Armenia: Putin joins Armenian leader for 100th mass-killings anniversary

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at the 'Tsitsernakaberd' Memorial Complex at the Armenian Genocide Museum Friday, to take part in a commemorative event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the mass killings of Armenians in the former Ottoman Empire. A ceremony is set to take place and afterwards Putin will deliver a speech and hold talks with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan. Putin was joined by a diverse range of delegates, including those sent from Germany, the UK, the USA and the Vatican City. Each of the leaders and delegates shook hands with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and his wife Rita after they were greeted by a child holding their respective flags. They also approached a wreath where they laid a single flower on a floral plaque. Armenian soldiers then moved the wreath before Sargsyan laid his flower on the plaque before a choir, which was made up of children holding the respective flags of the countries that have delegates in attendance. President Serzh Sargsyan released a statement demanding Turkish authorities recognise the mass kilings as a "genocide" on Monday 20. Sargsyan went on to urge the Turkish leadership to take responsibility for the crimes beginning in 1915. Russia has officially recognised the mass-killings as "genocide" twice: once in 1995 and then a second time in 2005.