Tourists From Italy to England Join Armenians to Reflect on Armenian Genocide During Memorial March in Yerevan

They came from Germany, France, England, and Egypt. Some were curious travelers. Others had Armenian roots. A few had done their research. But all of them — these visitors to Yerevan — chose to stand with the Armenian people on the eve of April 24.

On the evening of April 23, thousands marched silently from Republic Square to the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial. The streets glowed with candlelight and rain. Among the crowd were not just locals, but tourists — strangers to this land, now walking through its pain.

For them, this wasn’t just sightseeing. It was a moment of reflection, of learning, and of honoring.

From Berlin with Respect

One tourist, a woman from Berlin, Germany, told The Armenian Report’s Ani Khachatryan that her connection to Armenia’s history goes beyond reading facts. “I know the facts,” she said, “but more than that, I know the stories.”

As part of an artistic research project, she had spent time in Armenia speaking with locals. “I’m affected by the emotions of the people who’ve opened up to me,” she explained. “This struggle is not just something Armenians should care about. Everyone should.

Especially coming from Germany — a country that had complicity in the genocide — I feel a responsibility to be here.”

A Scottish Discovery, a Personal Connection

A woman from Scotland shared how a simple Google search brought her face to face with her heritage. “We looked it up and saw it was the 110th year,” she said. “It felt important to honor that.”

A Personal Journey from Italy

An Italian man also shared his family’s connection to this history. Although only one-quarter Armenian, his roots run deep. “My grandfather’s family was affected during the First World War. They escaped from the Middle East and, after five long years, finally made it to Italy. That’s where our family story began.”

He stood in the crowd honoring their legacy. “Even if I’m not fully Armenian,” he said, “this is part of me. It’s an honor to walk here.”

Learning What History Left Out

A couple from England told The Armenian Report that they had visited the Genocide Memorial earlier in the day to understand the history before joining the march. They were shocked by what they learned.

“In England, they don’t teach this part of history,” the man said. “It’s eye-opening. We read every piece in the museum. What’s shocking is how the world just stood by. And even today, this doesn’t get the attention it should.”

He compared the lack of global recognition of the Armenian Genocide to the way other genocides are remembered. “You add the Assyrians, too — that’s more than the Nazis killed. But still, this gets overlooked.”

The woman beside him nodded in agreement. “It makes you wonder what we're ignoring now that we'll regret later.”

A Filmmaker Who Chose Armenia

Among the tourists was Essam Nagy, an Egyptian filmmaker who now lives in Armenia. For him, the march was not just symbolic — it was personal.

“As someone from the Middle East, I see how deeply this story connects to the region,” he said. “The genocide is not just a tragedy of the past. It’s a cornerstone of Armenian identity today.”

He believes that Armenians are still feeling the consequences of 1915, when over a million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire. “This is not over,” he said. “Recognition of the genocide should be a national security issue. It must remain at the top of Armenia’s agenda.”

A Global Community Walking Together

The presence of tourists at the march showed how the Armenian Genocide is not only a part of Armenian history — it’s part of global history. It matters to artists, scholars, descendants, and travelers. It matters to people who never learned about it in school, and to those who are discovering their roots for the first time.

As they walked quietly through Yerevan, holding candles in the rain, these visitors stood not just in solidarity, but in understanding. They chose to remember. They chose to listen. They chose to walk with Armenia.

And in doing so, they became part of a story that still needs to be told — not just in April, and not just in Armenia, but everywhere.

—

Support independent reporting from the region by subscribing to The Armenian Report. Our team is funded solely by readers like you.