K. Zatulin: Let the memory of the victims of all genocides be not  only a tribute, but also a lesson

ArmInfo. April 24, 1915, is a date that cannot be called bright, it is a day of mourning, a memory of 1.5 million innocent victims who died in the Ottoman Empire 110 years ago, at the beginning of the last century, simply because they were Armenians. Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee for the CIS  Konstantin Zatulin posted this on his website.

According to him, the Armenian genocide is a tragedy, the pain of  which continues to this day. "In 1995, based on my report, the State  Duma of the Russian Federation recognized this genocide. It was not  only a manifestation of solidarity with the victims of the Armenian  people, but also a testimony of respect for the truth and historical  justice. Russia, which has been close and united with the Armenians  for centuries, should not have acted differently. Today, as we bow  our heads before the memory of the fallen, we are obliged to speak  not only about the past, but also about the present. The mass exodus  of the Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023 is not just  a geopolitical circumstance. This is a continuation of the tragedy,  which in our age is masked by dubious justifications of some and  betrayal of others. We note the current troubles of the people who  have lived on their land for centuries, the attempt to steal history,  religious and cultural monuments, the "Shemyakin trial" of prisoners.  This cannot leave our conscience indifferent," the State Duma deputy  said in a statement.

 Zatulin notes that these days it is especially difficult to observe  how, under pressure from external and internal forces, the  foundations of national self-awareness are being undermined in  Armenia itself. "We see how the Armenian Apostolic Church is being  attacked, how historical memory is being trampled, how ties are being  broken with those who have been allies and friends for centuries,"  Zatulin's statement emphasizes.  "We mourn together with the Armenian  people. We will continue to speak about the truth and fight so that  the tragedies of the past are not repeated either in the present or  in the future. On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Victory,  Russia adopted the law "On Perpetuating the Memory of the Victims of  the Genocide of the Soviet people During the Great Patriotic War of  1941-1945". Let the memory of the victims of all genocides become not  only a tribute of respect, but also a lesson. Let it unite all who  believe in justice, who do not divide peoples by geography and  interests, who share their pain and hope," Zatulin concluded.