Tens of thousands of people gathered in Yerevan on Thursday evening to mark the 111th anniversary of the mass killings of Armenians during the final years of the Ottoman Empire, in one of the country’s largest annual commemorations.
Participants took part in a traditional torchlight procession starting from Republic Square, with crowds moving through the capital in a solemn display of remembrance ahead of April 24, the date widely observed by Armenians around the world.
Armenians and many countries say up to 1.5 million people were killed in events they recognize as genocide.
On the other hand, Turkey disputes that characterization, saying that many people died amid World War I-era violence, famine and displacement but rejecting the term genocide.
The annual gathering in Armenia serves as both a memorial for victims and a moment of national reflection. Officials, civil society groups and members of the Armenian diaspora regularly use the occasion to call for broader international recognition, while others emphasize the importance of historical dialogue.
The commemorations proceeded peacefully, with authorities deploying security measures to manage large crowds. Similar events are held each year in Armenia and among Armenian communities worldwide.
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