Articles

  • To Work Without the Right to Give Up. Artush Yeghiazaryan
    Repat Story
    22.12.2025
    Fighting Against Mine Exploitation as a Starting Point for Repatriation Having received an education and lived abroad for many years, Artush Yeghiazaryan, a native of Leninakan, one fine day in 2018 returned to his hometown—now Gyumri, formerly Leninakan—bringing with him solid professional experience. The decision to return home was not made immediately; moreover, it came only after nearly five years of active work in and for the homeland: “In 2012, like most Armenians who do not live in Armenia but live with Armenia in their hearts, I came across a Facebook post about a group of young people who were fighting against the opening of a mine in Teghut. This situation had a strong impact on me; I contacted them and offered my help. We became friends, and the story of the mine became the starting point on my path back home.”
  • “Building should be based on what unites us.” Lusine Khumaryan
    Repat Story
    17.12.2025
    Leaving Armenia Is an Unhealed Trauma Recently, the Forum of Armenian Culture and Art took place in Yerevan, organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. The founder of Armenian Creators, Lusine Khumaryan, who has been living in the Netherlands for many years, was also invited to the forum. Her visit became an occasion to get acquainted with her and to speak about the platform of Armenian creators she founded.
  • Choosing Your Armenian Region: Yerevan vs. the Provinces - Lifestyle, Opportunities, and Cost of Living
    News
    03.12.2025
    “Kotayk? Really? All that way from Kentron?” This was a common response whenever I told people that I was moving out of Yerevan after living on Pushkin street in the heart of the city center for more than 4 years. It almost felt like one of those video games, where the character hasn’t unlocked areas on the map yet. You see, Armenia might look compact, but living here isn't as one-size-fits-all as you’d think. In the span of a single afternoon, you can leave a crowded Yerevan intersection and drive past apricot orchards to arrive in a quiet village where someone you’ve never met still greets you like you’re old family.
  • In Armenia – My Port: A Completely Different Story of Yaroslav Zabavskiy
    Armenian by Choice
    28.11.2025
    In Search of Oneself Yaroslav Zabavskiy is a veteran among his compatriots in terms of the length of residence in Armenia: the first “stone” in establishing and strengthening his roots here was in fact laid in 2016. Yaro (as he is called in Armenia) has been living here for ten years already. At a young age, Yaroslav left the Moscow region for Wales to study in the UWC educational system, which radically changed the course of his entire future life. After graduating from college, he went to the USA to receive higher education in the field of international relations.
  • One-Way Ticket for a Birthday: The Story of Armen Aikazunyan
    Repat Story
    24.11.2025
    The most valuable birthday gift Armen Aikazunyan ever gave himself was celebrating his 31st birthday in his historical homeland. It was Armen’s first visit to Armenia, and now he no longer wants to leave and return back. “I was very interested in Armenia and the Armenian language. My grandparents, who had visited Armenia in the 1970s, and my father told me a lot about it. My parents, my grandparents and I — we all spoke, read, and wrote in Armenian; our entire family studied at an Armenian school,” the hero begins his story.
  • Lav Kline vs. Sagh Vat A: Exploring How Attitudes Change Outside of Yerevan
    News
    24.11.2025
    2 min
    “Lav kline,” an old man mutters as he warms his hands around a small glass of homemade moonshine outside his stone house in Sisisan, Syunik region. Looking at his face and haggard eyes, you can see decades of hardship; he’s a veteran of the first Artsakh war and participated in the 44-day war in 2020. Yet, when you ask how things are going, he replies as if he’s seen too much to waste his energy on despair. “Lav kline,” he says. All will be well.
  • Following Her Mission: The Story of Gayane Safronova
    Repat Story
    18.11.2025
    Most of Gayane Safronova’s (Hovhannisyan) life was spent in Russia, but her warmest memories are of her childhood — the one spent in the First Massiv (a district in Yerevan) and in a village in Jermuk: “I was born in Yerevan, and when I was one year old, my parents moved to Moscow. They went through difficult years, like everyone who relocated from Armenia to Russia in the 1990s. But even during those hard times, my sister and I had amazing summer vacations: we would come to Yerevan and spend two weeks in the capital, and then almost three months with our grandmother in a village in Jermuk. It was a wonderful childhood filled with games and other children. We had cows, and our favorites were named Siranush and Sevuk.”
  • Beyond the Honeymoon Period: How to Handle Cultural Differences in Armenia
    News
    13.11.2025
    2 min
    Picture this: You’ve done it; you packed your bags and repatriated. Some months have passed, and you’re starting to feel like you’re fitting in. And then, suddenly, things start changing. You see, moving to Armenia is an exciting adventure: the landscapes, the warmth of the people, and the rich cultural tapestry…all of these can make anyone feel instantly at home. Yet, as many foreigners in Armenia discover, the initial euphoria eventually gives way to a more complex stage of adaptation. That’s when true understanding begins. You learn how to navigate cultural differences in Armenia and adjust to a way of life that’s deeply rooted in history, tradition, and community.
  • From Repat to Real Estate Guru: What to Do and What Not to Do When Purchasing a Home in Armenia
    News
    30.10.2025
    2 min
    Finding My Home in the Homeland Buying a home in Armenia had always been on my bingo card since repatriating. Becoming a real estate guru, however, wasn’t. But here we are! Through mistakes made and lessons learned, I finally purchased my first home. If you’re thinking about doing the same, you’ve probably realized it’s not just about bricks and beams. The Armenian real estate market, while full of promise, has its quirks. So, here’s what I discovered along the way and would like to share with you.
  • The Point of Return. Homeland
    Repat Story
    27.10.2025
    Genetic Connection with Armenia Kseniya Yakutovich was born in Gyumri, spent her entire childhood there, and later moved to Russia with her family. But she never lost her connection with Armenia: she met her husband in Moscow — the same person who attended the same sports school as her back in Gyumri, and life brought them together again in Russia. “We often came to Armenia: my husband has relatives here, and I have family on my father’s side. When we returned to Moscow, we missed Armenia terribly and longed to come back. The seed had been planted. And all the objective and subjective circumstances, all the pieces of the puzzle came together, and in 2024 we moved to Armenia,” says Kseniya Yakutovich.
  • Teaching, Healing, and Inspiring through Music: Kamil Tchalaev’s “Wild School”
    Armenian by Choice
    23.10.2025
    Moscow and the Search for Destiny A few years ago, I attended the rock opera “Juno and Avos,” which had a full house at the Rostov Musical Theater. I could hardly have imagined then that years later—and in Armenia, no less—I would have the chance to meet someone who was among the creators of that very opera. Kamil Tchalaev is a composer, violinist, conductor, teacher, and sound therapy specialist. He came to Armenia at the invitation of the “301. Land of Wisdom” Foundation and continues his work here.
  • Working in Armenia: Job Opportunities and Challenges for Repatriates
    News
    20.10.2025
    It goes without saying that having a strong employment foothold in Armenia is key when making a move to the country. The job market has evolved rapidly in recent years, offering both career opportunities and complex challenges for those who choose to return. Whether you’re a member of the diaspora planning to move to Armenia for work or a professional curious about the country’s growing industries, you need to understand the realities of working in Armenia in 2025 in order to make more informed decisions.
  • Children’s Dreams — Motivation to Work: The Founding of the Alaverdi Boxing School
    Repat Story
    17.10.2025
    Move to Russia and the Start of a Sports Career For the second year now, children and teenagers from several communities of Alaverdi have had the opportunity to do sports—namely boxing—under the careful guidance of European and World kickboxing champion Sergey Dzavaryan. Sergey is also from Lori; he was born in Odzun. When he was seven, his family moved to Russia. There he started first grade, and a couple of years later joined kickboxing and swimming clubs.
  • Top 10 Reasons to Move to Armenia in 2025
    News
    08.10.2025
    Relocating to a new country comes with cold feet, especially if you’re not familiar with the nuances. For many in the Armenian diaspora, the idea of returning “home” has always been more than just a passing thought; it’s a calling. As for expats, living in Armenia is increasingly appearing on relocation shortlists as a safe, affordable, and opportunity-rich destination. In 2025, the case for making the move to Armenia has never been stronger. From simplified residency in Armenia to a booming tech sector, Armenia blends tradition with modern growth in a way few countries can. Here are the top 10 reasons to relocate to Armenia in 2025 and why it might just be the perfect decision for you.
  • “We need to stop comparing ourselves to others”: Armen Abelyan
    Repat Story
    29.09.2025
    2 min
    Armen Abelyan was born and raised in Yerevan.  Later he moved to Los Angeles, with his family. There, he studied accounting and worked in government institutions before moving into consulting and volunteer work. Then came the pandemic, which “forced” him to reassess his life and ask himself: “What do I really want to do?”