Ankara has responded to Putin's statement on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide for the second time.
Turkish MFA statement reads: "We reject and condemn the labelling of the 1915 events as "genocide" by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, despite all our warnings and calls. Such political statements, which are flagrant violation of law, are null and void for Turkey. Taking into account the mass atrocities and exiles in Caucasus, in the Middle East and Eastern Europe committed by Russia for a century; collective punishment methods such as Holodomor as well as inhumane practices especially against Turkish and Muslim people in Russia's own history, we consider that Russia is best-suited to know what exactly "genocide" and its legal dimension are. The participation of the Russian President in the April 24th ceremonies in Yerevan, the show stage of the centennial propaganda campaign of Armenia, should be considered in this context as well".
TASS reports that the Turkish MFA emphasizes the Russian president can do one thing - withdraw his biased stance and positively contribute to Turkey's calls upon Armenia to establish friendship and peace.
To note, Russia extends its cordial condolences to Armenian people, who suffered one of the greatest tragedies of the world. 1.5 mln Armenians were killed, 600 thsd were deported, unique historical and architectural monuments and invaluable books and manuscripts were destroyed in 1915, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemoration event at Tsitsernalaberd Memorial Complex in Yerevan on April 24.