Turkey must recognize Genocide, publicly apologize and pay reparations to descendants of victims — Semyon Bagdasarov

Semyon Bagdasarov, Director of the Center for the Study of the Middle East and Central Asia, discussed the potential consequences of denying the Armenian Genocide in an interview with Alpha News. According to the expert, the first lesson to be learned from the tragic events of 110 years ago is that there should be no traitors within the Armenian people.

“People who betray their own people for their own selfish interests while holding high positions must leave. If we talk about modern Armenia, there are such figures at the level of the country’s leadership who must be gotten rid of. The next year will be important for the country. In 2026, the current government must leave peacefully, without upheavals. The main conclusion today is the need to unite against them,” Bagdasarov said.

Addressing the possibility of rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey amid Genocide denial, the expert expressed strong opposition.

“No, it is impossible. The victim cannot forgive the executioner and base rapprochement on this. The executioner must ask for forgiveness. And only after that can we talk about a truce. For example, I do not believe that there can be peace between Turks and Greeks. As well as between Turks and Armenians. There are things that are never forgotten. To begin with, Turkey must recognize the Genocide, publicly apologize and pay reparations to the descendants of the victims. Only then can dialogue take place; otherwise, it is out of the question,” Bagdasarov noted.

According to the expert, the peoples who suffered Genocide in the Ottoman Empire must unite.

“The international community will never act as a united front. Each nation must defend its own interests. We live in the real world, and therefore the nations that survived the Genocide in the Ottoman Empire must collaborate, seek justice and exert pressure. They cannot remain idle, believing that the issue will resolve itself. Only traitors or those incapable of strategic thinking can forgive the executioners,” Bagdasarov concluded.