107th anniversary of the Pontic Greek genocide commemoration

May 19 marks 107 years since the most violent phase of the campaign against the Greek population of the Pontus region, an event officially recognized as a genocide by Greece and Cyprus. Historical records state that between 1914 and 1923, an estimated 353,000 Greeks were killed, displaced, or died in forced labor battalions known as Amele Taburu. While Greek officials, including Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, commemorate these events as a systematic attempt at ethnic cleansing, Turkish historiography characterizes the period as a national liberation struggle. The commemorations in the Hellenic Parliament emphasize that these events represent a live historical truth rather than a passive memory. Educational institutions in Cyprus have officially integrated the history of this genocide into their curriculum to preserve collective memory. Officials highlight the tragedy as a consequence of nationalist policies enacted during the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of the Young Turks movement. The event remains a point of significant diplomatic tension and a catalyst for calls for international recognition and historical justice.