16.06.2023


The delegation headed by Robert Nicholson, head of the American "Philos Project" organization, visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial on June 15.

Former US ambassador for international religious freedom, the 46th governor of Kansas Sam Brownback was part of the delegation.

The guests were welcomed by Edita Gzoyan, AGMI Deputy Director for Scientific Work, who presented the history of the creation of the Memorial. She then presented the story of the three khachkars placed at Tsitsernakaberd in memory of the Armenians who died in the massacres organized by the Azerbaijani government in the cities of Sumgait, Kirovabad (Gandzak) and Baku at the end of the 20th century, as well as the stories of the five freedom fighters buried in front of Hushapat during the Artsakh struggle of survival—these components of the Memorial emphasize the connection between the Armenian Genocide and contemporary acts of persecution and violence against Armenians.

The American guests put flowers at the Eternal Fire and observed a minute’s silence in memory of the innocent martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.

Edita Gzoyan presented also about Hushapat, the reverse side of which contains, in special niches which house small jugs, soil from the graves of a number of foreign public figures, politicians, intellectuals, dignitaries and missionaries who raised their voices in protest against the widespread massacres and deportations of Armenians carried out by the Turkish governments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The guests also toured the Armenian Genocide Museum. Having been accompanied by AGMI researcher Regina Galstyan, they became acquainted with the permanent and temporary exhibitions housed at the Museum.