Shortly after the start of WW1 the Ottoman Empire began forcible expulsion of Armenians from the empire . Women , children and elderly people were forced to leave Armenia and go to Syria and Russia . 1 to 1.5 million people were killed in what is now known as the Armenian Genocide . Following the genocide , the Armenian National Council Declared its sovereignty on 28 May 1918 . Armenia was proclaimed an independent republic on May 28 , 1918 . The republic immediately experienced massive hunger , and a massive influx of refugees . The republic was short lived , and as of December 2 , 1920 , the Red Army entered Armenia and it was proclaimed it a Soviet Republic . Armenia regained its independence as the current Republic of Armenia in 1991 . The Republic of Armenia celebrated its first Republic Day with a parade on Republic Square , led by Lieutenant General Norat Ter-Grigoryants
Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
Republic Day (Armenia)