20/01/2015 22:58
Presentation of ‘Century-Long Genocide: Black January of Baku’ in Yerevan
Yerevan hosted today the presentation of the film ‘A Century-Long Genocide: the Black January of Baku’ which is part of the Ordinary Genocide project and is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Armenian pogroms in the Azerbaijani SSR.
The head of the Ordinary Genocide project, the film’s co-author and director Marina Grigoryan said the film is based on interviews with refugees from Baku. The interviews were conducted in the U.S.
She reminded those present that today is Remembrance Day of Baku Genocide Victims. In her words, the evidence presented in the film sheds light on unexplored pages of the Armenian genocide in Baku.
“The Armenian massacres in Baku have never been a subject of research. No criminal cases were filed, no one was punished. The propaganda machine of Baku distorts the events, the reality. Few documents and photos were left, and there are no videos. The film is important from this point of view, it includes memories of Baku refugees,” M. Grigoryan said.
She stressed that the memoirs of refugees who fled Western Armenia at the beginning of the century prove that Azerbaijan continues Turkey’s policy – they show the continuity of the genocide committed against the Armenian people for a whole century. “Almost all the refugees say that their ancestors were from Western Armenia and Artsakh. In other words, their ancestors survived genocide and became refugees,” M. Grigoryan said.
According to her, in addition to presenting the history of Armenians of Baku, the collection to be released and the film will serve as a powerful tool for Armenian diplomacy, especially amid Azerbaijan’s attempts to distort the region’s history.
The first Ombudsperson of Armenia, chairwoman of Against Violation of Law NGO, the film’s co-author Larisa Alaverdyan said for her part that the Madrid Principles make no mention of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan.
“Azerbaijan has not been held responsible for that genocide. The impunity is a consequence of our inaction. The goal of our competent bodies is to raise the problem at a state level,” she noted.
‘A Century-Long Genocide: the Black January of Baku’ film was translated into Russian and English and is expected to be translated into other languages as well. Events to screen the film commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Armenian pogroms in Baku will be held in various U.S. cities.
‘A Century-Long Genocide: the Black January of Baku’ is the sixth documentary of the Ordinary Genocide project implemented by the Public Relations and Information Center of the Armenian President’s Staff. A series of documentaries in five languages about the events in Sumgait, Baku, Maraga and during the Ring Operation have been made since November 2009. In addition, the website Karabakhrecords was launched and several book published, re-published, and translated. Brochures in Armenian, Russian and English, with detailed information on the events presented under the Ordinary Genocide project were released.
‘A Century-Long Genocide: the Black January of Baku’ film will premiere on Armenia television channel on January 20.