The opening of two Armenian restaurants in Russia has caused a stir in Turkey over a perceived drive to brand a popular Turkish pizza-like food as an Armenian national dish.

‘Lamadjo’, as it is known in Armenian, or ‘lahmacun’ in Turkish, is a thin circular piece of dough topped with minced meat or lamb, tomatoes, parsley and spices which is then baked, and is claimed as a national foodstuff by both countries.

The seemingly innocuous restaurant openings - reported in a Turkish newspaper earlier this month - have caused outrage in Turkey, leading to a spate of media coverage and even television shows explaining why the dish is Turkish and not Armenian, al-Monitor reported.

Relations between the neighbours are notoriously fragile thanks to Turkey’s continued denial of the historically accepted 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide - and diplomatic channels between the two do not officially exist.

It’s not the first time food has caused diplomatic tensions between Ankara and Yerevan, either: Turkey was outraged when ‘lavash’, a tortilla like flatbread, was described on Unesco’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as “an expression of Armenian culture” in 2014.

The decision led to protests in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, all of whom claimed it was a regional rather than an Armenian food. The issue is still on the menu at next month’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which will be hosted by Unesco in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Show all 10 1 /10 Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Armenian people carry torches during a march to commemorate the mass killings of Armenians Getty Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Armenian people take part in a march in commemoration of the 101th anniversary of the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman forces in 1915 Getty Armenians mark 101 years since genocide People hold a flag during the laying of the flowers at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Getty Armenians mark 101 years since genocide President Serzh Sargsyan and actor George Clooney attend the laying of the flowers at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Getty Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Armenian clergymen, US actor George Clooney, center, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, second right front, and guests attend a ceremony at a memorial to Armenians killed by the Ottoman Turks, in Yerevan AP Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian (C,R) and US actor George Clooney (C) attend a ceremony at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Getty Armenians mark 101 years since genocide A general view of attendees and mount Ararat during the laying of the flowers at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Getty Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Lebanese of Armenian descent burn an effigy of Turkish president Erdogan during a protest in front the house of Turkish Ambassador to mark the 101st anniversary of the mass killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915, near Beirut, Lebanon EPA Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Activists hold portraits of victims during a silent demonstration to commemorate the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in Istanbul Reuters Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Activists hold portraits of victims during a silent demonstration to commemorate the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in Istanbul Reuters

Armenia is not the only country Turkey has been at odds with over food in the past. Culinary spats born of deep historical tensions - including wars and forced movement of people - have led to ‘trademark wars’ with both Cyprus and Greece over halloumi, olives and baklava too, al-Monitor says.