Abkhazia commemorating Armenian Genocide martyrs

Events commemorating the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey are held in Abkhazia. On April 22, a khachkar (cross - stone) was opened in the village of Pshap in memory of the Genocide martyrs. The khachkar was made by Armenians master and delivered to Abkhazia.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, First Deputy Prime Minister of Abkhazia Shamil Adzinba said: “Abkhazia is a multi-national country. We should respect each other’s history, including the tragic pages. …Oblivion leads to tragedy, chaos, and pain,” Abkhazia Inform reported.

On April 22, the Chamber Orchestra of the Republic of Abkhazia directed by David Terzyan performed in memory of the Genocide victims. Today, on April 23, the students of the local school after Hovhanness Tumanyan held a thematic concert. A documentary “A Capital more ancient than Rome” by Artak Avdalyan was screened.

The Armenian Apostolic Church of the Christ in Gagra held a service in memory of the Armenian Genocide martyrs.

The events have brought together the Abkhazian leadership and public representatives. The Armenian Diaspora of Abkhazia commemorates the Armenian Genocide every year. Unprecedented events have been prepared to commemorate the Centennial of that crime against humanity.

Secretary of the Public Council of Abkhazia Natela Akaba published an article ahead of April 24 wherein she recalls that the Genocide is commemorated every year by the people of various nationalities.

 “For the Armenian community of Abkhazia this tragic date is of special meaning,” Akaba writes. “Most of the Armenians who live in Abkhazia are descendants of the Hamshen Armenians who lived in Hamshen region, now the territory of Turkey. Their predecessors fled their motherland pulling through bloody massacre and found shelter in the Russian Empire.” Akaba writes that Armenians have perfectly adapted to the new conditions of life and took an important place in the economic life of their new motherland.