“The election of Georges Kepenekian, Armenian by origin, as mayor of Lyon is a great honor and joy for French Armenians. he plays a big role in promoting recognition of the Armenian Genocide. His parents survived the Genocide, “Besides, he is an honorable citizen of Karabakh as he visited Karabakh many times and helped people there. He also provided assistance for training of local doctors,” she noted.

It was by 49 votes out of 72 voters that Georges Képénékinan 1st deputy mayor of Lyon was elected in the late afternoon mayor to the succession of Gérard Collomb. An election without surprise in Lyon since it is Gérard Collomb, the mayor who became minister, himself wished to pass the torch of the city to the one who was its First deputy since 2014. An election which is the pride of the Armenian community of France but also resonates with all the twin cities of Lyon, especially Yerevan, since the two cities are twinned for a long time and maintain regular exchanges.

This election also crowns the exceptional journey of a grandson of genocide survivor who had never imagined such a fate because Kevork for the Armenian community but “képé” for the Lyonnais is first doctor. He made his debut with Professor Marion’s pioneering artificial heart. Georges Kepenekian became a surgeon and then specialized in urology, and became the patron of the urology department of Saint Joseph-Saint-Luc Hospital, where he was still consulting a few years ago.