First-ever Armenian lawsuit filed against Turkish government

Armenian-American lawyers filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the Turkish government and two banks seeking compensation for the heirs of Armenians whose property was allegedly seized nearly a hundred years ago, when the 1915 Genocide was committed against civil Armenian population of Turkey.

Attorney Brian Kabateck said the process could take as long as three years, while attorneys are seeking class-action status for the case.

The suit was filed on behalf of plaintiffs Garbis Davouyan of Los Angeles and Hrayr Turabian of Queens, N.Y. It alleges breach of statutory trust, unjust enrichment, human rights violations and violations of international law, the Associated Press reported.

The case is the first Armenian lawsuit directly naming the Turkish government as a defendant. Also named are the Central Bank of Turkey and T.C., Ziraat Bankasi.

"All of the lawyers involved have relatives who perished or fled the Armenian genocide, which gives it a special poignancy for us," Attorney Mark Geragos is quoted by AP as saying.

The lawsuit claims the government of Turkey agreed to administer the property, collect rents and sale proceeds from the seized assets and deposit the receipts in trust accounts until the property could be restored to owners. Instead, the government has "withheld the property and any income derived from such property," the lawsuit said.