The Genocide Memorial – Yerevan – Julian Worker Travel

After the establishment of Soviet rule in Armenia and especially during the reign of Stalin, talk of the Armenian-Turkish conflict was proscribed. Any talk about the Armenian Genocide or western Armenia were regarded as manifestations of nationalism and punished with imprisonment, exile, or shooting. The situation gradually began to change in the second half of the 1950s, due to Khrushchev’s “thaw” policy

The Armenian Genocide Memorial complex is Armenia’s official memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian genocide. Building of the complex began in 1966 on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd. If you visit only one place in Yerevan, make it this one. If you want more details on the genocide, please read the previous essay on Yerevan’s memorials.

Every year on 24th April, Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, thousands of Armenians gather at the memorial to commemorate the victims of the genocide. The people who gather in Tsitsernakaberd lay fresh flowers out of respect for all the people who died.

Published by Julian Worker

Julian was born in Leicester, attended school in Yorkshire, and university in Liverpool. He has been to 94 countries and territories and intends to make the 100 when travel is easier. He writes travel books, murder / mysteries and absurd fiction. His sense of humour is distilled from The Marx Brothers, Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, and Midsomer Murders. His latest book is about a Buddhist cat who tries to help his squirrel friend fly further from a children's slide. View more posts