Alboraya Is the 43rd City in Spain to Officially Recognize the Armenian Genocide, Joining 34 Countries

The city of Alboraya in Spain has officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, becoming the 43rd Spanish municipality to do so. This decision is part of a wider movement where more cities and countries are officially recognizing the atrocities committed against Armenians in the early 1900s.

The Alboraya City Council voted unanimously to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Representatives from six political parties — including the Socialist Party (PSOE), Compromís, the People’s Party (PP), VOX, Alboraya Actúa, and the United Left–Podemos coalition — all voted in favor of the decision. This united stance shows the importance of confronting past injustices, even after many years.

The proposal was introduced by the Compromís party after a request from the Ararat Armenian Union of Spain. During the council meeting, Compromís spokesperson Conxa Villena Sierra briefly described the historical events of 1915. She called the crimes by using the accurate term: genocide. She explained that recognizing these events is not just about history, but also about demanding accountability and justice.

Following her remarks, each party representative also gave a short speech. All of them condemned the actions of the Ottoman Empire during 1915 and spoke about the importance of recognition and reparations. They all shared the belief that facing the truth is essential to preventing similar crimes in the future. 

Among those attending the session was Ararat Ghukasyan, President of the Ararat Armenian Union. He thanked the council members for their support and stressed the value of standing together, despite political differences, to oppose injustice. 

“What matters most is that in the face of crimes against humanity, political differences and ideologies are set aside to stand united against injustice,” he added.

Ghukasyan also mentioned that the city’s officials expressed interest in helping the Armenian community push for wider recognition across Spain, including at the national level in the Spanish Parliament.

The Armenian Genocide took place in 1915 during World War I, when the Ottoman Empire carried out mass killings and forced deportations of Armenians. More than 1.5 million people have died from violence, starvation, and harsh conditions. The tragic events have been widely recognized by historians and scholars as genocide.

As of 2025, 34 countries have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. These countries are Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, the United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, and Venezuela. 

While Spain has not yet recognized the genocide at the national level, an increasing number of Spanish cities are doing so.

Alboraya’s recognition is an important step in the growing international effort demanding accountability for the Armenian Genocide. It is part of a larger commitment by local and national governments to confront historical injustices. For the Armenian diaspora in Spain and beyond, such acknowledgments are important steps toward justice. While recognition cannot undo the past, it plays a major role in promoting healing and preventing future atrocities.

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