Genocide Remembrance Day is observed annually in Armenia on 24 April. It honours the victims of the Armenian Genocide, with the principal gathering taking place at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex in Yerevan.
The date marks the arrest of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders by Ottoman authorities in Constantinople on 24 April 1915. These arrests are commonly regarded as the beginning of the Armenian Genocide, during which Armenian communities across the Ottoman Empire were subjected to deportation and widespread violence, resulting in deaths on a vast scale. Soviet Armenia formally designated 24 April as a day of remembrance in 1988, and it is now an official non-working day under Armenian law.
Commemorations on 24 April
Throughout the day, people walk to Tsitsernakaberd and lay flowers around the eternal flame. Those attending include people from across Armenia, members of the Armenian diaspora and official delegations.
Religious services and other commemorative events are also held elsewhere in Armenia and among Armenian communities abroad. The occasion has a quiet and solemn character.
Visitors should expect large crowds around Tsitsernakaberd. Temporary traffic restrictions are typically introduced nearby, and access by car may be limited. The Armenian Genocide Museum normally extends its opening hours on 24 April, but travellers should check the current schedule and transport arrangements in advance. Quiet and respectful behaviour is appropriate throughout the complex.