On April 5, exhibition, entitled “For the memory” of works by Armenian and Russian painters was opened at the hall of Russia’s Military-Historical Union, Moscow. Having been the initiative of Armenian Youth Congress of Russia and representation of Yerevan City Hall in Moscow, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of Russia and Embassy of Armenia in the Russian Federation, the exhibition is dedicated to the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide and expresses the theme of the tragedy.

Ambassador of Armenia to Russia Oleg Yesaian and Deputy Minister of Culture of Russia Gregory Pirumov delivered opening messages.

In his remarks Ambassador Yesaian mentioned, “It is not a great tragedy, but also great crime. In the result of this unprecedented crime committed by the Ottoman Government, 1.5 million of 2 million population of Western Armenia was annihilated. And saved by the miracle and deported Armenians spread all over the world”. Ambassador added that the Armenian people once again in those days expresses gratitude to all those states and peoples that recognized and condemned the genocide, perpetrated against the Armenian people in 1915 in the Ottoman Empire.

The exhibition, which includes works both by young and prominent painters, is open by April 30.

On the same day, exhibition, entitled “100 years later. Armenian painters of the first half of the 20th century” was organized at “ЮВС” Gallery in cooperation with the Embassy of Armenia (Project Coordinator Helen Nashikyan). Works by well-known Armenian painters of the first half of the 20th century Martiros Saryan, Minas Avetisyan, Hovhannes Ayvazovski, Gevorg Bashinjaghyan and others are represented at the exhibition.

In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Yesaian attached importance to the organization of exhibition of works by Great Armenian artists in the frameworks of events dedicated to the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide. Reflecting on the Centenary, Oleg Yesaian noted, that 100th anniversary of the Genocide will bring new impetus to recognition and condemnation of the gravest tragedy of the 20th century. “Perpetrated crime, as phenomenon, which caused the tragedy, will be uprooted from the reality and left only in the history, once it is recognized not only by the entire world, but by the very Turkey”, stressed the Ambassador.