AAE: Grant Dink, who wrote about Armenians' genocide, died for democracy

The murder of Grant Dink was not occasional: he died for defending democracy, and he had been sued repeatedly for breaching Article 301 of the Criminal Code of Turkey, which forbids mentioning the genocide of Armenians in 1915-1922. This is asserted by the lobbyist organization Assembly of Armenians of Europe (AAE) in its statement dated to the third anniversary of the murder of Grant Dink, a journalist of Armenian origin, committed in Istanbul.

"Prior to claim for membership in the European Union, Turkey should reconcile with its past, and then, once having chosen the democratic and good-neighbourhood way, make radical changes in its legislation and initiate practical steps towards amending the statehood and system of values. On the third anniversary of Grant Dink's murder, having re-iterated its deep condolence to his family, the ??? addresses the words of gratitude to all citizens and organizations of Turkey who struggle for democracy and also condemn the horrifying genocide accomplished against the Armenian nation. The ??? expresses its solidarity with all the parties and organizations of Europe, which link Turkey's membership in the EU with its complete democratization," the Armenians of Europe mark in their statement.

They also remind that for 20 years already Turkey holds Armenia, which has no access to the sea, in blockade, breaking the international law.

Meanwhile, on January 19, actions in memory of Grant Dink started in Istanbul. In particular, a memory march was held by a group of Turkish intellectuals.