Archives: Magazine

This was the year we were forced to confront our worst collective nightmare. One that fractured lives and shattered assumptions about ourselves. What is the path forward?

The general state of flux and lack of clarity following the collapse of Artsakh—including the peace process—has produced a great deal of uncertainty, precipitating important questions about nationhood, state-building, and how to move forward. Armenia must assess the challenges, threats and risks of its security environment and clarify a new architecture that reflects state and national interests.

In anticipation of violence while discussing peace, in the face of loss and defeat, amid historical shifts in regional and international realities on one hand, and the imperative to be resilient on the other, perspective can emerge from lucid discourse and subject-specific insight.

To be law-abiding, one must have a comprehensive understanding of the law, and to safeguard your rights, familiarity with current legal norms is essential. There are no set regulations on how frequently laws can be amended. However, in the dynamic landscape of politics and society, legislators should continually adjust regulations to align with current realities. The legitimacy of public expectations is jeopardized not by the quantity, but by the quality of changes.

Not everything has its place and not everything’s function or dysfunction can be fine tuned for a description. Raw & Unfiltered is that space on EVN Report, where some of the most critical stories, some of our most dysfunctional, domestic and utilitarian elements coexist alongside narratives, history and the hypothetical much like a society, any society, a  catch-all drawer of Armenia, its past, the Armenian diaspora, the histories of both.

The IT sector in Armenia is a strategic direction for the development of the country thanks to the relatively high level of scientific and educational potential of the population. Creative Tech is an attempt to take a pragmatic look at the tech industry including the science and innovation landscape. To emerge as a serious player in the global tech sector, Armenia needs to foster an environment that allows technology companies to achieve their business goals.

The articles in this section of EVN Report attempt to turn the tide and give a much-needed critical spotlight to the forgotten, ignored, misunderstood, unseen, silenced and even derided cultural phenomena that weave the fabric of our collective past and present. From the mundane to the extraordinary, the topics addressed here reveal the remarkable dynamism of both historical, as well as contemporary Armenian social practices.

In this second part of a series about Yerevan, Lilit Avagyan traces the development of municipal governance of the country’s capital from the fall of the Soviet Union to the recent election of Yerevan’s new mayor.

While the Yerevan elections displayed a healthy growth in pluralism, with five political parties entering the Council of Elders, it also introduced the concerns of low turnout and the specter that is haunting most democratic systems: voter apathy. At the same time, the political landscape has undergone a shift, for the period of one party being the darling of the electorate is over, as is the era of fearing the anti-Velvet forces as a threat to the electoral field.

Ahead of municipal elections in Yerevan, Lilit Avagyan takes the reader on a journey of the capital city’s history, from foreign invasions to the fall of the First Armenian Republic to the Soviet era.

While city councils are typically primarily concerned with issues like building permits, public transportation and garbage collection, several opposition candidates in the upcoming municipal election in Yerevan are channeling the post-war zeitgeist in which national security is the top issue.

Ahead of municipal elections in Yerevan, Roubina Margossian writes that this fascinatingly adaptable city has hosted thousands of immigrants and a record breaking number of tourists this year, but its resources are running thin and the time before it can no longer catch up with its own development is fast running out.

Wrestling is a mainstay sport in Armenia. Reminiscent of the traditional “kokh” sport popular among Armenians in the past, which was often accompanied by folk tunes during competitions, wrestling remains a favorite among sports fans.

While Armenia may be small in size and power, its national weightlifting team is one of the best in Europe. Armenian weightlifters have electrified the public with their numerous victories, and they continue to inspire each other with their record-breaking achievements.

While it is generally accepted that Armenians fare better in individual rather than group sports, football, the world’s number one group sport, still remains a favorite, and despite promising developments in the sport, challenges persist.

Henrik Hakobyan, captain of Armenia’s national water polo team, was killed by an Azerbaijani missile on the first night of the 2020 Artsakh War. Three years on, his legacy continues to inspire water polo athletes.

Despite many challenges and hurdles, the legacy of the forefathers of Armenian artistic gymnastics — Albert Azaryan and Hrant Shahinyan — continues on today as Armenian gymnasts prepare to bring home more medals.

A sports college, located in a suburb of Yerevan, is one of Armenia’s most important athletic institutions that strives to prepare athletes for the country’s national teams, to even become Olympians.

Although relatively unknown, Armenia is a country where culture meets innovation. Situated between Europe and Asia, it has been able to draw on the strengths of both worlds. Despite the geopolitical reality, now is the time to open a business in Armenia, writes Hovsep Patvakanyan.

In this Q&A, founding partner of HIVE Ventures and partner at Index Ventures, Nina Achadjian discusses her experience in venture capital and where she sees the Armenian ecosystem heading with EVN Report’s Njdeh Satourian.

Being unafraid of testing and failing multiple times is essential for continuous learning and growth. Meaningful progress can be achieved by guiding innovation efforts through a deliberate and strategic approach over the next 20-30 years, writes Armen Orujyan.

The 20th century witnessed unprecedented technological leaps for several forward-thinking nations, significantly improving the well-being of their economies and societies. This was the product of deliberate public-private efforts aimed at fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and growth in strategic areas.

Since the 2020 Artsakh War, discussions about Armenia-Diaspora collaboration have become more active. Through his own personal experience, scientist Hrant Khachatrian lays out his vision for effective cooperation.

The tech industry in Armenia has seen tremendous growth in size, success of new start-ups and performance against objective measures. How close is the country to another “inflection point” signaling entry into the next stage and level of growth and success?

The decay of cinema as an intellectual and creative medium is difficult to deny and poster art, that once acted as a visual portal into the film’s world and less as a means of direct advertisement, has been replaced by nondescript and formulaic film advertising.

Armenia’s local film industry has managed to slowly bounce back after nearly two decades of stasis with an average of 25 features per year. But do these films truly reflect the realities of the people and the country that they purport to represent?

The remarkable contributions to the development of Armenian animation by female artists have yet to be explored and properly appreciated. In her latest article, Sona Karapoghosyan unearths a veritable pleiad of women animators.

Anush Vardanyan sheds new light on the inspiring and tragic fate of the Armenian film industry’s spearheading founder, Daniel Dznuni.

Food and agro-processing in Armenia has a long history and is a crucial branch of its economy. Being a small country, however, Armenia can’t always compete with larger countries, instead, exports should focus on premium-class food products.

Successive Armenian governments have emphasized the importance of the diamond industry as a key branch of the economy. Despite fluctuations and challenges, the industry continues to be well-established in Armenia.

Creating economically complex, high value-added textile products is the key to competitiveness in global markets. However, the added value index of the textile sector in Armenia has decreased over the last three years, indicating a decline in productivity. What is the government doing?

By promoting manufacturing, Armenia can shift its economic reliance away from traditional sectors such as agriculture and mining and move toward value-added activities and create a path toward sustainable economic growth and prosperity.

Literature’s contours are often greatly defined by catastrophic events such as war, genocide and exile. While academic accounts tend to focus on the detached analytical overview, the Arts reflect the more emotionally engaged personal and subjective reactions to historical upheaval.

Yerevan had her novel, it was simply forgotten, removed from our memory. Contemporary prose shed light on the darkness of oblivion and helped us remember “Yerevan”, writes Tigran Amiryan.

A considerable volume of literature from antiquity to well-known 20th century writers is now available in Armenian. There is a need to expand the scope of translations from Spanish, one of the most spoken languages in the world, writes Alice Ter-Ghevondian.

Reading children's literature that includes characters with disabilities can be instrumental in changing attitudes and social stereotypes, writes Armenuhi Avagyan.

What does it mean to be a literary agent? What should one know about a job which can be time-consuming and exhausting but can also bring incredible satisfaction? Literary agent Arevik Ashkharoyan shares her thoughts and sometimes funny experiences.

For three decades, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been amassing weapons from a variety of foreign sources, with Russia leading the pack. EVN Report looks at the known suppliers… and supplies.

Armenia’s defeat in the 2020 Artsakh War highlighted the need to reform the country’s entire military system, from command to education. While authorities claim that reforms are underway, lack of clarity and transparency has become a critical problem.

Hard power is as intrinsic to political society as politics itself. While in modern times state behavior is qualified through a fusion of hard and soft power, the traditional canon of international relations has been defined by hard power, albeit with limits.

With many Armenians sensing that their country is facing an existential threat from its neighbors, more and more women are looking for ways to defend their country, beyond motherhood, writes Karena Avedissian.

Since the 2020 Artsakh War, Armenia has faced an uphill battle of recovering and upgrading its arsenal. The latest Azerbaijani invasion in September 2022, made the complexities of arms procurement, and the endeavor of doing so independent of Russia, central to Armenia’s strategy.

Attempts are being made to carry out military reforms as well as to form a capable Territorial Defense Force in Armenia, but these processes have been progressing slowly, writes defense analyst Leonid Nersisyan.

The global tech sector in 2022 was turbulent. The trend for venture capital investments shows that investors were much more cautious. What does this mean for the Armenian startup ecosystem?

In 2022, laws adopted in previous years came into force and others were brought before parliament and enacted. Here is a wrap-up of some of the most significant pieces of legislation that Armenia’s parliament adopted this year.

Against the backdrop of its failed security architecture and Azerbaijan’s ongoing hybrid warfare tactics over the past year, Armenia endeavored to “diplomatize” its security by engaging in active diplomacy.

Over the past year, Artsakh faced periods of heightened tensions as Baku continued its policy of harassment and terror including a blockade that has cut off the 120,000 residents of Artsakh from Armenia and the rest of the world.

In the context of ongoing regional strife in the Caucasus, the understanding of culture as an instrument of political agency and negotiation becomes especially vital as a mode of resistance and reinforcement for all the parties involved. Vigen Galstyan explains.

As one of Armenia’s intellectual and technology exports, TUMO has become a symbol of the country’s potential to innovate at a global scale. TUMO’s executive team share their thoughts on the significance of the program’s global expansion.

The United States has been projecting soft power in Armenia since the early days of independence; and while Russia has utilized its language and cultural heritage as soft power instruments, it still prefers coercive methods over soft power.

In this article, political scientist Georgi Asatryan, reviews the academic literature on the theory of soft power and then considers it in the context of Armenia.

The contemporary information environment is extremely conducive to hostile disinformation campaigns meant to manipulate domestic and foreign populations and is reshaping the power balance between democracies and autocracies.

Intensified military-political cooperation marked the beginning of a new chapter in Armenia-India relations. Political scientist Georgi Asatryan writes that it can have significant implications for the balance of power in the post-Soviet region, particularly the South Caucasus.

Once thought to be a problem solved by the collapse of empires in 1918, and of colonialism in the 1950s and 1960s, the concept of Empire has been resurfacing recently, propelling the world toward a model of domination.

Training of reserve forces has been taking place in Armenia for about a year, with the stated goal of improving military skills, combat readiness and professional training. Gohar Abrahamyan looks at some of the challenges.

For a nation that has experienced multiple instances of genocidal destruction, the protection of historical patrimony should have been an obsessive preoccupation and yet we have the tragic examples of the museums in Shushi and Hadrut.

Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, recent strategic, military, political and diplomatic developments demonstrate that things are shifting in Armenia, writes Gaidz Minassian.

Photojournalist Ani Gevorgyan captures the stories and images of families who are realizing the unfinished dreams of their sons who fell in the 2020 Artsakh War, creating living memorials to the heroes of our times.

Two years ago, on September 27, Armenians in Artsakh and Armenia woke up to news of war; today, on September 27, Armenians in Armenia and Artsakh will go to bed anticipating a new war.

For Armenia, domestic energy production is not a mere vanity goal, but a national security priority. As a country devoid of any apparent fossil fuel deposits, energy security means renewable energy. Raffi Elliot explains.

As the world is experiencing the effects of climate change, the accumulation of waste, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, should not be left out of the conversation.

Armenia is a country highly vulnerable to climate impacts. The most vulnerable sectors are agriculture, water resources, forestry, transport and energy infrastructure. Is Armenia’s government doing enough to mitigate the impact of climate change?

Small guest houses with their unique services and the glimpse they offer into the life of the country’s local residents, have made an important contribution to the development of tourism in Armenia.

Gastro tourism, ecotourism and adventure tourism are expanding rapidly in Armenia. Its rugged topography, culture of hospitality and rich culture is appealing for those looking for memorable and authentic experiences.

After most of the world went on lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the complex tourism landscape has led to Armenians looking to their own country instead of the international market for travel options.

The global tourism industry is reviving as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions ease. After a three-year break, Armenia, despite persistent challenges is ready to once again show off its hospitality and share its culture and landscapes with people from all over the world.

When Azerbaijan launched the war in Artsakh in September 2020, Armenian journalists set out to witness, record and convey the hostilities to the world. Almost two years on, many wonder if they did enough.

Only in nurturing the growth of critical thinking can we strengthen the positions of our cultural identity and its continuing relevance in the increasingly chaotic geopolitical and technological tides of the 21st century.

Young people in Armenia can use start-ups as a vehicle to impact change and disrupt the status quo not only in their country, but also for solving global problems despite overwhelming challenges.

During EVN Report’s Media Festival, a group of editors from different media outlets were invited to discuss the challenges and opportunities in working in an ever-changing, fluid and unstable environment.

A survivor of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, Soghomon Tehlirian assassinates Talaat Pasha, the mastermind behind the attempted annihilation of the Armenian nation in Berlin on March 15, 1921. Historian Suren Manukyan examines the repercussions and consequences of that act of revenge.

The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the U.S. stemmed from its own interests. Other allied powers are considering following suit. Will Armenia be able to take advantage of this shift in global geopolitics?

For Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, and for Syrian-Armenians in Yerevan, crafting served as a way of earning a living and as a process of rebuilding and reimagining a social world through the temporal markers that help them nurture a sense of “home.”

Through the voices of his great-grandparents, Varak Ketsemanian gives the reader a small glimpse into the inner world of Genocide survivors.

Many took the harrowing experience with them to their graves. Others would share only fragments of memories. All of them suffered unimaginable loss. They were the orphans of the Armenian Genocide and their stories must never be forgotten.

From those who survived the Armenian Genocide to those who moved to Soviet Armenia during the Great Repatriation of the 1940s, Western Armenians contributed to Yerevan’s incredible rise as a major city, turning it into the heart and soul of the Armenian nation.

The events of 2020-2022 shattered many illusions, including the protection of human rights. This article, therefore, is about dreams, because knowledge and experience are no longer enough, writes Zara Hovhannisyan.

A group of women from different spheres and backgrounds articulate their vision of the future, from healthcare to culture. Why? Because we asked them.

Can the inclusion of women help prevent conflict and sustain security post-war? A large body of research attests that it can.

The issue of Armenian refugees and displaced persons runs like a red thread through every chapter of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, especially for those who have had to start over again multiple times.

What has Russia’s policy positions and long-term shifts been toward the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as the issue has become more nuanced and complicated over the decades?

How did the Armenian community in France live the events of 1988? What were the challenges faced in the diaspora and what were the main debates over the question of Armenia’s independence?

While the Karabakh Movement led to a national reawakening, the situation today is vastly different. What does the future hold for Artsakh, and has Armenia lost agency in resolving the issue that has been the cornerstone of Armenian statehood?

Armenian software companies tend to get more of the limelight in Armenia’s tech scene, but hardware companies are also making great strides and making a mark on the global market.

What is the commercialization of technologies? What problem can it solve toward developing the scientific ecosystem in Armenia and creating a science-based economy? Ani Nazaryan explains.

Armenia’s Deep Tech ecosystem is growing. Three of those companies are creating breakthrough technologies that will help solve the problems of the modern world.

While some of the more mercantile segments of Armenia’s economic, political and media echelons prefer to uphold the delusional business-as-usual game following the war, the wider socio-cultural realm shows much healthier signs of critical self-regard.

How can one reconcile the golden age of Armenian tech with the fractured society of post-war Armenia? Raffi Kassarjian explains.

Armenia’s security dilemma is not simply a geopolitical and resource dilemma; it is also an institutional dilemma, writes Nerses Kopalyan, and proposes a number of mechanisms to reform the military.

Issues of sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and the fragility of statehood were at the forefront of all conversations in 2021. Reflecting on the past year and some thoughts on the future.

Armenia is trying to move toward a universal health insurance system. The vision is to guarantee the right to health for all, including socially vulnerable groups, so that patients won’t have to choose between death and poverty.

Preventive healthcare can improve long-term health, increase lifespan and mitigate high medical expenses. While a number of programs are being implemented to help prevent illnesses and disease, people are not often taking advantage of those services.

With the COVID-19 pandemic in its third year, it is imperative that we push forward with the goal of vaccinating at least 50% of Armenia’s over-18 population with a first dose by the end of 2021, writes public health specialist Araz Chiloyan.

Armenia’s healthcare system remains inefficient, mismanaged and incapable of serving some of the basic healthcare needs of Armenian society. Reforms must concentrate on eliminating inefficient expenditures, developing a system with robust oversight and emphasis on quality.

How an orphan from the Armenian Genocide returns to his native village and finds his sister and a recipe for eech that has become part of the family lore.

Christian Armenian lore traces the origins of harissa to Gregory the Illuminator, who converted King Tiridates III to Christianity at the beginning of the 4th century. Hranoush Dermoyan traces the history of this traditional Armenian dish.

A traditional cheese bread made with sourki or shinklish called banderoum hootz in the dialect of Musa Ler is more than a recipe. It’s a memory, a cultural marker of identity, belonging and home.

Preparing food can be a meditative journey of self-healing, of building community and a passage to one's heritage. It is the whispered world of women, a value created out of patience that can transform onions into translucent golden particles.

Armenia’s current Prime Minister came to power in 2018 following nationwide protests. This article chronicles his rise to power, the major challenges and shortcomings of his administration.

Independent Armenia’s third president was Serzh Sargsyan. This article chronicles his rise to power, the major challenges and shortcomings of his administration and his eventual resignation.

Independent Armenia’s second president was Robert Kocharyan. This article chronicles his rise to power and the major challenges and shortcomings of his administration.

Independent Armenia’s first president was Levon Ter-Petrosyan. This article chronicles his rise to power and the major challenges and shortcomings of his administration.

The Republic of Armenia marks the 30th anniversary of its independence on September 21, 2021. As the Soviet Union was collapsing, the Supreme Council of the Armenian SSR adopted a Declaration of Independence on August 23, 1990. On September 21, 1991 a nationwide independence referendum was held. Independence was officially declared by parliament two days later. Marking a milestone independence should be celebratory, but in the shadow of the 2020 Artsakh War, it is one that will be marked with mixed feelings and uncertainty about the future. EVN Report’s 11th magazine issue entitled “Independence” looks back over the four administrations of independent Armenia, revealing their major challenges and hurdles, their setbacks and successes. Over four days, we will cover Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan (1991-1998), second President Robert Kocharyan (1998-2008), third President Serzh Sargsyan (2008-2018) and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (2018-Present). As bleak as the future seems today, understanding the past is the first step to forging a brighter path for the fourth decade ahead.Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy1 text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book2.It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the rele Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy1 text

A gradual relaxation of restrictions on citizenship has widened the circle of those who are applying. At the same time, however, the privileges of Armenian citizenship have been watered down for those who reside abroad and/or also hold other citizenships.

Between 1946 and 1949, around 90,000 Armenians repatriated to Soviet Armenia; they were families that had been displaced from their homes in the former Ottoman Empire during the Armenian Genocide. Some of them were exiled.

Armenia is multicultural in the most covert ways, a landlocked country who has an Ayvazovsky. Whether you are moving forward by moving back or moving away, you are in its orbit.

If civil society is considered one of the most important pillars of a democratic state, did Armenian civil society fail in its role in protecting human rights, ensuring public oversight and accountability after 2018?

Water-related rituals and artefacts dating back centuries illustrate the significance of water in Armenian culture, from dragon-stones to cross-stones to contemporary water fountains.

Armenia’s farmers need irrigation water to feed the country, but a number of bottlenecks get in the way. Because of the poor condition of the water supply system, 40-50% of irrigation water is lost before reaching its endpoint.

In this comprehensive piece on water security, Paruyr Abrahamyan provides an in-depth overview of global water scarcity, how this will potentially compound the already-complex problems facing the South Caucasus and makes a number of recommendations.

Lake Sevan is the largest freshwater and alpine lake in the entire South Caucasus. The lake’s artificial outflow which commenced in the early 1930s during the Soviet period resulted in dramatic changes in its water level and continued ecological problems.

The effectiveness of the justice system determines the level of respect for human rights in a country. It remains to be seen what steps the new government will take and whether the provisions of the strategic judicial reform program will be implemented.

In order for a democracy to function properly, it needs a citizenry that participates in civic duties. Civic culture can also be defined as a set of political attitudes, habits and behavior on behalf of citizens who are aware of their political rights and how the decision-making process affects their lives and society. Thereby, political awareness and participation/involvement in civic life ensure stability and progress. Understanding the rights and responsibilities of good citizenship is an ongoing process and involves many aspects from obeying the law to taking responsibility for oneself and to voting in elections. This month’s issue features stories about those rights and responsibilities, including individual awareness, the role of civil society and the role of the judiciary in defending human rights.Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy1 text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book2.It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the rele Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy1 text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book2.[vc_custom_heading text="A Wave

How people behave in public spaces compared to private ones and how they perceive their individual civic responsibility is a reflection of the society in which they live.

In order for a democratic society to function, citizens must exercise their rights and responsibilities. The state is obligated to take steps to shape an independent and strong civil society, Astghik Karapetyan writes.

Tracing political cultural trends that have been formulating in Armenia through three short, yet fastly-developing, stages: prior to the Velvet Revolution, subsequent to the Velvet Revolution, and after the 2020 Artsakh War.

Although the short-lived First Republic of Armenia is often viewed through the prism of the government’s activities, such as military operations, state defense, social issues, and foreign policy, the electoral processes at the time parallel today’s reality.

Thirty-one founding congresses for new political parties have been scheduled since the start of the year, a quantity not seen since the country gained independence 30 years ago.

Political caricature was an inseparable companion of the newspapers that were being formed under the new freedoms of speech and the press of independent Armenia.

The latest phone survey about the coming parliamentary election in Armenia was recently released. The seat projection arising from the poll is problematic in that it foresees a false majority scenario. Harout Manougian breaks it down.

Western Armenian literature does live in many different environments, traditional or innovative. The question, however, is in what conditions or with what prospects? New pathways are necessary to keep it “living.”

Will the 2020 Artsakh War be a turning point for the diaspora to reassess and define a new agenda for itself? Dr. Khatchik DerGhougassian argues that a paradigm shift has started to occur in how the diaspora sees itself and its relationship with the homeland.

Do diasporas have agency, imagined and conceptualized, to produce collective behavior or are they too vast and heterogeneous to generate any coordinated collective action in unison?

The 2020 Artsakh War was perceived and experienced in Armenia as well as in the diaspora as an existential crisis. Kasbarian argues that the recent nation-wide mobilization made this moment a transformative one.

The guest editor for the April issue on “Diaspora” writes about clarifying the steps needed to navigate these difficult times, and the imperative to take a step back and deconstruct the pedestal on which we have built our mutual and national expectations.

The diaspora must continue to invest in rebuilding and channeling diasporic potential following the 2020 Artsakh War. This is not 1915, writes Lalai Manjikian, the nation has a huge pool of educated, driven and competent forces.

Ahead of the 106th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, observed on April 24, EVN Report’s April issue entitled “Diaspora” focuses on the realities of the Armenian diaspora and attempts to understand the multi-layered, multi-dimensional nature of the ever-changing Armenian diaspora. Today, in the post-war reality, it is important to redefine and recalibrate the relationship between Armenia and its diaspora. Guest editor Varak Ketsemanian, a PhD candidate in Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University, writes: “Not only did the past year bring unprecedented threats to the Armenian state and the diaspora as living and dynamic units, but it has also cracked open a Pandora’s Box, unleashing a whole wave of new problems and issues that both sides were not ready to confront. The military defeat we witnessed on the battleground also signaled the defeat of long-established patterns and tropes of Armenia’s relationship with its diaspora and vice-versa. The articles of this special issue are humble efforts in this regard.”Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy1 text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book2.It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the rele Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy1 text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem

Post-trauma, when the imperative to continue existing before one is able to deal with the breakdown of a way of existence that was once valid, between the now and the future, between aftershocks, eight female photographers ask, “Where am I now?”

Armenian women writers have largely been forgotten or ignored. Their essays, poems and novels have either never been published or have been left out of the literary canon. Here is a selection of covers written by Armenian women over the past decade.

Five women photographers confront a conservative cultural ethos by turning the camera upon themselves and thus becoming objects of scrutiny and interpretation.

Even when a woman has her very own day of the year, even a whole month in the case of Armenia, and even if during that month many articles will be written about her, this is not one of them.

After 54 years of standing still on her pedestal with a sword in her hand, Mother Armenia decides to look for a pool of water to rest her swollen feet in...

Turkey continues to fight against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide through falsification of history, anti-Armenian propaganda, using all political, economic and lobbying levers at its disposal.

Armenia’s defeat and the loss of land in Artsakh took place exactly 100 years after the Turkish-Armenian War of 1920. Armenian society started drawing parallels between the fortress cities of Kars and Shushi.

Armenia’s defeat and the loss of land in Artsakh took place exactly 100 years after the Turkish-Armenian War of 1920. Armenian society started drawing parallels between the fortress cities of Kars and Shushi.

The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia consolidated and synthesized cultures, giving new breath to the traditional, by creating a new, more complete Armenianness. Surviving for 300 years demanded tremendous civilizational potential from the Armenian people.

The secular, religious and cultural elites of what became Armenia’s Golden Age were able to turn challenges into a stimulus, setting in stone the Armenians' mark over their territory that would last for centuries.

The past never leaves us, it casts a long shadow, influences thoughts, opinions, decisions and actions but never really repeats itself, writes historian Suren Manukyan, guest editor for this month’s issue titled “Past.”

Does history repeat itself? Recent events have served as a catalyst to discuss and ponder the lessons that might be drawn from history. Under the careful curation of historian and guest editor Suren Manukyan, the February 2021 issue delves into the past to try and understand the present. From the adoption of Christianity in 301 A.D. and the creation of the Armenian Alphabet a century later to the re-establishment of statehood in Cilicia, the fall of Kars and the collapse of the First Armenian Republic and beyond. More than ever, revisiting historical events through a new lens is essential for the Armenian people. Faced with similar circumstances from the past, we are collectively responsible for the chapter of Armenian history being written today.Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy1 text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book2.It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the rele Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy1 text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book2.[vc_custom_heading text="A Wave Of

Armenia’s significant demographic decline over the past 30 years due to emigration and declining birth rates has affected nearly all areas of life in the country from industry to education to the military.

Armenia needs to reconfigure the political economy of its security architecture by utilizing its security alliance with Russia, through a mechanism of burden-sharing, where Russia’s geopolitical interests are aligned with Armenia’s security interests.

The scale and level of coordination of cyberattacks by Azerbaijani hackers in 2020, indicates careful planning and centralized coordination. Artur Papyan writes about the need for education about cybersecurity in Armenia, in both the private and public sectors.

In a world where pandemics, extreme climatic phenomena and natural disasters are becoming more common, the issue of food security is a global challenge of increasing importance. Armenia is not immune to these developments.

Diversifying Armenia’s energy sources is a strategic need of national importance. The coming decade presents an opportunity to turn direction and tackle the considerable obstacles facing the country. Strong political commitments and a focused approach are needed to make real progress.

Armenia has an incredible potential to tap into its natural resources sustainably and moreover ensure green economic growth. What is needed is visionary thinking as well as effective, professional and technocratic governance.

Children also became a target of Azerbaijan’s large-scale military aggression during the 2020 Artsakh War. Their basic rights to life, health, family and community were consistently violated.

Although the severity of war crimes committed by Azerbaijan and its disregard for international humanitarian law was unprecedented during the 2020 Artsakh War, it is a continuation of official Baku’s anti-Armenian policy stretching back over a century.

The thousands displaced by the 2020 Artsakh War are asking “What do you expect me to do?” But, no one has an answer for them.

Different international courts have jurisdiction over different areas of international law. Ara Khzmalyan explains the avenues available for demanding accountability for the war crimes committed against Artsakh.

Numerous war crimes were committed during and after the 2020 Artsakh War. This article provides an overview and lists many of the most horrendous and brutal war crimes committed by Azerbaijani military against Armenian servicemen and civilians.

Astghik Karapetyan, the guest editor for this month’s issue titled “Dignity,” writes about the imperative to constantly work to protect the human rights of all, during both times of peace and war.

Armenia’s “tomato heritage” started in 1944, when plant breeder Anahit Ananyan cultivated the first Armenian tomato variety, which was named “Anahit 20” in her honor.

Armenians have worshipped the soil since antiquity. Farming was once the main occupation of the people; the soil and working the land were the symbols of the continuity of life and fertility.

From foraging in the lush forests to reviving Western Armenian recipes, to planting and harvesting kiwis, to experimenting and developing products made from honey, Tavush is becoming a hub of social enterprise and innovation.

The revival of Armenia’s viticulture heritage and indigenous grape varieties is an investment that has already begun to pay dividends. The past ten years are considered the renaissance of winemaking in Armenia. It is a return to 6,100 years of history.

From animal husbandry to crop varieties to land fragmentation resulting from the abolition of Soviet collectivized farms following independence, an overview of Armenia’s agricultural sector.