Black or White? No, Thank You

By Yevgenya Jenny Paturyan

The divisive “black or white” tone of the political campaign is not lending itself to the very ideals that the Velvet Revolution promised - pluralism, choices, diversity and freedom. On Election Day, people should vote according to their conscience and preferences, not out of pressure to be with the “right” crowd.

Blocking Courthouses: Tensions and Developments

A day after Armenia's second President Robert Kocharyan was released from pre-trial detention, PM Nikol Pashinyan called on the people of Armenia to block courthouses across the country in what turned out to be a bid to pressure judges to resign because of their alleged connections to the former regime and the people's mistrust towards the judiciary.

Bound by Duty? The Diaspora’s Normalization of Armenia’s Political System

By Nerses Kopalyan

Dr. Nerses Kopalyan takes a look at the role some of the most powerful Diasporan organizations have played in “reinforcing and indirectly legitimating the country’s existing political system” and draws parallels between the relationship of Armenia’s ruling administrations and their politics of co-opting the powers of the Diaspora.

Bourj Hammoud and the Prodigal Daughter

By Roubina Margossian

A native of Bourj Hammoud bids farewell to her hometown following an attack on writer Raffi Doudaklian in what appears to have been an attempt to silence his words. In this deeply personal essay, Roubina Margossian reflects on her complicated relationship with the town.

Bread and Fire: Change Starts Within Each of Us

By Arto Vaun

Arto Vaun writes about the passing of Artur Sargsyan, the man who broke through heavy police barricades to deliver food to the Sasna Dzrer and in doing so, became something of a legend.

Breaking Down Pashinyan’s 2050 Economic Targets

By Samson Avetian

In August 2019, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan set ambitious targets to be achieved by 2050, including a population of 5 million, 1.5 million new jobs, eliminating poverty, and a GDP 15 times greater than today’s figures. Samson Avetyan focuses specifically on the GDP growth target and examines the likelihood of hitting such a goal by 2050.

Breaking Intergenerational Violence Against Children in Armenia

By Lusine Sargsyan

UNICEF Armenia recently held a conference discussing child abuse in Armenia, a topic that is often not talked about. Based on the Demographic and Health Survey conducted in almost 8000 households in the country, the numbers of children experiencing physical and psychological abuse are quite alarming.

Breaking the Immunity of Dictators

By Irina Ghaplanyan

Dictators are emboldened by the silence of those who claim to be proponents of human rights and justice. Turkey’s Erdogan and Azerbaijan’s Aliyev must be held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity, writes Irina Ghaplanyan.

Breaking With the Past: A Documentary on Transitional Justice

Transitional Justice is a special form of justice, applied temporarily in countries where there have been massive abuses of human rights, usurption of power or genocide. It can also applied in countries like Armenia, where important political and social transition has taken place, where at the same time, there needs to be a break with the past.

Broken Destinies: Diary of a Human Rights Defender

By Zara Hovhannisyan

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.