22:27, 22 January 2007

Russian society condemns the murder of Armenian journalist in Turkey

Representatives of Russian society have issued a joint statement condemning the murder in Turkey of Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of the "Akos" Armenian newspaper. At the editorial board of the "Erkramas" newspaper of Russia Armenians, the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot" was told that the statement signed by Viktor Krivopuskov, President of the Russian-Armenian Friendship and Cooperation Society, Yuri Navoyan, President of the Russian-Armenian Commonwealth, and Emmanuil Dolbakyan, Chairman of the Board of the "Ararat" Armenian Cultural-Enlightenment Society, runs that the murder became possible due to Turkey's state policy of denial of the Armenians' genocide, systematic stirring up of the hatred to Armenians in the Turkish society, and discrimination of national minorities in Turkey.

"The political motive of Hrant Dink's murder has become another evidence of the fact that Turkey is not ready yet to reconsider the sombre pages of its history and to take by doing this a decent place amidst the community of civilized states," the statement runs.