Zareh Sinanyan Applauds Andranik Kocharyan's Call for Scientific Approach to Genocide Recognition

Diaspora Affairs Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan expressed his support in a recent interview with Factor TV, for the sentiments shared by ruling MP Andranik Kocharyan, signaling what he believes to be the initiation of a more scientific approach to the recognition of fratricide.

"I really like what Mr. Kocharyan said, because this is actually the beginning of a much more scientific and objective realization of the genocide discussion, deeper recognition process," Sinanyan remarked during the interview.

Kocharyan, a deputy of the ruling "Civil Contract" faction of the National Assembly, had voiced his opinion on the matter during an appearance on "Azatutyan." He emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, suggesting that if the death toll is estimated at a million and a half Armenians, there should be an effort to compile and document a corresponding list of names.

"I know that the Prime Minister also aims to build real foundations related to the Genocide, to make the entire list of our compatriots subjected to the Genocide more objective," Kocharyan stated, addressing concerns about the recognition process possibly deviating from its original goals.

However, former Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan expressed strong opposition to the idea, labeling it as "absolutely unacceptable" and a direct affront to Armenian identity and statehood. Tatoyan criticized the notion of creating a list of 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide as it could be perceived as undermining the gravity of the crime and pandering to Turkish denialist narratives.

Tatoyan's sentiments were echoed by genocide scholars and advocates who emphasized that the number of victims should not be subject to debate or used as a metric for acknowledging genocide. They stressed that genocide is defined by the intent to destroy a particular group based on ethnic, national, racial, or religious identity, rather than by a specific death toll.

Furthermore, equating the Armenian Genocide with terms like "Great Generation" was deemed unacceptable, as it undermines the legal and historical significance of genocide as an internationally recognized crime.