Armenia’s State TV Cuts Genocide Coverage, Replaces It With Sports—National Day of Grief Reduced, Outrage Grows

Armenia’s Public Television has reduced the length of its live broadcast from the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial on April 24, according to its published program schedule. The change means that this year’s coverage of the Armenian Genocide remembrance ceremony will last only four hours, from 9am-1pm Yerevan time. 

In previous years, the live broadcast from the memorial continued until late in the evening. This longer coverage allowed viewers to follow the flow of people visiting the site throughout the day to pay their respects. However, the current schedule shows that after 1pm local time, the channel will switch to other programs. These include coverage of the European Weightlifting Championship, as well as documentary and feature films and a classical music concert.

April 24 marks the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, carried out by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. On this day, Armenians in Armenia and across the diaspora gather to honor the memory of the victims. Around 1.5 million innocent people lost their lives during the events of the genocide.

The Armenian Genocide has been officially recognized by 34 countries and more than 70 organizations worldwide. Despite this, Turkey continues to deny the historical reality of the genocide and opposes efforts for its broader international recognition.

At the same time, the Armenian government is engaged in negotiations with Turkey aimed at normalizing relations between the two countries. Since the political changes in Armenia in 2018, the issue of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide has gradually lost its position as a key priority in the country’s foreign policy.

In April 2025, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated in an interview with Turkish media that international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is no longer a political priority for Yerevan. This statement reflected a shift in the government’s approach as it continues diplomatic efforts in the region.

The decision to shorten the April 24 broadcast has drawn attention as Armenians prepare to commemorate the victims of one of the most tragic chapters in their history.

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