Armenian genocide, still a political hot potato, is about to land at the Eurovision song contest - Quartz

13:01 • 13.02.15
Culture

By Annalisa Merelli


Do not be fooled by the song and dance; the Eurovision Song Contest really is about international politics.


This year’s edition of Europe’s top kitsch-fest, which will be held in Vienna May 19-23, had already promised plenty of intrigue, with Ukraine withdrawing from the contest, Russia organizing a competing event (while still going for a Eurovision win), and the decidedly non-European nation of Australia planning to make its contest debut.


Now comes word that Armenia will present a song evoking the aftermath of the Armenian genocide.

This year’s Eurovision contest roughly coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Ottoman empire’s decimation of its Armenian minority. More than 1 million people who were living in what’s now Turkey were killed. Others scattered, seeding the modern Armenian diaspora.

The genocide, which began in April 1915, is still denied by the Turkish government; a trial underway in the European Court of Human Rights Court will test whether outlawing its denial is a violation of free speech.

Armenia will take part in Eurovision with a song evocatively titled Don’t deny, by Genealogy. The group will be comprised of artists from the Armenian diaspora—one each from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, and Europe—who will be joined on stage by an Armenian performer.

 

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