NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani marks Armenian Genocide anniversary, links past atrocities to Artsakh displacement

(Horizon Media / NEW YORK) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a statement on April 24 marking the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, commemorating the 1.5 million Armenians killed by the Ottoman Empire and drawing a direct connection between historical atrocities and recent developments in Artsakh.

In his message, the mayor underscored the importance of remembrance, while warning against the dangers of repetition. He highlighted the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh, during which Azerbaijani forces, backed by Turkey, launched a large-scale military offensive against the region’s Armenian population.

The statement also pointed to the events of 2023, when more than 100,000 Armenians were forcibly displaced from Artsakh, describing it as a continuation of a broader pattern of violence and dispossession.

Framing the issue within a broader human rights context, the mayor reaffirmed the right of Armenians, and all peoples, to live in freedom, security, and self-determination.

The statement comes as Armenian communities around the world mark April 24 with commemorative events, while continuing to raise concerns over ongoing regional instability and the long-term consequences of displacement in Artsakh.