1965 Yerevan demonstrations

The 1965 Yerevan demonstrations were a 24 hour mass protest in Yerevan, Armenian SSR on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. It is said that this event constitutes the first step in the struggle for the recognition of the 1915 genocide. [http://armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=2580&CID=2560&IID=&lng=eng]

On April 24, 1965, for the first time for any such demonstration in the entire Soviet Union, one million protesters held a 24-hour demonstration in front of the Opera House on the 50th anniversary of the commencement of the Armenian Genocide, and demanded that the Soviet Union government officially recognize the Armenian Genocide committed by the Young Turks in the Ottoman Empire, and build a memorial in Armenia's capital city of Yerevan to perpetuate the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

To the shouts of "our land, our land" the major demonstration marked the first public awakening of the Armenian consciousness in Soviet Armenia. To prevent any further demonstrations from occurring, the Kremlin, which did not have good relations with Turkey, commissioned a memorial for the genocide. Many committed intellectuals, such as Silva Kaputikyan, had made impassioned pleas to the authorities in Moscow. The memorial, on Tsitsernakaberd hill, was completed in 1967.

Following the example of this high profile demonstration, similar protests were made throughout the world, in whichever country the Armenian Diaspora exists. Since the day of the protests, Armenians (and other Soviets as well) to this day visit the memorial and make protests around the world to gain acceptance of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey.

See also

*Armenian Genocide
*Tsitsernakaberd

References

* [http://www.caucaz.com/home_eng/breve_contenu.php?id=149 Armenian Genocide time line]
* [http://www.ourararat.com/eng/e_24Arm.htm 24th of April in Armenia]