing danger of genocidal policies and emphasized that historical memory is an essential part of the identity of peoples.

According to historical sources, the genocide of the Pontic Greeks began in 1916, while Turkey’s anti-Greek policy reached its peak on May 19, 1919, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk arrived in Pontus. That date is officially considered the Memorial Day of the Genocide of the Pontic Greeks.