‘You came to our home, you must respect our traditions’: Armenian activists disrupt pro-Ukrainian demonstration

Pro-Ukrainian activists, including citizens from Ukraine, organized a protest outside the Russian Embassy in Yerevan. They called the demonstration ‘No Genocide in Our Days’.

Upon learning about the upcoming rally, a group of Armenian activists urged that the topic of the Armenian Genocide should not be politicized on the eve of its 107th anniversary. They gathered at the embassy earlier than the group carrying Ukrainian flags arrived. Among them was Tigran Khzmalyan, the leader of the European Party.

‘Ukraine has been pursuing a hostile policy towards Armenia. You left your homeland to come here for what? We welcomed you to our country. No one is expelling you, but we oppose you raising the symbols of a hostile Nazi state. If you came to our home, you must respect our traditions,’ said activist and blogger Mikael Badalyan.

The Armenian activists stated they would not allow the genocide topic to be exploited for political purposes. They also reminded attendees that Ukraine has refused to recognize the Armenian Genocide and supported Azerbaijan during the 44-day war.

The two groups of protesters met outside the Russian Embassy, with police forming a barrier between them to prevent potential clashes. Following this, the participants of the anti-Russian demonstration marched toward the center of Yerevan.