The parliament of Sweden has hosted a remembrance event on the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“Today in the Parliament we commemorated the Genocide 1915,” MP Björn Söder said in a statement on social media.

“The Genocide in the Ottoman Empire during World War I is often referred to as the Genocide 1915, the Armenian Genocide or, by especially Assyrians and Syrians, as Seyfo. During the Genocide around 1.5 million Armenians were killed, but also other Christian minorities in the Empire:

Assyrians, Syrians, Chaldeans and Pontic Greeks were killed. Most died over the years 1915-1916, but the persecutions and the killings continued until 1923. The victims constituted more than half of the Armenian population of the area, most of those who survived fled the country. The Ottoman Empire was largely emptied of its Christian population.

On March 11, 2010, the Riksdag announced to the government that Sweden must recognize the Genocide of Armenians, Assyrians/Syrians/Chaldeans and Pontic Greeks.

In the Riksdag, a commemoration of the Genocide 1915 is arranged annually.

After I gave introduction remarks, a speech was given by H.E. Anna Aghadjanian, Ambassador of Armenia to Sweden.  A clip from the film “Map of Salvation” was screened and beautiful music was performed by Aram Arsen Bedros, violinist and Dennis Jie Xu, pianist. Concluding remarks were given by my dear colleague Arin Karapet. Thank you all for participating. Let us always remember and never forget,” he said.

Member of the European Parliament Costas Mavrides from Cyprus believes that the Armenian Genocide should not be viewed only as a matter of historical memory, but as a lesson for the present and future of the Armenian people and all civilized nations.

“The European Parliament has repeatedly called on Türkiye to recognize the Armenian Genocide, one of the most horrific atrocities against humanity. Through my parliamentary work and interventions in European institutions, I have defended and will continue to defend historical truth, justice for the victims, and the struggle of the Armenian people. The continued institutional denial of the Armenian Genocide in Türkiye is a continuation of the crime against humanity and, at the same time, an official policy that lays the groundwork for the repetition of such crimes in the future,” the Member of the European Parliament told Armenpress.

He also recalled the forced displacement of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan, which, as the MEP stressed, took place with Türkiye’s support, followed by a policy of destroying Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“For these reasons, the Armenian Genocide should not be viewed only as a matter of historical memory, but as a lesson for the present and future of the Armenian people and all civilized nations. The real task is not only to condemn genocide or similar crimes after they occur, but to act decisively to prevent such crimes before they are committed,” Mavrides said.

The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Sahag II, has released a statement on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

The statement marks April 24 with remembrance of the “tragedy experienced a century ago” and calls for dialogue, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence between Armenians and Turks as the basis for addressing historical wounds and building the future.

Below is the full statement released by the Istanbul-based Patriarchate, the autonomous see of the Armenian Apostolic Church. 

Dear faithful people,

Today is once again April 24, a day that calls us to stand with humility before one of the most painful pages of our history. This day brings us back to the memory of the tragedy experienced a century ago, which has left a deep mark on our national and spiritual life.

We remember the losses, deportations, exile, and immeasurable suffering endured by our people during the years of the First World War. This remembrance, however, is not meant only to remain within the dark pages of the past. It is also a call to give meaning to what we have endured and to move forward toward the future.

On this land, where for centuries different peoples lived side by side, the tradition of peaceful coexistence suffered a severe blow during those years. Yet this same geography also reminds us of an inescapable truth: peoples are not condemned to perpetual conflict, but are called to coexistence, dialogue, and mutual understanding.

We must acknowledge that beneath this land lie not only our own sorrows, but also the wounds of others. It is not enough to recount only our own history in order to find a true resolution. We are also obliged to listen to others, to understand their experiences, and to seek common ground that can serve as a foundation for the future.

In this sense, we reaffirm our call for the establishment of peace, reconciliation, and friendship between the Armenian and Turkish peoples. The tragedy of the past should not become a permanent dividing wall, but rather a heavy yet instructive experience from which lessons can be drawn to build a more just and peaceful future.

Neither denial nor hostility can heal wounds. Likewise, political exploitation does not serve the rapprochement of peoples. True progress is born from sincerity, mutual respect, and dialogue grounded in human values.

Therefore, we call on all sides to build bridges of friendship, encourage cultural and economic cooperation, and create an atmosphere in which history can be discussed without fear or hostility, but with a commitment to truth and justice.

We appreciate all steps, past and present, that are directed toward mutual sensitivity and rapprochement. In this context, it is also worth mentioning the annual messages of His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, on April 24, which are also addressed to the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople and our community. The _expression_ of condolence in these messages and the respect shown for the memory of those who lost their lives among our people under the difficult conditions of the First World War are, in our view, important steps toward the formation of an atmosphere of mutual understanding.

We value these messages as an _expression_ of human conscience and as gestures that can contribute to the gradual restoration of trust between peoples. Such approaches remind us that even in the face of the heaviest historical burdens, it is possible to choose the path of mutual respect and communication.

Today, on this day of remembrance for the holy martyrs, we turn to their intercession. Through their lives and martyrdom, they have become not only part of our memory but also living witnesses of our faith. They call us not to remain in the darkness of the past, but to live with hope and build the future.

As the prophetic word says: “Behold, I am doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19). We must seek this newness in our hearts by transforming our thoughts and attitudes.

Beloved,

May this day of remembrance become not only an occasion of mourning, but also of renewal. May God, in His mercy, touch our hearts and those of our neighbors, so that we may pass beyond the heavy shadows of the past and build a future based on justice, peace, and brotherhood.

May Almighty God, through the intercession of the Holy Mother of God and all our holy martyrs, bless the Armenian and Turkish peoples, guide them toward reconciliation and peaceful coexistence, and remove wars and hatred from the world.

May the love, mercy, and grace of God dwell within us and upon all humanity, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia released a statement on April 24, the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The statement highlights that, by remembering the past and paying tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, the Republic of Armenia is building its sovereign future guided by a peace agenda. 

Below is the full statement released by the Foreign Ministry.

“On April 24, we commemorate and pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire.

One and a half million men, women, children, and elderly people fell victim to the Mets Yeghern, were killed or consigned to death solely for being Armenian.

This atrocity committed against the Armenian people became one of the historical precedents that served as a basis for the adoption of the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Despite the efforts of the international community, in the 21st century, we continue to witness racial and ethnic intolerance, hatred, and new mass atrocities carried out on that basis. Armenia feels a responsibility to remain continuously and consistently engaged in identifying the signs and early warning of such crimes, and to support initiatives aimed at their prevention and eradication. 

Through Armenia’s efforts, December 9, 2015, was included оn the United Nations list of international days as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. In 2025, at the plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly, the resolution entitled “The Decade of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime,” submitted by Armenia, was adopted by consensus. In March 2026, at the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the resolution “Prevention of Genocide,” also submitted by Armenia, was once again adopted by consensus.

Remembering the past and paying tribute to the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide, the Republic of Armenia is building its sovereign future guided by the peace agenda. The existence of good-neighborly relations and genuine cooperation among neighboring states is a minimum prerequisite for establishing lasting peace in the South Caucasus and ensuring the peaceful coexistence of all peoples in our region.”

The Embassy of Russia in Armenia paid tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, the annual Remembrance Day of the genocide perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century.

In a brief social media post, the Russian Embassy said: “We mourn together with the Armenian people on the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.”

French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies paid tribute on Friday to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

April 24, 2026, marks the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which was perpetrated in the early 20th century in the Ottoman Empire.

“On April 24, we commemorate the Armenian Genocide of 1915, which took place 111 years ago,” the French ambassador said on X, sharing a historical photo depicting an Armenian woman and her dead child in a desert during the genocide.

Catholicos Karekin II, together with senior clergy of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex on April 24 to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Catholicos Karekin II laid a wreath at the memorial complex, followed by a prayer service for the victims of the Armenian Genocide, who are canonized as martyrs by the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin also published Karekin II’s statement on the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“Today, in Armenia and in diaspora communities, we commemorate our holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide carried out in the Ottoman Empire, who became immortal by keeping alive in their souls the love for Christ and for the homeland.

April 24 symbolically encompasses the collective suffering of our people, in which are concentrated the memories of one and a half million martyred Armenians, our compatriots deprived of their homeland and forced into exile, our monasteries and churches subjected to cultural genocide, and our destroyed settlements. However, that tragedy did not break the spirit of our nation. Our people survived the genocide, revived new life everywhere, and reestablished the independent statehood of Armenia.

April 24 is a day of vow, intertwined with the demand of our worldwide nation, which is free from hostility and hatred, and is aimed at restoring justice and truth and preventing the denial of the atrocities of the genocide,” Catholicos Karekin II said in his message.

Czech Ambassador to Armenia Petr Pirunčík visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial on April 24, the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, to pay tribute to the memory of the victims.

The ambassador posted a photo from the memorial and made a statement on social media.

“I visited Tsitsernakaberd and paid tribute to the memory of the innocent victims of the terrible events.

Today marks the 111th anniversary of the commemoration of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. We bow our heads in remembrance of the victims and express our solidarity with the Armenian people.

More than a century ago, Czech traveler and humanitarian KAREL HANSA, in his book ʜʀůᴢʏ ᴠýᴄʜᴏᴅᴜ (ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴀsᴛ), bore witness to the suffering of the Armenian people and brought their tragedy closer to the Czech public. His words remain a powerful reminder of the importance of memory, truth, and humanity.

“𝐼 𝑠𝑎𝑤 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 — 𝑒𝑥ℎ𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑, 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦.”

And elsewhere he wrote:

“𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑝ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔.”

These testimonies remind us that remembrance is not only about the past — it is a commitment to human dignity, compassion, and the prevention of such atrocities in the future.

Nine years ago, on 25 April 2017, the Czech Parliament recognized the Armenian Genocide,” Ambassador Pirunčík said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has received a French governmental delegation comprised of Alice Rufo, Minister Delegate to the Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, and Aurore Bergé, Minister Delegate for Equality between Women and Men and the Fight against Discrimination.

Nikol Pashinyan welcomed the visit of the high-level French delegation to Armenia and noted that it is taking place at an important time for the development of relations and cooperation between the two countries, according to a readout from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Pashinyan stated that Armenia–France cooperation is currently at an unprecedented high level and expressed confidence that it will further expand and strengthen in the near future.

The Prime Minister highlighted his close dialogue with French President Emmanuel Macron, while emphasizing Macron’s undeniable role in the establishment of peace.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of deepening cooperation between Armenia and France in various fields, including security, veterans’ affairs, as well as the protection of human rights and the fight against discrimination and violence.

The French Minister Delegate to the Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs conveyed warm greetings from the President of France to Prime Minister Pashinyan, stressing that France will continue to stand by Armenia in all areas, including the promotion of the peace agenda. Alice Rufo and Aurore Bergé expressed their readiness to expand ties with Armenian partners and to share their experience in the aforementioned fields.

The meeting also involved an exchange of views on organizing high-level reciprocal visits, the preparation of the European Political Community summit to be held in Armenia, as well as cooperation within the framework of the International Organization of La Francophonie.

Ambassador of Russia to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial on April 24 to pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.

The embassy said in a press release that Ambassador Kopyrkin and the military attaché laid flowers at the Eternal Flame.

The embassy highlighted in its statement that in 1995, the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation adopted a statement “On the Condemnation of the Genocide of the Armenian People in 1915–1922,” expressing deep compassion for the fraternal Armenian people.