In Armenia Putin confirms Russia’s stance on genocide: Massacres cannot be justified

ussian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed Russia’s stance on genocide saying mass killings of people cannot be justified.

“Russia’s position was and remained consistent: we have always believed that there are no and can be no justifications for the mass killing of people,” Putin said at the ceremony in memory for the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Putin reminded that Russia had initiated a whole range of international legal acts, including the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948.

“The world community must make every effort so that the tragic events of the past will never happen again so that all nations could live in peace and consent without knowing the horror which results from stirring up religious animosity, aggressive nationalism and xenophobia,” he said.

The Russian president stressed that Russia “sincerely sympathizes with the Armenian people that has experienced one of the most horrible tragedies in the history of the mankind.”

“The events of 1915 have shocked the whole world. And Russia perceived them as its own sorrow. Hundreds of thousands of helpless and homeless Armenians, millions have received shelter on the territory of Russia and were saved,” he said.

The international condemnation of violence against the Armenian people was the result of the Russian diplomatic effort, he added.

“The relations of the brotherly nations of Russia and Armenia have been always characterized by special spiritual affinity and mutual support. This was also the case during the dramatic events 100 years ago and during the years of the Great Patriotic War and during the destructive Spitak earthquake [of 1988],” Putin said.

“And today we mourn together with the Armenian people,” the Russian leader stressed.

Hundreds of Russian cities will hold more than 2,000 memorial events on occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Putin said. The events will involve not only Armenians in Russia but also dozens of thousands of representatives of other nations.