Lemkin's descendants accuse pro-Armenian group of twisting his anti-genocide principles Legacy hijacked

An article in The Algemeiner, a respected American publication, sheds light on the activities of the Lemkin Institute — a group that claims to uphold the principles of Raphael Lemkin, the originator of the term "genocide," but whose involvement in various political conflicts appears far from impartial.

The piece reports the growing outrage of Lemkin’s descendants over the Institute's actions.

According to his relatives, the organization has co-opted Lemkin’s name to promote biased views, making inflammatory accusations against Israel and supporting initiatives they believe contradict his legacy.

The Lemkin family argues that the Institute’s behaviour misrepresents Raphael Lemkin’s ideas, and they are actively considering measures such as issuing public statements, lodging complaints, and even taking legal action to prevent further misuse of his name.

This controversy is of particular interest to Azerbaijan, as the same Lemkin Institute has persistently levelled unfounded accusations against the country. For example, it has dispatched four open letters to prominent Western leaders — including Charles Michel, President of the European Council; Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor; Emmanuel Macron, the President of France; and Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State — urging them to drastically alter their policies toward Azerbaijan.

Moreover, in 2023, the Institute issued an ominous “Red Flag” alert, warning of an alleged imminent Azerbaijani invasion of Armenia — a prediction that proved baseless.

Returning to The Algemeiner article, Lemkin's family firmly opposes the Institute’s use of his name, especially to push an anti-Israel narrative that undermines his legacy. The family views this as a profound misrepresentation and violation of Lemkin’s memory, prompting them to contemplate formal actions to prevent further distortions.

Such entities, cloaked in the legitimacy of well-known names but driven by dubious agendas, continue to cast criticism on Azerbaijan, among others, often without justification.

By Tamilla Hasanova