Genocide Denial

Last updated: May 29, 2026

Genocide denial refers to the systematic refusal by Turkey and Azerbaijan to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide of 1915–1923, in which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire. Turkey rejects the genocide characterization entirely and has long wielded diplomatic and economic leverage to discourage foreign governments from recognizing it. Azerbaijan amplifies Turkey’s position and has increasingly framed its own narratives around the Karabakh conflict in terms designed to undercut Armenian historical claims.

Denial operates at multiple levels: official state positions that dispute the historical record, pressure on third countries considering recognition legislation, funding of counter-narrative academic and lobbying efforts, and, in the Azerbaijani case, public statements that have been widely condemned as incitement. Armenia’s government under Nikol Pashinyan has at times drawn criticism domestically for subordinating genocide recognition language to the demands of the peace process — a charge of what critics have called de facto normalization of denial.

Groong covers genocide denial as both a historical and a live political issue: the ongoing recognition campaigns in diaspora communities, legislative debates in countries like the United States, France, and Canada, the Pashinyan government’s approach to the genocide in the context of peace talks, and the role of denial in Azerbaijani and Turkish state rhetoric toward Armenia.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Genocide Denial.

Arthur Khachatryan - Mirzoyan in Moscow, Kostanyan in Tehran, Mher Grigoryan on the Border, FIS Annual Report, Silence of the Lambs | Ep 409, Jan 26, 2025 [EP408]

Posted on Thursday, Jan 30, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Economy, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Armenian Church, Armenian Genocide, Iran, European Union, Genocide, Syria, Lebanon, NATO, Middle East, Ukraine, Human Rights

Guest:

Topics:

  • Mirzoyan in Moscow
  • Vahan Kostanyan in Tehran
  • Mher Grigoryan on the Border (concessions)
  • FIS Annual Report 2025
  • The Silence of the Lambs

Episode 408 | Recorded: January 29, 2025

Elisa von Joeden-Forgey - Lemkin Inst, Genocide in Artsakh, Pashinyan Genocide Denial, Gaza, other | Ep 341 - June 28, 2024 [EP341]

Posted on Friday, Jun 28, 2024 | Category: Genocide, Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Human Rights, Armenian Genocide, Israel, Turkey, Russia, China, Economy, Middle East, Ukraine, India | Series: cog

Guest:

Topics:

  • Background on the Lemkin Institute
  • Genocide in Artsakh
  • Armenian Government’s Genocide Denial
  • Gaza and other Genocides

Episode 341 | Recorded: June 25, 2024

Elisa von Joeden-Forgey - Lemkin Inst, Genocide in Artsakh, Pashinyan Genocide Denial, Gaza, other | Ep 341 - June 28, 2024 [EP341]

Posted on Friday, Jun 28, 2024 | Category: Genocide, Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Human Rights, Armenian Genocide, Israel, Turkey, Russia, China, Economy, Middle East, Ukraine, India

Guest:

Topics:

  • Background on the Lemkin Institute
  • Genocide in Artsakh
  • Armenian Government’s Genocide Denial
  • Gaza and other Genocides

Episode 341 | Recorded: June 25, 2024

Edgar Elbakyan - 109th Commemorations of the Armenian Genocide | Pashinyan Concedes Tavush Territories | Russia Withdrawing Peacekeepers from Artsakh | Ep 326 - Apr 21, 2024 [EP326]

Posted on Thursday, Apr 25, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, European Union, Genocide, Iran, Georgia, Ukraine, Geopolitics | Series: wir

Guest:

Topics:

  • 109th Commemorations of the Armenian Genocide
  • Pashinyan Concedes Tavush Territories
  • Russia Withdrawing Peacekeepers from Artsakh

Episode 326 | Recorded: April 24, 2024

Edgar Elbakyan - 109th Commemorations of the Armenian Genocide | Pashinyan Concedes Tavush Territories | Russia Withdrawing Peacekeepers from Artsakh | Ep 326 - Apr 21, 2024 [EP326]

Posted on Thursday, Apr 25, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, European Union, Genocide, Iran, Georgia, Ukraine, Geopolitics

Guest:

Topics:

  • 109th Commemorations of the Armenian Genocide
  • Pashinyan Concedes Tavush Territories
  • Russia Withdrawing Peacekeepers from Artsakh

Episode 326 | Recorded: April 24, 2024

Benyamin Poghosyan - Genocide Denial by the Armenian Government | Armenia Azerbaijan Talks | Iran Amidst Conflicts | Political Prisoners | Ep 324 - Apr 14, 2024 [EP324]

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Israel, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Russia, Turkey, Syria, Middle East, Georgia, Ukraine, European Union, Human Rights, Geopolitics, NATO | Series: wir

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Iran Amidst Conflicts
  • Political Prisoners

Episode 324 | Recorded: April 16, 2024

Benyamin Poghosyan - Genocide Denial by the Armenian Government | Armenia Azerbaijan Talks | Iran Amidst Conflicts | Political Prisoners | Ep 324 - Apr 14, 2024 [EP324]

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Israel, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Russia, Turkey, Syria, Middle East, Georgia, Ukraine, European Union, Human Rights, Geopolitics, NATO

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Iran Amidst Conflicts
  • Political Prisoners

Episode 324 | Recorded: April 16, 2024

Earthquake in Turkey and Syria | Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict | Lavrov Interview | EU and CSTO Missions | Shifting Public Perceptions | Yerevan Political Shuffle | Ep 224 - Feb 12, 2023 [EP224]

Posted on Sunday, Feb 12, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Syria, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Ukraine, China, India, Geopolitics, Genocide, Georgia, Israel, Lebanon | Series: wir

Guest:

Topic:

  • Earthquake in Turkey and Syria
  • Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
    • FM Lavrov’s Interview to Russian Media
    • EU vs CSTO Missions
    • Shifting Public Perceptions
  • Political Shuffles in Yerevan

Episode 224 | Recorded: February 12, 2023

Earthquake in Turkey and Syria | Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict | Lavrov Interview | EU and CSTO Missions | Shifting Public Perceptions | Yerevan Political Shuffle | Ep 224 - Feb 12, 2023 [EP224]

Posted on Sunday, Feb 12, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Syria, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Ukraine, China, India, Geopolitics, Genocide, Georgia, Israel, Lebanon

Guest:

Topic:

  • Earthquake in Turkey and Syria
  • Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
    • FM Lavrov’s Interview to Russian Media
    • EU vs CSTO Missions
    • Shifting Public Perceptions
  • Political Shuffles in Yerevan

Episode 224 | Recorded: February 12, 2023