Statement by the Armenian Community Council on PM Pashinyan’s questioning of the veracity of the Armenian Genocide (English)

Statement by the Armenian Community Council UK
10 Feb 2025 – London

The diaspora Armenian communities world-wide and our compatriots in Armenia were shocked to learn about Prime Minister Pashinyan’s remarks while speaking at a gathering with a group of Diaspora Armenians in Switzerland on 24 Jan 2025. His suggestive comments while referring to the Armenian Genocide expressed doubts about the veracity of the Armenian Genocide, questioning what had really happened at the time and proposing to look into the facts.

The Armenian Community Council expresses its deepest concern and outrage at Prime Minister Pashinyan’s remarks.

In the case of a spontaneous remark, perhaps unconsciously questioning the veracity of the Armenian Genocide, a person of ministerial capacity cannot afford to make a gaff of this magnitude. It implies that the person hasn’t carried out adequate research on what to talk about or perhaps wasn’t even prepared for the meeting!

The Armenian Genocide is a proven, undeniable fact of history, irrespective of the denialist policies of Turkey and its deep state. Over 30 countries including USA, France, Canada, Germany, and many others have officially recognised the events as genocide. Further, the International Association of Genocide Scholars recognised the events as genocide. The Lemkin Institute and many other establishments have recognised it too. In fact, the Lemkin Institute issued a statement on 30 January 2025, criticising PM Pashinyan’s perhaps intentional announcement possibly to pay some dividend to Mr Erdogan of Turkey. 

Questioning the veracity of the Armenian Genocide can only be expected from Erdogan and his followers. Has Mr Pashinyan joined Erdogan’s persistent denial of the truth; a historical fact verified in numerous records?  Sources include those of the Ottoman Empire, researched and proven by Turkish historians, particularly Prof Taner Akçam of Clark University, an academic who has carried out in-depth research on the subject using the Ottoman archives. Add to this the multitude of other international scholars of the highest calibre who have demonstrated the undeniable veracity of this tragic episode of Armenian history. Over the years, only pro-denialist Turkish historians and handful of bribed Western academics have questioned the Armenian Genocide. Pashinyan should not join this group of suspect individuals.

This is betrayal of a Nation, the denial of the truth with a revisionist’s narrative of “let’s look at this and see what really happened.” Is Mr Pashinyan suggesting that all the research carried out over 70 years by scholars of many nations verifying the Genocide of the Armenian population of Anatolia needs to be reviewed?

Could the Prime Minister please explain what his motives are?
Or indeed was he under instructions by Erdogan to begin questioning the truth to instigate an atmosphere of doubt and manipulation. 

This announcement came on the eve of Jan 27th, Holocaust Memorial Day. Let us remind the community that this revisionist and denialist network includes that of the UK’s foreign policy, and that it is the responsibility of every Armenian to safeguard our history and identity as the survivors of the Armenian Genocide. We cannot afford to be misled by incompetence or by manipulators with their suspect political agendas.

Can anyone imagine questioning the veracity of the Holocaust? Such an action would rightfully have serious consequences for any individual or any organisation. Why is it that the prime minister feels comfortable enough to express doubt or indeed question historical fact in such a casual manner?

We firmly believe that Mr Pashinyan is obliged to formally and explicitly apologise for his irresponsible and insulting remarks that undermines memory of the Sanctified Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.

Armenian Community Council UK
London, United Kingdom
February 2025