The Turkish Armenian community is in the spotlight because of the approaching anniversary of the 1915 mass killings that Turkey does not recognize as a genocide. Melih Gokcek, the controversial mayor of Ankara, made headlines when he sued a Turkish Armenian journalist for insult after he jokingly called Gokcek "Armenian." Recently, a senior adviser of the prime minister, Turkish Armenian journalist Etyen Mahcupyan, claimed that he "feels Ottoman rather than Armenian." He got a prompt reaction by arguably the most popular Turk of Armenian ancestry.
Referring to the way the president excused himself when uttering the word “Armenian,” rock musician Hayko Cepkin tweeted: “RTE [Erdogan's initials]: ‘I beg your pardon, Armenians,’ having Etyen Mahcupyan as an example. If this was the case, I take no offense.” He later explained that he usually keeps his distance from controversies, but this time he felt compelled to say something.
