The enduring myth of “Celestial Armenia”, a spiritual, idealized vision rooted in religious doctrine, has long been manipulated by political and clerical elites and exploited by Russia, hindering the emergence of a sovereign, realistic Armenian state grounded in political responsibility and modern geopolitics.

While some efforts have been made to improve conditions for inmates with disabilities, accessibility measures in Armenia’s penitentiary institutions remain piecemeal. Most facilities are still ill-equipped to accommodate people with mobility issues, creating daily challenges for those behind bars.

Leigha Schjelderup’s thesis explores Armenia’s innovation paradox: extraordinary tech talent and diaspora support coexisting with weak institutions and performative policies. Focusing on the AI sector, she reveals how overcoming fragmentation is key to transforming isolated successes into systemic progress.

In Istanbul’s Kurtuluş neighborhood, Meyhane-i Ara stands as perhaps the last Armenian tavern, where owner Ara Haceroğlu preserves centuries-old culinary traditions amid layers of nostalgia for multiple vanished Istanbuls—a living testament to the city’s fading multicultural past.