A collection of ancient gold, silver and bronze artifacts has become the focus of a rare public dispute between the self-declared Nagorno Karabakh Republic and its patron, Armenia, which is appraising the treasure trove. By right, de facto Karabakh officials say, the items belong to Karabakh. But, so far, the History Museum of Armenia shows no sign of giving them back.
Armenia’s civil rights record isn’t exactly unblemished, but to thousands of Iranians eager to hear pop singers banned in Iran, the conservative South Caucasus country still ranks as a land of liberty.
On the field, a recent qualifying match between the Armenian and Russian national teams ended in a scoreless draw. Outside the stadium, the football contest kicked up an emotional debate among Armenians about the two countries’ strategic partnership.
As is the case with many small towns around the globe, the hamlet of Akhtala in northern Armenia is a place where everyone claims to know each other. But pedophilia charges brought against Serob Der-Boghossian, the Armenian-American owner of Akhtala’s Metal Prince Ltd. Corporation, the town’s main employer, are putting that assertion to the test.
The official reconciliation process between Turkey and Armenia may now be frozen, but a late January book exhibit in Yerevan suggests that the undercurrent for dialogue and understanding between the two long-time enemies remains strong.
Following the suicide of a 15-year-old boy, police in the Armenian capital Yerevan are cracking down on adolescent fans of emo music, a derivative of punk rock that is known for angst-ridden lyrics. Armenian officials contend that emo aficionados undermine social stability.
The Armenian government and the US embassy in Yerevan are staying tight-lipped about WikiLeaks disclosures concerning US-Armenian relations. But the country’s fragmented opposition is trying to score political points with the revelations about supposed arms sales to Iran and the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks.
The non-combat deaths of four soldiers on the Nagorno-Karabakh frontline on November 19-20 are stoking fresh debate about the level of transparency and discipline within the Armenian army. The deaths raise to 15 the number soldiers who have died since July in violent incidents within the ranks.
The issue of domestic violence, long a taboo topic in Armenia, is generating lots of public debate these days. The catalyst for discussion is a shocking criminal case, in which a 20-year-old mother of a toddler was, according to witnesses, abused to death by her husband.
Armenia’s diaspora is renowned for maintaining strong ties to the Motherland. But members of at least one diaspora group who have returned to Armenia – Iranian-Armenians – say they are encountering difficulty in gaining acceptance in Yerevan.
