On Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day Putin calls it one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century

In a message marking Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin honoured the memory of the victims, calling the tragedy one of the most terrible of the 20th century.

"Russia bows its head before the memory of the hundreds of thousands of victims of the genocide of the Armenian people," the message said. Putin recalled the brutal killing of defenceless people and their expulsion from their native towns and villages.

According to the Russian president, the consequences of the tragedy clearly demonstrate the dangers of inciting religious hatred, nationalism and xenophobia.

Russia recognised the Armenian Genocide in 1995. In Yerevan on 24 April tens of thousands of people traditionally went to the Tsitsernakaberd memorial.