April 24

April 24 is marked by Armenians around the world as Armenian Genocide memorial day. The date is significant because on April 24, 1915, about 250 Armenian intellectuals and leaders were rounded up in Ottoman Turkey and for the most part murdered by the state. The leaderless Armenian population then followed suit, although massacres had been already happening before that date in 1915 as well.

Most Armenian communities have built their own Armenian Genocide Monuments, where they gather to commemorate the genocide. Protests at Turkish Embassies and Consulates demanding recognition are also held.

Armenian Leadership Arrested

Some of the about 250 Armenian leaders arrested on the night of April 24 in Constantinople included the following people.

• Daniel Varoujan
• Krikor Zohrab
• Siamanto (Adam Yarjanian)
• Levon Shant
• Silvio Ricci
• Agnuni
• Zartarian
• Khazhag
• Shahrigian
• Jihangiulian
• Dr. Daghvarian
• Sarkis Minasian
• Dr. Chillingerian
• Onnig Maghazadjian

The following people were arrested and witnessed the death of many of their fellows, but survived.

• Komitas (lost his mind)
• Krikoris Balakian (wrote Golgotha, a memoir about this)
• Dr. Khachig Boghosia (survived and wrote about it)