The Armenian Genocide initiated in the Ottoman Empire during the World War I in the beginning of the previous century is one of the biggest crimes against humanity. Advancing the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide the new project introduced by "Armenpress" news agency is dedicated to the story of the eyewitnesses and survivors of the calamity to prove the world one more time that our demand for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is fair and justified. This time the project is dedicated to the story of 98-year old Baghdasar Lepejyan.  

YEREVAN, MAY 21, ARMENPRESS. Baghdasar Lepejyan's memories are linked with his birthplace Adana. Baghdasar is now surrounded by his 12 grandsons, 7 great grandsons and 2 great great grandsons, Years passed, but the bitter pain for the lost motherland has never abandoned 98-year old Grandpa Baghdasar. Baghdasar stated: "My father was a merchant. Mostly my parents told me about our home in Adana and our family, because it was 40 days after my birth, that we were forced to leave our house." Baghdasar's parents told him that the Turkish acquaintances of his father came and warned him in advance about the initiated massacres. In the result of this the family had to migrate in the times of organized mass exile and slaughter.

Among other things the eyewitness stressed: "We managed to migrate to Aleppo, because my father has arranged everything. He paid gold and hired a camel, due to which we managed to migrate to Aleppo along with 6 other families." Although, his uncle's family was slaughtered in Adana.

In addition Grandpa Baghdasar noted: "In my opinion the Armenian Genocide will be recognized. I am very hopeful." He has not left his house for 10 years because of deterioration of his health conditions, but he speaks about his willingness to protect the homeland with arms. "Even in these conditions I shall take rifle and if I cannot go out of the house, I'll shoot from above," he said. (THE FULL VERSION OF THE ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)

Article by Tatevik Grigoryan

Photos by Felix Arustamyan