This lecture explores the roots of Armenian Genocide denialist discourse and its construction as part of the official Ottoman state narrative. Drawing on Ottoman archival documents, diplomatic correspondences from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and contemporary publications,
Ekrem Yener examines the evolution of these denialist policies. He highlights how various ministries coordinated to shape the industry of denialism and underscores the role of high-ranking state bureaucrats—especially diplomats—as desk perpetrators (Schreibtischtäter). Yener also uses various archival documents to demonstrate that denial was not only a post-genocide development, but an intrinsic part of the genocidal process itself.