Raw & Unfiltered

Improvements in low-carbon technologies, driven in part by foreign energy policy, have created new opportunities for Armenia, a country without fossil fuel reserves, aligning environmental concerns and the pursuit of higher energy security more than ever before.

Being at the crossroads between East and West, Armenia has thrived only when these two forces were at an equilibrium and neither was strong enough to exert disproportionate influence on its domestic affairs. But what about its connection to Mediterranean civilizations?

Since the 2020 Artsakh War, during which Turkey provided military and political support to Azerbaijan, Armenians in Turkey have felt increasingly isolated. How do young Armenians in Turkey feel about the use of genocidal language by ultra-nationalist groups in the country and not only?

Children who were separated from their families because of Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin Corridor, were finally able to return home to Artsakh after 47 days. They shared their thoughts before their long-awaited reunion.

A number of non-governmental organizations were set up during and after the 2020 Artsakh War providing veterans with medical treatment, rehabilitation services, housing and other basic needs, playing a crucial role in improving the quality of life for wounded veterans.

While menopause is generally a taboo subject and not something openly discussed in Armenian society, in recent years, the situation seems to be changing. Gohar Abrahamyan speaks to healthcare professionals and women who are going through this change in their lives.

If an accident were ever to happen at the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, how prepared are authorities and relevant state bodies in Armenia to respond to such a disaster? Hranoush Dermoyan explains.

Bullying in schools is ignored in Armenia. A lack of awareness and the absence of hard data only compound the problem. Today, however, more and more people are speaking up about the issue.

Although some regions of Armenia have the necessary conditions for greenhouse farming, few dare to invest in them. Anahit Harutyunyan looks at the risks and challenges.

Domestic violence continues to be a serious issue not only in Armenia but around the world. In 2022, 16 women were killed in Armenia. Susina Khachatryan looks at the cases and what is being done by civil society and state structures.

The vast majority of air pollution in Armenian cities is from transport emissions, and both the concentration and quantity of automobiles in Yerevan prevent residents from living in an environment with clean air.

People living with infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS often face discrimination not only by society, but by medical staff. This causes challenges with the care these patients desperately need.

Living in war and its consequences requires great strength and mental effort. Photojournalist Ani Gevorgyan talks to people “who create and live in art”, who believe we have to learn to live with war and not run away from reality.

An old nation but a young state, Italy shares many similarities with Armenia. In this next installment of a series on diaspora models, Tigran Yegavian writes that Italy must reform its nationality and emigration policies if it is to optimize its relationship with its diaspora.

Although the only things Hratsin Ohanyan has left of her native Hadrut is a photo album and her dialect, she stubbornly refuses to let her status as an internally displaced person pull her down. She is resilient, hopeful and fearless.

Abortion continues to be the primary measure of fertility regulation in Armenia and despite efforts to decrease the number of sex-selective abortions, these issues remain prevalent in the country. Sona Martirosyan explains.

Two years after the end of the 2020 Artsakh War, wounded soldiers are trying to return to some sense of normalcy. Their strength and resolve are captured by photojournalist Ani Gevorgyan.

The Armenian government has recently attempted to reconfigure the country’s educational system, with the stated goal of increasing efficiency and enhancing quality. While this is a noble effort, without quantified analysis, it leads to more questions than answers.

While innovation is increasingly being acknowledged as key to a country’s competitiveness in global markets, contributions of the humanities and social sciences to the body of knowledge are largely left out of debates.

The Palliative Care Center steps in when conventional medicine stops working and the body does not respond to therapy. Gayane Mkrtchyan looks at the state of palliative care in Armenia, its challenges and prospects.

When proper enforcement of safety regulations is delayed, it can result in tragedy. This is exactly what happened on August 14, 2022, when a warehouse at a market in Yerevan caught fire and exploded, leaving 16 people dead and 60 injured.

A photo essay by Vaghinak Ghazaryan about teachers Stepan and Mariam and their recounting of the 2020 Artsakh War. A story that has to be continued before it is told, as Stepan is once again on the frontlines.

Despite being the second most populous country in the world, India has a relatively small diaspora. Still, they number nearly 25 million Indians in the world and are a major asset for the Indian economy.

This next installment in a series of articles on Yerevan looks at issues concerning the transportation infrastructure, most importantly, the need for a modern public transport system, something that has plagued the capital since independence.

Ethiopian-Armenians are emblematic as a diaspora community that balanced their civic and cultural identities to build a prosperous and trusted community.

Health and security protocols are not always upheld in workplaces in Armenia, often leading to employees getting injured.

In the early 1920s, 148 orphans of the Armenian Genocide were brought to Canada to begin a new life. They were known as the Georgetown boys and girls and their legacy forms the basis of the Canadian-Armenian story.

The Crimean War in the 1850s did not resolve the geopolitical rivalries of the parties involved. The fight for influence in the Black Sea region continues even today.

In this series of articles, French-Armenian journalist Tigran Yegavian explores the complexity of relations between the Republic of Ireland and its diaspora.

A collection of articles about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the lens of Moscow by Dr. Artyom Tonoyan entitled, “Black Garden Aflame” will become a classic and a major go-to resource for scholars, writes Dr. Pietro Shakarian.

After losing his job, photojournalist Vaghinak Ghazaryan, started driving a taxi. Combining his love of cars with his love of photography, he began capturing images of his passengers through the rearview mirror.

Having a baby is the most joyous time in a woman’s life. The experience triggers powerful emotions and in some cases, can lead to postpartum depression. Gohar Abrahamyan provides valuable insights through her own personal journey.

Armenians, desperate for life-saving medical treatment, travel to Germany with hopes and great expectations. However, sometimes, those hopes remain unfulfilled.

The first in a series of articles about the challenges facing Armenia’s capital city, Yerevan, examines the issues of urban planning and development.

There are several million Greeks living in North America, Western Europe, Oceania and Africa. What are the specificities of the Greek diaspora model? This is part four of a series of studies on State-Diaspora relations.

Recent data warns of a demographic crisis in Armenia. In a country with a high rate of aging, programs are being implemented to boost birth rates. But are they effective?

What are the tools available to Israel that strengthen the synergies between Tel Aviv and Diasporan Jews? This is part three of a series of studies on State–Diaspora relations.

Refugees have been living in a Düsseldorf's shelter for years, receiving treatment and waiting to either fully recover or be deported. In this series of articles, Armenians reveal how they arrived in Germany in anticipation of a miracle.

In this article, journalist Tigran Yegavian looks at how Portugal has developed effective tools to strengthen its relationship with its diaspora and assert its international presence.

As prosperous as Switzerland is, it has long been and remains a country of emigration, however, there are a number of structures available to Swiss communities abroad to ensure an optimal relationship with the country of origin.

Although Armenia did not see any combat during the Second World War, known throughout the post-Soviet space as the Great Patriotic War, both Armenia and Artsakh sacrificed disproportionately to the rest of the Union.

Armenia’s scientific sector was decimated in the 1990s. Many in the country have been talking about its former glory for 30 years with pride, anger and longing. What were the priorities of Armenian science during the Soviet years and what is its potential today?

In this photo story, photojournalist Vaghinak Ghazaryan writes that his personal connection to the Genocide is the story of his step-grandfather, a quiet man who survived by hiding among corpses.

While the recent wave of Russians moving to Armenia following the invasion of Ukraine has been surprising to some, it’s worth pointing out that Yerevan has hosted successions of Russian emigre communities for quite a long time now.

The popular opinion about the hardworking nature of Armenians changed after independence, when Armenia was left to become the master of its own destiny. Mikayel Yalanuzyan examines the Armenian work ethic.

The case for early detection of cancer and shifting cultural attitudes toward seeking medical treatment in Armenia.

Psychologist Arthur Tonoyan spent the 2020 Artsakh War on the frontlines, providing care in every way possible. His story, told in his own words, is retold through the images of photojournalist Vaghinak Ghazaryan.

Many women are subjected to obstetric violence, which not only violates their right to receive dignified and respectful health care but can also seriously threaten their life and health.

As Ukraine’s western city comes under Russian missile attack, the Armenian community is wrapping its treasures, but preparing to stay.

A historical retrospective of the social realities and perceptions of the legal status of women in the Middle Ages, specifically in the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia.

Social assistance to Syunik’s border villages includes subsidizing natural gas bills, but that’s no use to residents when the pipes don’t reach their homes. They don’t want to leave, but are enduring unprecedented hardship.

“We only get a small window of actually living in historical moments.” War photographer Jonathan Alpeyrie and French-Armenian Cellist Astrig Siranossian team up for a photography sale to benefit the children of Armenia and Artsakh.

Armenia’s Omicron cases may already be receding, though deaths continue to rise. How does it compare against Armenia’s previous COVID-19 waves and the government policy interventions they sparked?

In this moving photo story, award-winning photojournalist Vaghinak Ghazaryan, follows the story of a mother whose son was buried alive after his unit came under attack during the 2020 Artsakh War.

This new series presents the Russo-Turkish wars of the 19th-20th centuries, which were of crucial importance for the two segments—eastern and western—of the Armenian people.

Human trafficking is among the world's fastest-growing criminal enterprises and is estimated to be a $150 billion-a-year global industry. Since 2002, Armenia’s government has demonstrated increasing efforts to combat trafficking.

Following the events at Yerevan City Hall and now-former-Mayor Hayk Marutyan, the complicated relationship between the “urban” and the “political” in post-revolutionary contexts comes to light.

A new program is implementing art therapy classes to help children in one of Armenia’s poorest regions cope with the trauma of war and process the barrage of negative news and feelings.

The opening of the Armenian section of the Transcaucasian Trail means hikers can now walk the length of Armenia along a specially-constructed footpath that connects the Iranian and Georgian borders, taking in some of Armenia’s most spectacular landscapes and cultural sites on the way.

Is it acceptable to throw your cigarette butt on the street? Is it understandable to be a draft dodger? Mikayel Yalanuzyan looks at how social responsibility is understood in Armenia.

Ethiopia’s historic Armenian community is bracing for renewed fighting as the country’s year-long civil war reaches the outskirts of the capital, Addis Ababa. What will be the fate of the Armenians living there?

The Treaty of Kars was signed under difficult geopolitical conditions. Turkey was able to use the “threat” of normalizing its relations with the West to extract maximum concessions from the Russian side, mainly at the expense of Armenia.

Controversy erupted after the Hayastan All Armenian Fund transferred 60% of funds donated during and after the war to the state budget. The absence of a complete audit almost a year since it was first proposed leaves donors still asking “where is the money?”

Although norms prohibiting violence against, and sexual exploitation of, children have been enshrined in international and domestic legal mechanisms, violence against children remains one of the most serious challenges in the modern world.

Armenia’s Nuclear Power Plant in Metsamor is vital for Armenia’s energy security; it also poses dangers that are often overlooked. While the focus has been its location, less public scrutiny has been paid to its ongoing environmental impact.

The concept of looking at libraries through the lens of both usage and impact could potentially usher in a new era of support for Armenia’s libraries, and reverse their trajectory from outdated book repositories to impactful centers of community development.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit the tourism industry hard globally and Armenia was not spared. Another obstacle hindering development prospects for tourism in Armenia is regional and border stability which will also play an important role when travel resumes in full force.

Having a designated nursing room at the workplace and flexible working conditions help working mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work, keeping the emotional bond between mother and baby uninterrupted․

Suren says if he had a magic wand, he would change people to make things better. Children of the 2020 Artsakh War continue to struggle with trauma. A center in Kapan is trying to change that.

For decades, the Azerbaijani government has engaged in the destruction of Armenian monuments in its quest to erase all evidence of our culture. But the campaign of cultural erasure stretches beyond the physical, to the digital realm as well.

Armenia is now in a teachable moment. It is time to double down on disaster preparedness and emergency care development by taking proactive measures and moving from reaction to prevention and mitigation.

Following the First Karabakh War, landmines and explosive remnants of war became a major hazard for civilians. Today, four regions of Armenia are still contaminated with unexploded ordnance, impacting over 35,000 residents.

There have been numerous public accusations related to espionage and high treason since the start of the 2020 Artsakh War. Despite all the noise, only one case of high treason and one case of espionage were filed during and after the war.

Most in Armenia have heard about the families that live in the “domiks” of Gyumri - metal containers that were converted into makeshift homes following the 1988 earthquake. What most don’t know is that there are others in the city who live in condemned buildings on the verge of collapse.

The Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire over a century ago resulted in the murder of 1.5 million, the uprooting of a people from their ancestral homelands and the loss of invaluable ancient Armenian manuscripts.

Armenians scattered globally share one very prominent reality: they represent a minority status, writes Paul Mirabile arguing that the Armenians' numerical “weakness” has forged a most extraordinary but, at the same time, a most tragic reality.

COVID-19 vaccines are being administered globally in the hopes of curbing the spread of the virus. Gohar Abrahamyan looks at the international race to develop the vaccine, the different vaccines currently being administered and Armenia’s position.

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake rattled Yerevan back in February. Although it didn’t cause significant harm to people or structures, it triggered the inescapable question: Can Armenia withstand another major earthquake?

Approximately 11,000 soldiers were injured during the 2020 Artsakh War. As they are healing and trying to reintegrate back into society, they are often facing bureaucratic red tape and an inaccessible physical environment.

Artists have been facing a real problem in Armenia: not getting fairly compensated for the music they release. In an age when sales of physical disk copies have drastically declined, with concerts and tours put on hold because of a pandemic, how are musicians supposed to get by?

Shushanik Kurghinian was a poet passionate about the plight of the oppressed, from the working class to the condition of women in Armenian society. Her poetry reflected her fierce spirit and indomitable will.

There is a school in one of the greenest neighborhoods of Yerevan where children of all ages speak in the indescribably beautiful language of gestures.

Along with a number of local fact-finding initiatives to collect evidence in relation to the loss of property following the 2020 Artsakh War, Armenia’s government has also filed an inter-state complaint with the ECHR, which includes issues related to property rights.

The Homeland Defender’s Rehabilitation Center in Yerevan, known as Zinvori Tun (Soldier’s Home) has become a place of hope, healing and rehabilitation on the road to recovery for soldiers seriously wounded during the 2020 Artsakh War.

War casualties are one of the major components of Armenia’s demographic crisis. Beyond their immediate impact, they also leave traces for years afterwards.

New colorful waste sorting bins appeared in different districts of Yerevan late last year. By the end of February, the capital will have about 135 new waste sorting locations giving residents the opportunity to dispose of their glass, plastic and paper waste in their courtyards.

Is it necessary to assimilate or exterminate a people to affirm one's identity? Has an Azerbaijani identity been founded upon the genocide of a people, who, like in Turkey, lived side by side with the Turkic populations until the rise of nationalism?

As one of the first Armenian feminist writers, Zaruhi Kalemkearian left a rich legacy including articles, essays, memoirs and poems. Once a beloved writer widely known in Armenian communities around the world, today, she is remembered by only a few.

EVN Report looks back at a year that forced the Armenian people to battle multiple fronts, from the COVID-19 pandemic to a 44-day war launched by Azerbaijan that resulted in devastating human and territorial losses.

Volunteers and mayors have been left to fend for themselves as Azerbaijani troops walk up to and past the edges of their border communities in an area that was never demarcated as an international border.

Dr. Garik Israelian led the international collaboration that provided the first observational evidence that supernova explosions are responsible for the formation of black holes.

For a week now, Yerevan seems to have changed its colors, its mood and even its soundscape. While the war rages on the front lines, the home front is bursting with support, solidarity and love.

When the situation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border escalated on July 12, 2020, Armenian civilian settlements came under fire for days, a violation of international humanitarian law.

Warm House, a social enterprise run entirely by young girls in the village of Margahovit, is not only experimenting with new crops in its greenhouse, it is changing and challenging stereotypes.

Even in Lebanon’s greatest time of need, officials corrupt democracy to entrench themselves in power rather than cater to the needs of the people.

Vacationing outside of Armenia became an impossibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This could have encouraged domestic tourism, however, it was a missed opportunity, writes Sona Martirosyan.

The draft of the new standard of general education has generated much discussion as well as disagreement. Narek Manukyan discusses the draft from the viewpoint of its political messaging, the positive amendments it offers as well as the problems that still need to be addressed.

Innovative forms of activism emerged in different societies to overcome the limitations of physical distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harutyun Marutyan, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI) responds to Professor Stepan Astourian’s article on EVN Report, “Hybrid Warfare, a Pseudo-Scandal and the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.”

A nation that has been confronted by the choice to either adopt another's culture by subterfuge or by violence, or face cultural extinction is a nation that has experienced the agony of cultural genocide. A conversation between two historians.

Leaving behind a prolific legacy that included a distinguished academic career and groundbreaking archaeological discoveries, Dr. Gregory Areshian’s passing left a void for generations of students who considered him a teacher, friend and mentor.

The beleaguered Armenian residents of Beirut recount the moment a catastrophic explosion destroyed their city. While they will now have to rebuild, many wonder about the future.

Beirut will rise again, but it will not be the Beirut that shaped us. It will not be the vibrant, chaotic, Beirut that made us fall in love with it over and over again despite all the pain it caused us, writes Shoushan Keshishian.

Demonstrators in Beirut, venting their rage against a government that has failed them miserably, clashed with security forces today in a second consecutive day of protests. EVN Report’s Roubina Margossian was there and filed these images.

Residents of Beirut try to come to grips with the devastating blast on August 4, 2020, that destroyed parts of the port and several neighborhoods, leaving over 150 dead, almost 6000 wounded and over 300,000 homeless. Photo story by Roubina Margossian from Beirut.

Despite the COVID-19 emergency piling on top of displacement-related issues, a refugee family from Iraq is filled with optimism, striving for a better future in Armenia.

Yerevan’s iconic Youth Palace was demolished in 2006. While it still remains unclear who and what will fill the void the Youth Palace left behind, its spirit continues to live in the memories of those whose youth was interwoven with its existence.

Armenia’s Physics Institute with its Cosmic Ray Division is trying to overcome many challenges by collaborating with different international institutes. A new generation of scientists believe that more investment is needed to support research and science.

Armenia’s parliament ratified the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, also known as the Lanzarote Convention. What does this mean for Armenia? Astghik Karapetyan explains.

The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute has become part of the current effort to destabilize the existing administration. This pan-national lieu de mémoire, has de facto been smeared by those who claim to protect “national values,” writes Dr. Stephan Astourian.

Though Armenia is not unique, its embrace of Facebook has been unconditional, which may carry national security implications.

Women, the elderly and children living under the same roof with violent abusers became even more vulnerable during the quarantine. Calls to domestic violence hotlines in Armenia have increased by almost 30%.

Award-winning photojournalist Anush Babajanyan documents the heavy burden of transitioning to distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic for children, parents and teachers.

Suspended between two worlds, many Diasporan youth struggle with the question of belonging and the looming discomfort of never feeling able to maneuver through either culture.

When it comes to dealing with a pandemic, resources matter, says Dr. Vanessa Kerry of Seed Global Health, but it has to be coupled with good policy and courageous leadership willing to make the right decisions.

Over 90 percent of the world’s student population have seen their education interrupted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While education is the most visible issue, the impact on children cuts much deeper than is being recognized.

Teachers, students and parents are all trying to cope with the transition to online education. Gohar Abrahamyan reveals some of the successes and challenges.

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

Different forms of distance learning have been introduced in Armenia for three weeks now. What do we know about the use of information and communication technologies in the general education system of Armenia?

Women in Armenia are challenging traditional perceptions that rigidly define the role of men and women in all spheres of life including sports. Kushane Chobanyan talks with women soccer players who are breaking those stereotypes.

This is a story about the beautiful complexity and strength of mothers, especially those raising a child with a disability.

In this personal essay, freelance journalist Alexander Damiano Ricci writes about the psychological stages of the lockdown in Italy and how this crisis is raising many questions about ourselves and our societies.

What is life like in one of the epicenters of the global coronavirus pandemic? In this essay, Tatevik Avetisyan, who has been living in Milan, Italy for more than a year, peels back the layers of the human condition.

Educational institutions around the world are moving to online learning as the COVID-19 pandemic wreaks havoc. Narek Manukyan examines the Armenian education system’s preparedness for distance learning following the government’s announcement of a one-month state of emergency in the country.

What does it mean to leave behind friends, family, community and memories? The pain of loss and departure can be difficult to bear and sometimes impossible to talk about. Those emotions, however, sometimes find their way onto the pages of diaries.

New national values and representations were being formed among Ottoman Armenians in the 19th century and the Woman's Question was an inseparable part of the formulation of a new national identity, Hasmik Khalapyan writes.

Arpine Haroyan traces the life of Leola Sassouni, born in a small town in the Ottoman Empire, who would go on to fight for the independence of the First Armenian Republic, dedicating her life to her nation, and leaving behind a rich legacy.

This article dives into the international experience in the field of data retention policy to help inform the decision-making process in Armenia.

Is it possible to keep promising scientists in academia? With little state funding for academic research, many young people are choosing the higher salaries of the tech industry. However, YerevaNN, a computer science and mathematics research lab, is a beacon of hope.

Food waste is a serious global issue. Roughly one third of the food produced globally gets lost or wasted. In fact, most of it ends up in a landfill. What is Armenia doing to tackle this issue?

The grieving family and friends of a soldier killed in Artsakh protested the suicide ruling by trying to bring his casket to Yerevan from the Armavir region. Investigators later arrested three fellow soldiers on suspicion of inciting suicide.

The government of Armenia has set the effective date for a ban on plastic bags to January 1, 2022. It is projected that the ban will reduce plastic waste by nearly 4000 tons annually.

Armenians usually boast a 99 percent literacy rate. Different measures, however, reveal another story.

Finding the proper tools to combat the spread of misinformation and fake news on social media networks has confounded many societies and governments. State-authorized action could threaten free speech.

When a young woman was found strangled to death in Yerevan, some in Armenian society decided to give themselves the right to discuss what she must have done to deserve such a fate.

Western Armenian is now officially recognized by the ISO, enabling a Wikipedia site and opening the door for Google Translate, software localizations and more.

Is Armenian society concerned about privacy or the protection of personal data? Samvel Martirosyan is doubtful.

A close examination of Armenian public school textbooks reveals persistent gender bias and stereotyping at almost all grade levels.

A writer, resistance fighter, political prisoner and so much more. The life of Ellen Buzand (Yeghisabet Stamboltsian) is the stuff of legends. Her diaries and memoirs remain unpublished in the archives of the Yeghishe Charents Museum of Literature and Art.

Development projects are popping up haphazardly in Armenia. Many of them pursued for short-term economic goal under the pretext of development. Without a holistic vision for growth in the country, consequences of decisions taken today will be irreversible for generations to come.

This article takes a critical view of current developments in the agricultural sector focusing on political actors responsible for democratic governance and sustainable transition in Armenia’s food systems.

With car imports to Armenia doubling over the past year and a poorly organized public transportation network, there is permanent gridlock in the streets of the country’s capital. Yerevan’s municipality hopes to change all that.

With numbers expected to reach record peaks in 2020, Armenia’s current grassroots tourism industry stands in a formative transition period that could go many ways.

Protests erupted after a draft education reform agenda was publicized that sought to make Armenian language, literature and history courses optional in universities. However, there are a number of other proposed reforms that could potentially undermine the independence of universities that have been left out of the public discourse.

Eight ethnic Armenians were elected to the First Constituent Assembly of Georgia in 1918. Four were members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the others from the Georgian Social Democratic Party. This article explores their lives and political activities.

Sona Martirosyan writes about the personal struggles of Armenian families who are being deported from a number of EU countries back to their homeland.

Following changes in migration policies of EU countries, an increasing number of illegal Armenian immigrants were deported from the Schengen area. Armenia’s government has introduced a draft program, which, if adopted, will be the first initiative aimed at providing state support to deported Armenians.

A draft document penned by an independent government regulator has raised important questions about digital privacy. Though the proposal definitely has issues, the rumors it sparked are alarmist and exaggerated.

With mass institutionalization, lack of social programs and a society riddled with stigma against the mentally ill, there is often nowhere for them to go.

This article explores the changing and evolving mindset of young Istanbul Armenians not only through a sociological lens but through a political one, exploring the history and changing political landscape of Turkey and the clear power distinction that exists between Armenians and Turks.

Western Armenia or Eastern Turkey? This 'lost homeland' has been a thorn in Turkey's side since 1923. The thorn reminds the Turks and the Kurds of a people who lived and thrived in Turkey, and who played an enormous role in the unfolding of Turkey's history, writes Paul Mirabile.

While understanding the historical importance and benefits of bicycles in women’s lives, why are less females riding bikes? Some major cities in the U.S. and Europe have conducted studies to understand this, and the main factor is safety.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia’s agricultural sector has faced sustainability challenges. This article identifies shortcomings of previous and current agricultural policies and underscores the need for immediate action to address food insecurity, the effects of devastating poverty and rural exodus.

When we think about climate change, Armenia may not be the first country that comes to mind. But in fact, Armenia is among the countries in Europe and Central Asia that is most vulnerable to climate change.

The young girl, who was almost “killed” by the stunning music of Komitas Vardapet on a beautiful spring day in Tbilisi, was Margarit Babayan, a 28-year-old mezzo-soprano, who later would become a renowned singer and a vocal teacher across Europe, and be remembered as the beloved friend and muse of Komitas Vardapet.

The fertility rate in Armenia is 1.6 births per woman. This year, five regions in the country registered mortality rates higher than their birth rates. The largest spike was in Lori marz. Experts say that the demographic rates are alarming.

Global trends demand new requirements in education and labor markets. To remain competitive, a country has to embark on creating, developing and implementing innovation while focusing, more than ever, on the development of a knowledge-based economy and pushing research and development forward. How will Armenia fare?

Are you interested in purchasing a home in Yerevan? If so, Harout Manougian offers some invaluable information and advice and more importantly, tips on how to avoid the inevitable pitfalls in an unregulated real estate market.

About a month ago, reports started coming in of storks covered in some kind of oil, causing serious harm to the birds. Sofia Bergmann writes about how immense community involvement unveiled a symbiotic relationship between residents and the stork so vital to the Ararat Valley.

What is medical waste and how should it be treated? Because of the cost involved in proper treatment, it is possible that potentially biohazardous waste is ending up in municipal dumps.

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer among women in Armenia. Cost and access to treatment, lack of awareness and cultural stigmas are some of the reasons. A new mammography program aims to address these issues.

Armenia is set to have a new National Security Strategy. The current strategy, adopted in January 2007, had all the necessary components, but was outdated and remained a largely superficial and declarative document as many of the defined values and principles were not fully respected or promoted.

The 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident was considered the worst nuclear disaster in history. It exposed hundreds of thousands of people to high levels of radiation, killing dozens and affecting millions across Europe. Experts from all over the Soviet Union were sent to “liquidate” the effects of the radiation. Among them were several thousand Armenians.

For the past year, activists and residents of Vayots Dzor have blocked roads leading to the Amulsar Gold Mine. Gohar Abrahamyan speaks with some of the protesters, all residents of nearby towns and villages, who are manning the posts.

Although Armenian women did not directly participate in the public discourse on the family structure and institution of marriage during the 19th to early 20th centuries in the Ottoman Empire, they articulated their concerns against gender inequalities through the voices of the fictional characters they created in their writings.

Armenia is slowly inching towards a model of universal healthcare where all citizens will be able to access quality healthcare without falling into financial hardship. While recent developments have definitively set Armenia on that path, much remains to be done to ensure that no one falls through the cracks.

His scissors his baton, moving like a dancer-magician, Jack seems to induce an otherworldly state. At the end of his intricate symphony, the final product is a manifestation of his vision.

From Tabriz to Paris, from resistance to a Nazi concentration camp...this is the story of Louise Aslanian, an Armenian woman whose convictions, commitment and words have largely been forgotten.

“Western Armenia” as a concept is a crucial component of the Armenian national narrative, mostly in the Diaspora. In this article, Varak Ketsemanian raises some questions regarding the Armenian reality’s understanding of “Western Armenia,” its biases and blind-spots. He suggests refining the ways in which we discuss and represent “Western Armenia” in the 21st century.

Environmental lawyer Artur Grigoryan writes that many countries, including Armenia, often protect the financial interests of mining companies and their shareholders more than the vital human rights of their own citizens.

Dismantling decades of prejudice and perceptions about people with disabilities is not an easy task. The inclusion of children with disabilities and special needs in public schools is not an exception, however, attitudes are slowly changing.

There is no honor in silence. There is no honor when the most vulnerable are subjected to horrifying crimes. Human rights defenders and first responders deal with these cases on a daily basis. Human rights defender Zara Hovhannisyan shares some of her experiences with those whose destinies have been shattered.

Almost a third of families living in rural Armenia are female-headed households, a UN Report in 2017 found. These households are more likely to be in extreme poverty than male-headed households. This film by Tsovinar Hakobyan and Joe Nerssessian focuses on the lives of five women from Syunik.

A leading member of the Georgian Social-Democratic Party at the turn of the 20th century, Eleonora Ter-Parsegova played an important role in the struggle leading up to Georgia’s independence in 1918 and later, after it was sovietized.

In the second of a two-part series on the need for a human rights-based approach to policymaking, human rights activist and researcher Anahit Simonyan talks to a number of ministers and a deputy minister about field specific issues such as poverty, discrimination, health protection and more.

Over 5500 senior citizens in Armenia who are not eligible to receive a pension, are on welfare. They receive about $50 US per month. Armenia’s minimum food basket, according to the Ministry of Health stands at about $72 US per month. In this photo story, EVN Report tries to understand how these pensioners survive.

In the public discourse, sex is often seen as being diametrically opposed to almost everything - religion, love, traditional values, even the motherland. With this in mind, many will be shocked to hear that sex does exist in Armenia, Sona Martirosyan writes.

Is it in the mutual interest of Armenia and the diaspora to build a stronger connection with one another? A recent study on Armenia-Diaspora relations sheds new light on perceptions, opportunities and possibilities, one of which might be the creation of a diaspora-portal as a web-based sorting database for establishing connections.

In 2018, the Armenian people were swept up in a nationwide movement that would come to be known as the Velvet Revolution. Photojournalist Eric Grigorian took thousands of photos, documenting and capturing images of ordinary people who came together to achieve the extraordinary. Through his own words, Grigorian tells the story of the revolution and the moments in-between.

Over a decade ago, Armenia’s government launched a pilot project called Deinstitutionalization of Orphanages. The initiative, which also sought the creation of a Foster Family program was not successful for many reasons, but mostly because it was never really child-centered. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is set to change that.

What happens to those senior citizens in Armenia, who don’t have families who can or want to take care of them? There are only a handful of public and private old age homes, most suffering from lack of funding and poor services.

Lack of awareness, knowledge and education is a contributing factor to malnutrition in Armenian children. Gohar Abrahamyan looks at the research and speaks with parents and experts in the field.

Dr. Aram Hovsepyan examines how people can sometimes fall victim to hidden violence by those closest to them. While this case study is an extreme one that led to implausible results, it highlights the need for education, awareness and most of all, compassion.

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.

Is Armenia moving towards the implementation of a human rights-based state and state policy? To find out, Anahit Simonyan interviews Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Zaruhi Batoyan, Minister of Health, Arsen Torosyan, and Deputy Minister of Education, Arevik Anapiosyan.

With a global demand for outdoor sports increasing and a heightened interest in hiking and guiding in Armenia, several companies are now not only building trails, but possibly rebuilding lives in Armenia’s mountainous landscape.

Negotiating the complexities of civil aviation aside, Tatevik Revazian, chair of Armenia’s Civil Aviation Committee has had to learn how to negotiate the media landscape, trust less and break down stereotypes.

With the global market value of natural cosmetics steadily rising over the past decade, a number of Armenian companies have begun to create a niche and secure a strong customer base for natural beauty products made in Armenia.

The destruction of some historic buildings began in the Soviet era. That practice continued after the independence of Armenia. The Old Yerevan Project is meant to restore the architectural heritage of the capital city, however, progress has been slow and controversial.

Despite a number of legislative and institutional reforms initiated over the past decade, the water sector in Armenia still faces serious challenges with respect to management and protection.

While rates of infertility have started to come down in Armenia, many couples do face the possibility of never having a child. Not being able to conceive rips some couples apart, while others become stronger as they search for alternative solutions.

When you are suspended in an in-between place, belonging everywhere and nowhere at the same time, what does it take to prove you are Armenian? A baptismal certificate from an Armenian Church...but even that may not be good enough.

Hidden away in dusty archives, Seda Grigoryan discovered documents from a 1939 Soviet trial that found 20th century writer, literary critic and public figure Zabel Yesayan guilty of crimes she had not committed.

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.

“A male writer is free to be average, but never a female writer.” This is what 19th century writer Srbouhi Dussap told Zabel Yesayan when she announced she wanted to be a writer. Hasmik Khalapyan traces the extraordinary lives of Armenian women writers of the Ottoman Empire.

Vigen Galstyan takes the reader on a journey spanning a century of Armenian women photographers who carved out their own individual spaces and honed a personal vision that spoke to urgent, collective questions, often speaking the unspeakable and approaching the unapproachable.

For International Women’s Day, we asked women what they would tell their younger selves. While their answers weren’t always surprising, they were emblematic of the difficult choices women are often forced to make.

An abundance of illegal garbage dumps and legislation that is sometimes unclear about the responsibilities of different governmental bodies with regards to waste management, it’s a wonder Armenia hasn’t drowned in a sea of trash.

LGBT people and issues became a mainstream topic of conversation last year in Armenia, much to the fanfare, or perhaps due to, the former ruling elite, and a public glued to social media.