Debate over so-called Armenian genocide leads to internal strife
Armenia grapples with internal division as senior figures question the historical validity of the 1915 genocide, inflaming debate and challenging long-standing narratives
EXCLUSIVE BY YILMAZ BILGIN — This year, for the first time, Armenians are embroiled in a heated debate over the 109-year-old genocide lie, causing division within their community. The controversy erupted following remarks made by Andranik Kocharian, speaker of the Armenian Parliament and chairperson of the Defense Committee.
In an interview with Armenia’s radio channel Azatutyun (Freedom), Kocharyan said, “We do not have any list of those killed in 1915. Is it normal that we still don’t have a list of those who were physically eliminated at that time? Why is it that the Jews were able to compile the names of those who were genocided in the Holocaust tragedy one by one and we could not?”
Kocharyan went a step further, expressing doubt about the widely accepted figure of 1.5 million Armenians being subjected to genocide, stating, “The so-called genocide museum Serdarabad, central to annual commemorations, lacks credible photographs and documents. The accuracy of the numbers is rightfully questioned.” Additionally, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian refrained from using the term genocide in his statement this year, leading fanatics to brand him a traitor for this position.
Afraid of archives
Erciyes University faculty member Professor Dr. Gaffar Mehdiyev remarked, “These statements represent a failure of the ‘Armenian genocide’ allegations propagated by the Armenian state and diaspora.”
Mehdiyev said, “Armenians have been blocking Türkiye’s insistent demand for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry to reveal the historical events of the whole period with the help of experts and official documents for years because they know that such a process would ultimately expose both them and the imperial powers that incite them.
Everyone knows very well that there was no such genocide in history. In fact, it is an indisputable fact that Armenians have a record of the assassination of the Ottoman Sultan and hundreds of mass killings in different cities. For this reason, they are afraid that both their own nation and the countries that are involved in this lie for political reasons and Turcophobia will fall for it. Many Armenian historians have admitted this. If the archives are opened and an international commission is established to investigate this issue, it will be revealed that the perpetrators of the genocide were Armenians, not Turks.”
All their theses failed
Azerbaijani strategist Elhan Sahinoglu remarked that the debates in Armenia have strengthened Türkiye’s position: “The 109-year-old genocide allegation, supported by false names and images, has failed. There is significant discourse in Yerevan, making the so-called commemorations uninspiring. This lie not only misleads Armenians but also undermines their political and diplomatic room for maneuvering.”
Sahinoglu noted that radical Turcophobes are advocating for broader consideration beyond themselves, suggesting that the genocide discussion could also implicate the 30 states recognizing the Armenian genocide. Former special envoy Ambassador Edmon Marukyan has openly voiced these concerns, emphasizing that expanding the genocide discourse in Armenia could place states acknowledging the Armenian genocide in a challenging position.
‘Even date of allegation is fabricated’
Mehdiyev questioned, “What significant event occurred on April 24, 1915, that they now use as the starting point for the genocide narrative?” He added, “Even the date of this allegation is fabricated. April 24 merely marks the arrest of 235 Armenian Committee members, who were later released for their involvement in various crimes, including the assassination of the Sultan. There is no decisive event, action, or life-and-death issue associated with April 24 that warrants Armenians declaring it as genocide day. This is a total fabrication and misconception.”
If they can provide any evidence that legitimizes killings or violence in the Ottoman State, aside from resettlement decisions, we are willing to accept all their claims. As for resettlement and exiles, dozens of Turkmen tribes were sent into exile throughout Ottoman and Seljuk history. They were subjected to forced resettlement. These are methods used by states from time to time. However, in no way can it be concluded as a massacre or genocide. At that time, the Entente had chosen Armenians as a chaos apparatus against us. Ottoman intelligence had to intervene by banning activities of organizations like the Armenians, Dashnaktsutyun, Ramkavar, and Hunchak that supported violence. Drawing conclusions of massacre from such actions is a betrayal of reason, science, history, and reality.
In order to fulfill the mission they received from the West, Armenian communists carried out covert activities and planned acts of terrorism. One of these plans was the assassination of the sultan on April 27. On the night of April 24-25, three days before the terrorist attacks planned by the Armenians, the Istanbul police raided the homes of hundreds of members of Armenian parties. In these operations, weapons, ammunition and other evidence were found in their homes, and only 235 suspects were detained out of a large number of rioters. Yesterday, today and tomorrow, any state would apply the same measures.
According to Mehdiyev, Armenia’s perspective on the issue has shifted, at least among a certain group of people, and Armenia, seeing that it is impossible to move forward with their deceptive thinking, has no choice but to accept the facts.”
Efforts to promote lie
Azerbaijani journalist Oktay Hacımusalı said, “On the one hand, Yerevan is discussing the 109-year-old lie; on the other hand, the intelligence agencies of Western countries, especially France, are trying to include Alevi-Kurdish-Syriacs and Yazidis in the genocide lie. Lobbying activities have been carried out in Europe and the U.S. for months. They are trying to produce fake evidence. However, Kurds were the ones who sacrificed the most during the Armenian massacres in Anatolia.
Again, the Hamidiye Regiments defended the people against the Armenians. The same is true for Alevis and Yazidis. For months, imperial powers have been trying to align Armenians and make them say, ‘We are also victims of genocide.’ They think that ‘we can make the Turks deal with this nonsense for another 100 years’ when the whole reality is obvious. Turkish citizens belonging to Alevis, Yazidis, and Assyrians have long been manipulated by these schemes. They have even been prevented from contacting Turkish authorities in their host countries. In exchange for bribes such as positions, money, and citizenship, they are coerced into making false statements.”
Source: Newsroom
