Jump to content

1965 Yerevan demonstrations: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
m adjusting link
 
(22 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
| title = 1965 Yerevan demonstrations
| title = 1965 Yerevan demonstrations
| partof =
| partof =
| image = Medal created in Soviet Armenia (Armenian Genocide Memorial in Tsitsernakaberd).jpg
| image =
| caption = Medal created in [[Soviet Armenia]]. '''Obverse''': "Eternal Memory to the Martyrs of the Holocaust" in [[Armenian language|Armenian]]. Dually dated 1915 and 1965. View of the Armenian Genocide Memorial in [[Tsitsernakaberd]]. '''Reverse''': Flame in urn, 1915/1965 to upper left
| caption =
| date = April 24, 1965
| date = 24 April 1965
| place = {{flagdeco|Armenian SSR}} [[Yerevan]], [[Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic|Armenia]], [[Soviet Union]]
| place = [[Yerevan]], [[Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic|Armenian SSR]], [[Soviet Union]]
| coordinates =
| coordinates =
| causes =
| causes =
| goals = Commemoration and [[recognition of the Armenian Genocide]]<br />Calls for annexation of [[Western Armenia]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Cornell|first=Svante E.|title=Small nations and great powers: a study of ethnopolitical conflict in the Caucasus|year=2001|publisher=Curzon|location=Richmond|isbn=9780700711628|page=63}}</ref>
| goals = Commemoration and [[recognition of the Armenian genocide]]<br />Calls for annexation of [[Western Armenia]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Cornell|first=Svante E.|title=Small nations and great powers: a study of ethnopolitical conflict in the Caucasus|year=2001|publisher=Curzon|location=Richmond|isbn=9780700711628|page=63}}</ref>
| methods =
| methods =
| status =
| status =
Line 27: Line 27:
}}
}}


The '''1965 Yerevan demonstrations''' took place in [[Yerevan]], [[Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic|Armenia]] on April 24, 1965, on the 50th anniversary of the [[Armenian Genocide]]. It is said that this event constitutes the first step in the struggle for the [[recognition of the Armenian Genocide]] of 1915.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lindy|first=Jacob D.|title=Beyond invisible walls: the psychological legacy of Soviet trauma, East European therapists and their patients|year=2001|publisher=Brunner-Routledge|location=New York|isbn=9781583913185|page=192}}</ref>
The '''1965 Yerevan demonstrations''' took place in [[Yerevan]], [[Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic|Armenia]] on 24 April 1965, on the 50th anniversary of the [[Armenian genocide]]. It is said that this event constitutes the first step in the struggle for the [[recognition of the Armenian genocide]] of 1915.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lindy|first=Jacob D.|title=Beyond invisible walls: the psychological legacy of Soviet trauma, East European therapists and their patients|year=2001|publisher=Brunner-Routledge|location=New York|isbn=9781583913185|page=192}}</ref>


On April 24, 1965, for the first time for any such demonstration in the entire [[Soviet Union]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Collective traumas: memories of war and conflict in 20th-century Europe|year=2007|publisher=P.I.E.P. Lang|location=Bruxelles|isbn=9789052010687|author=Conny Mithander, John Sundholm & Maria Holmgren Troy|page=33}}</ref> 100,000<ref>{{cite book|last=Shelley|first=Louise I.|title=Policing Soviet society|year=1996|publisher=Routledge|location=New York|isbn=9780415104708|page=183}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Beissinger|first=Mark R.|title=Nationalist mobilization and the collapse of the Soviet State|year=2002|publisher=Cambridge Univ. Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=9780521001489|page=71}}</ref> protesters held a 24-hour demonstration in front of the [[Armenian Opera Theater|Opera House]] on the 50th anniversary of the commencement of the Armenian Genocide, and demanded that the Soviet Union government officially recognize the Armenian Genocide committed by the [[Young Turks]] in the [[Ottoman Empire]], and build a memorial in Armenia's capital city of Yerevan to perpetuate the [[Tsitsernakaberd|memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide]].
On 24 April 1965, for the first time for any such demonstration in the entire [[Soviet Union]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Collective traumas: memories of war and conflict in 20th-century Europe|year=2007|publisher=P.I.E.P. Lang|location=Bruxelles|isbn=9789052010687|author=Conny Mithander, John Sundholm & Maria Holmgren Troy|page=33}}</ref> 100,000<ref>{{cite book|last=Shelley|first=Louise I.|title=Policing Soviet society|year=1996|publisher=Routledge|location=New York|isbn=9780415104708|page=183}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Beissinger|first=Mark R.|title=Nationalist mobilization and the collapse of the Soviet State|year=2002|publisher=Cambridge Univ. Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=9780521001489|page=71}}</ref> protesters held a 24-hour demonstration in front of the [[Armenian Opera Theater|Opera House]] on the 50th anniversary of the commencement of the Armenian genocide, and demanded that the Soviet Union government officially recognize the Armenian genocide committed by the [[Young Turks]] in the [[Ottoman Empire]], and build a memorial in Armenia's capital city of Yerevan to perpetuate the [[Tsitsernakaberd|memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide]].


The posters said "Just solution to the Armenian question" and other nationalistic slogans concerning [[Western Armenia]], [[Karabakh]] and [[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic|Nakhichevan]].
The posters said "Just solution to the Armenian question" and other nationalistic slogans concerning [[Western Armenia]], [[Karabakh]] and [[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic|Nakhichevan]].


To the shouts of "our land, our lands" the major demonstration marked a substantial public awakening of the Armenian consciousness in Soviet Armenia. The [[Kremlin]] taking into account the demands of the demonstrators, commissioned a memorial for the genocide and the 1.5 million Armenians who perished. The memorial, on [[Tsitsernakaberd]] hill, was completed in 1967, in time for the 53rd anniversary since the beginning of the genocide. The building of the memorial to the fallen of the genocide was the first step in honoring important events and figures in Armenia's long history, for monuments honoring the Armenian victories in Sardarapat and Bash Abaran against the Ottoman Turks in 1918, among others, were later built one after the other.
To the shouts of "our land, our lands," the major demonstration marked a substantial awakening of Armenian consciousness in Soviet Armenia. Taking into account the demonstrators' demands, the Kremlin commissioned a memorial for the genocide and the 1.5 million Armenians who perished. The memorial, located on [[Tsitsernakaberd]] hill, was completed in 1967, just in time for the 53rd anniversary of the beginning of the genocide. The building of this memorial to the fallen of the genocide was the first step in honoring important events and figures in Armenia's long history. Monuments honoring the Armenian victories in Sardarapat and Bash Abaran against the Ottoman Turks in 1918, among others, were later built one after the other.

⚫
Following the example of this demonstration, similar protests were made throughout the world, in whichever country the [[Armenian diaspora]] exists. Since the day of the protests, Armenians (and people from many of the former republics of the Soviet Union and all over the world as well) to this day visit the memorial and make protests around the world to gain acceptance of the Armenian Genocide by [[Turkey]] and to honor the millions of Armenian deaths during this sad period of Armenian history.


⚫
Following the example of this demonstration {{citation needed|date=April 2020}}, similar protests were made throughout the world by the [[Armenian diaspora]]. Since the day of the protests, Armenians (and people from many of the former republics of the Soviet Union and all over the world as well) visit the memorial and make protests around the world to gain acceptance of the Armenian genocide by [[Turkey]] and to honor the millions of Armenian deaths during this sad period of Armenian history.
<!--
<!--
1965թ. ապրիլի 24-ին Երևանում կազմակերպվեց զանգվածային հզոր ցույց, որի մասնակիցները, դատապարտելով 1915թ. Ցեղասպանությունը, առաջ էին քաշում հայկական հողերի վերադարձի հարցը: Այս համաժողովրդական աննախադեպ ցույցը դժվար թե կազմակերպվեր, եթե չլիներ Խորհրդային Հայաստանի առաջնորդ Յակով Զարոբյանը, որը Մեծ եղեռնի 50-րդ տարելիցը պաշտոնապես հիշատակելու նպատակով լուրջ աշխատանք էր կատարել Կրեմլում:
1965թ. ապրիլի 24-ին Երևանում կազմակերպվեց զանգվածային հզոր ցույց, որի մասնակիցները, դատապարտելով 1915թ. Ցեղասպանությունը, առաջ էին քաշում հայկական հողերի վերադարձի հարցը: Այս համաժողովրդական աննախադեպ ցույցը դժվար թե կազմակերպվեր, եթե չլիներ Խորհրդային Հայաստանի առաջնորդ Յակով Զարոբյանը, որը Մեծ եղեռնի 50-րդ տարելիցը պաշտոնապես հիշատակելու նպատակով լուրջ աշխատանք էր կատարել Կրեմլում:
Line 48: Line 47:
----
----


The only Soviet era non-state/non-Party-sponsored grassroots social movement occurred in April 1965. On April 24, the day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of the 1915 genocide, public officials, representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and diaspora representatives were to meet in the Spendarian Opera House in Yerevan to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the genocide. Down the street from the Opera House, in Lenin Square, thousands of people gathered to also commemorate the event. This was the first time that this event was publicly commemorated in Soviet Armenia. By mid-afternoon the crowd of demonstrators, mostly university students, including Vahram Melconian who had planned the demonstration in secret, began to march from Lenin Square toward the Opera House via Stalin Boulevard, chanting and singing. The demonstrators' aim was not to challenge the authority of the Soviet government; instead it was to draw the government's attention to the 1915 genocide of the Armenians and to ask the Soviet government to assist them in reclaiming their lost lands. While the demonstration had begun and proceeded in a peaceful manner, it turned disorderly when the police and KGB intervened and began to harass the peaceful demonstrators. At this point rocks and punches were thrown, and the demonstration ended as many of the young demonstrators were arrested and jailed for several days. The Soviet government subsequently officially recognized the Armenian Genocide and built a memorial on Tsitsernakaberd Hill with a pylon and the eternal flame dedicated to the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who were killed by the Ottoman Turks from 1915-18, but never pursued any of the other demands of the demonstrators. <ref name="Central Asia and the Caucasus">{{cite book|last=Atabaki|first=Touraj|title=Central Asia and the Caucasus: Transnationalism and Diaspora|year=2004|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=9780203495827|pages=135-137|coauthors=Mehendale, Sanjyot}}</ref>
The only Soviet era non-state/non-Party-sponsored grassroots social movement occurred in April 1965. On 24 April the day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of the 1915 genocide, public officials, representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and diaspora representatives were to meet in the Spendarian Opera House in Yerevan to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the genocide. Down the street from the Opera House, in Lenin Square, thousands of people gathered to also commemorate the event. This was the first time that this event was publicly commemorated in Soviet Armenia. By mid-afternoon the crowd of demonstrators, mostly university students, including Vahram Melconian who had planned the demonstration in secret, began to march from Lenin Square toward the Opera House via Stalin Boulevard, chanting and singing. The demonstrators' aim was not to challenge the authority of the Soviet government; instead it was to draw the government's attention to the 1915 genocide of the Armenians and to ask the Soviet government to assist them in reclaiming their lost lands. While the demonstration had begun and proceeded in a peaceful manner, it turned disorderly when the police and KGB intervened and began to harass the peaceful demonstrators. At this point rocks and punches were thrown, and the demonstration ended as many of the young demonstrators were arrested and jailed for several days. The Soviet government subsequently officially recognized the Armenian genocide and built a memorial on Tsitsernakaberd Hill with a pylon and the eternal flame dedicated to the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who were killed by the Ottoman Turks from 1915-18, but never pursued any of the other demands of the demonstrators. <ref name="Central Asia and the Caucasus">{{cite book|last=Atabaki|first=Touraj|title=Central Asia and the Caucasus: Transnationalism and Diaspora|year=2004|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=9780203495827|pages=135-137|coauthors=Mehendale, Sanjyot}}</ref>


In the early twentieth century, the Armenian Cause was the political goal of creating an independent homeland for Armenians. By the 1970s, the recognition of the genocide became a very important objective of the Armenian cause and diaspora political parties linked the recognition of the genocide and the dream of a greater Armenia because Turkey's recognition of the genocide would constitute the legal basis for the Armenian claims on Western Armenia. (Libaridian, ''Challenge of Statehood'', p. 128) <ref name="Central Asia and the Caucasus"/>
In the early twentieth century, the Armenian Cause was the political goal of creating an independent homeland for Armenians. By the 1970s, the recognition of the genocide became a very important objective of the Armenian cause and diaspora political parties linked the recognition of the genocide and the dream of a greater Armenia because Turkey's recognition of the genocide would constitute the legal basis for the Armenian claims on Western Armenia. (Libaridian, ''Challenge of Statehood'', p. 128) <ref name="Central Asia and the Caucasus"/>


{{cite book | last=Beissinger | first=M.R. | title=Nationalist Mobilization and the Collapse of the Soviet State | publisher=Cambridge University Press | series=ACLS Humanities E-Book | year=2002 | isbn=978-0-521-00148-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QNAiofG_-e0C&pg=PA71 | page=71}}-->
https://books.google.com/books?id=QNAiofG_-e0C&pg=PA71&dq=%221965%22+%22Yerevan%22+%22demonstrations%22+-Llc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xdFSUuy5Cseo4APxloHwDg&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%221965%22%20%22Yerevan%22%20%22demonstrations%22%20-Llc&f=false

-->
== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[Armenian Genocide]]
*[[Armenian genocide]]
*[[Tsitsernakaberd]]
*[[Tsitsernakaberd]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite journal |last1=Saparov |first1=Arsène |title=Re-negotiating the Boundaries of the Permissible: The National(ist) Revival in Soviet Armenia and Moscow's Response |journal=Europe-Asia Studies |date=2018 |volume=70 |issue=6 |pages=862–883 |doi=10.1080/09668136.2018.1487207|s2cid=158299827 }}


== External links ==
== External links ==
Line 66: Line 68:
{{Armenian nationalism}}
{{Armenian nationalism}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:1965 Yerevan Demonstrations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yerevan Demonstrations, 1965}}
[[Category:1965 in Armenia|Yerevan Demonstrations, 1965]]
[[Category:1965 in Armenia]]
[[Category:1965 in the Soviet Union|Yerevan demonstrations]]
[[Category:1965 in the Soviet Union|Yerevan demonstrations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Armenian genocide commemoration]]
[[Category:Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic]]
[[Category:Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic]]
[[Category:Protests in Armenia]]
[[Category:Protests in Armenia]]
Line 76: Line 78:
[[Category:1965 protests]]
[[Category:1965 protests]]
[[Category:20th century in Yerevan]]
[[Category:20th century in Yerevan]]
[[Category:April 1965 events]]
[[Category:April 1965 events in Europe]]

Latest revision as of 15:20, 29 April 2024

1965 Yerevan demonstrations
Medal created in Soviet Armenia. Obverse: "Eternal Memory to the Martyrs of the Holocaust" in Armenian. Dually dated 1915 and 1965. View of the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Tsitsernakaberd. Reverse: Flame in urn, 1915/1965 to upper left
Date24 April 1965
Location
Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
GoalsCommemoration and recognition of the Armenian genocide
Calls for annexation of Western Armenia[1]
Resulted inConstruction of Tsitsernakaberd
Parties
Protesters
Lead figures
Number
100,000+

The 1965 Yerevan demonstrations took place in Yerevan, Armenia on 24 April 1965, on the 50th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. It is said that this event constitutes the first step in the struggle for the recognition of the Armenian genocide of 1915.[2]

On 24 April 1965, for the first time for any such demonstration in the entire Soviet Union,[3] 100,000[4][5] protesters held a 24-hour demonstration in front of the Opera House on the 50th anniversary of the commencement of the Armenian genocide, and demanded that the Soviet Union government officially recognize the Armenian genocide committed by the Young Turks in the Ottoman Empire, and build a memorial in Armenia's capital city of Yerevan to perpetuate the memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide.

The posters said "Just solution to the Armenian question" and other nationalistic slogans concerning Western Armenia, Karabakh and Nakhichevan.

To the shouts of "our land, our lands," the major demonstration marked a substantial awakening of Armenian consciousness in Soviet Armenia. Taking into account the demonstrators' demands, the Kremlin commissioned a memorial for the genocide and the 1.5 million Armenians who perished. The memorial, located on Tsitsernakaberd hill, was completed in 1967, just in time for the 53rd anniversary of the beginning of the genocide. The building of this memorial to the fallen of the genocide was the first step in honoring important events and figures in Armenia's long history. Monuments honoring the Armenian victories in Sardarapat and Bash Abaran against the Ottoman Turks in 1918, among others, were later built one after the other.

Following the example of this demonstration [citation needed], similar protests were made throughout the world by the Armenian diaspora. Since the day of the protests, Armenians (and people from many of the former republics of the Soviet Union and all over the world as well) visit the memorial and make protests around the world to gain acceptance of the Armenian genocide by Turkey and to honor the millions of Armenian deaths during this sad period of Armenian history.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cornell, Svante E. (2001). Small nations and great powers: a study of ethnopolitical conflict in the Caucasus. Richmond: Curzon. p. 63. ISBN 9780700711628.
  2. ^ Lindy, Jacob D. (2001). Beyond invisible walls: the psychological legacy of Soviet trauma, East European therapists and their patients. New York: Brunner-Routledge. p. 192. ISBN 9781583913185.
  3. ^ Conny Mithander, John Sundholm & Maria Holmgren Troy (2007). Collective traumas: memories of war and conflict in 20th-century Europe. Bruxelles: P.I.E.P. Lang. p. 33. ISBN 9789052010687.
  4. ^ Shelley, Louise I. (1996). Policing Soviet society. New York: Routledge. p. 183. ISBN 9780415104708.
  5. ^ Beissinger, Mark R. (2002). Nationalist mobilization and the collapse of the Soviet State. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. p. 71. ISBN 9780521001489.

Further reading[edit]

  • Saparov, Arsène (2018). "Re-negotiating the Boundaries of the Permissible: The National(ist) Revival in Soviet Armenia and Moscow's Response". Europe-Asia Studies. 70 (6): 862–883. doi:10.1080/09668136.2018.1487207. S2CID 158299827.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1965_Yerevan_demonstrations&oldid=1221374920"