Articles
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-webp(85)-o(png).webp?token=59241769d5cf52cbd689e024cb386abb "Promoting Financial Literacy and Supporting Artisans: Clara Yalmanian’s Journey to Armenia")
Repat Story03.09.20252 minClara Yalmanian runs two seemingly disparate businesses from Armenia: trading and jewelry. Born and raised in Austria, and then based in London for several years, Clara Yalmanian made Yerevan her home in 2024, after first visiting in 2019. In just one year living in Yerevan, she has already made great strides in both promoting financial literacy in Armenia, while also working on a jewelry business that supports displaced artisans. -
-webp(85)-o(png).webp?token=7bbba750699eb321cfcfb7e7c3de5b38 "“Armenia Gave Me a Life Filled with Meaning”: Sara Stites")
Repat Story31.08.20252 minMy heroine needs no introduction: almost everyone in Armenia knows Sara Stites! She is the initiator and participant of countless social and charitable projects, and she can be seen at nearly every running event in Armenia — often holding the winner’s trophy. -
-webp(85)-o(png).webp?token=758cad4d82b42fd674d1060235d2603a "From New York to the Armenian Regions: Ruzan Melik-Yolchyan")
Repat Story25.08.2025Ruzan Melik-Yolchyan left for the United States when she was 24. After receiving an education in Oriental Studies in Yerevan, she went out into the big world in search of something new: in New York, she studied computer science and business management, and later perfected the latter in London. -
-webp(85)-o(png).webp?token=390fa5e0fa33f19787b165abe76724ff "Գուցե Հայաստանը փակ աչքերո՞վ է պետք սիրել...")
Repat Story20.08.2025Վերջին երկու տարվա ընթացքում զրուցել եմ տասնյակ հայրենադարձների հետ, ուղղել նրանց բազմաթիվ, երբեմն ինձ համար էլ անակնկալ հարցեր: Բոլոր զրույցների ընթացքում այդ հարցերը լուռ տվել եմ նաև ինքս ինձ, իմ հերոսներին ճանաչելուն զուգահեռ նորովի եմ բացահայտել ինձ. ո՞վ եմ ես, որտե՞ղ է իմ տունը, հնարավո՞ր է արդյոք երջանիկ լինել հայրենիքից դուրս, ապրել սեփական երջանկությա՞ն համար, թե հայրենիքի բարօրության: Ժամանակն է երևի գրի առնել այս հարցերի պատասխաններն ու պատմել Նարէի մասին, ով շուրջ երկու տարի ներկայացնում է ձեզ հայրենադարձների կամ, ինչպես մեզանում ընդունված է ասել, րիփաթների պատմությունները: -
-webp(85)-o(png).webp?token=1b2060b4f5a085390d04e8e0e129af3d "“What I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Armenia?” Reported Directly by Repats")
Repat Story18.08.2025Moving to Armenia is a deeply personal experience, often a mix of excitement, uncertainty and anxiety. For many diasporans, relocating to Armenia fulfills the dream of living in the homeland. But what is it really like to move to Armenia in reality? We spoke to a number of repats to ask what they honestly wish they knew before moving to Armenia. From unexpected cultural nuances to bureaucratic surprises, they share honest reflections on what they wish they had known before making Armenia their home. -
-webp(85)-o(png).webp?token=c25a7b5c1540980c91d611d47c9bb4ca "A Breakdown Of The Repat Armenia Lexicon")
Tips15.08.2025You may have noticed that we use a lot of different terms at Repat Armenia to describe the different people who make up the community here in Armenia. From “Partial Repat” to “ABC”, we recognize that this terminology can sometimes get a little confusing. When learning about all these different words, you’ll quickly realize that there are many different types of people who contribute to daily life in Armenia. So, to help you understand about all the different people living and working in Armenia, here’s a complete breakdown of all the terms we use here at Repat Armenia. -
-webp(85)-o(jpg).webp?token=db051e762674c9d3b343a2fa151863b8 "Intro to Renting in Armenia + How to Rent Safely")
Tips10.08.2025Probably the first thing on your mind when planning a move to Armenia is how you’re going to figure out where to live. Accommodation in a new country can be difficult to navigate with unfamiliar processes that feel both overwhelming and intimidating. While we understand that many repats wish to buy in Armenia, we generally recommend renting for at least 6 months first to get a feel of different areas before settling on the property that is completely right for you. But how do you go about this? There are so many questions that race through our minds when renting in a new place. How to find a property? Is it safe? How do contracts work? Fear not! We’re here to help you navigate renting in Armenia. -
-webp(85)-o(png).webp?token=6034d524e0be48494831556c38bb8d74 "Love in Craft: Shagé Ter-Arutyunyan and the Work of the “Brutshen” Studio")
Repat Story31.07.2025Shagé Ter-Arutyunyan was born in the Middle East in an artistic family, which determined both his professional path and his choice of rich colors and textures that represent his unique style. “I was born in Aleppo, grew up in a creative atmosphere: my father was a designer, my mother a poetess. Since childhood, I dreamed of coming to Armenia and studying here,” says Shagé. -
-webp(85)-o(png).webp?token=af770e0fa4a9119a787db9b94b295c5b "Beyond Yerevan – My Homeland")
Repat Story28.07.20252 minAll her conscious life, Stacey Terteryan had heard many conversations about the historical homeland, about returning to it – but never saw it happen. And when she reached a difficult period of searching for herself, Stacey decided to begin that journey in the homeland. “I’m a pure Armenian. My parents are from Beirut, I was born in Fresno. I was three when my father passed away, and my mom and I moved to Los Angeles to live with my grandparents. In my family and community, there were always many stories about the homeland. My grandmother always spoke to me in Armenian. But I only visited Armenia for the first time after both my mom and grandmother passed away,” Stacey begins. -
-webp(85)-o(png).webp?token=7f4b17729231378a3523f4f30fbe17f8 "Being Honest in the Love for the Village")
Repat Story23.07.20252 minMost repatriates look for work and new opportunities only in the capital, knowing that life in Armenia is concentrated in Yerevan, and it is easier to start a new life there. Today’s story is about a young woman who repatriated directly to Lori and, together with her husband, began creating work opportunities and changes for her family in the region. -
-webp(85)-o(jpg).webp?token=1ce51404708b97e32959b5a5620cc77e "Where Dreams Take Root")
Repat Story21.07.2025Growing up in Moscow, first visits to Armenia Kolya Stepanyan was born in Moscow. His parents moved there from Goris a few years before he was born. As a child, Kolya visited his grandparents in Goris a few times – those trips kept his connection to Armenia alive, even if it sometimes felt fragile. “When I was 15, I visited Armenia for the first time as a teen. That trip stuck with me. I felt something — maybe even love. Growing up in Russia was tough. Armenians and other minorities were treated like second or third-class citizens. Things have gotten a bit better, but not much. I always felt like an outsider, even though I had many friends in Moscow,” he recalls. -
-webp(85)-o(jpg).webp?token=c66b95fa1357d37e7ad5ff044a90cc92 "Buying Property in Armenia for Non-Residents: Mortgages, Documents, and 2025 Nuances")
Tips15.07.2025In Armenia, only about 52 out of 206 mortgage programs are available to non-residents. However, there are advantageous exceptions for foreigners and repatriates, such as foreign currency loans, online application options, and accommodating banks. This article will walk you through the process of buying a home in Armenia without an Armenian passport. -
-webp(85)-o(jpg).webp?token=f217f848b07c527a715f1152f0b822ee "A Magnet for “The Big Commonwealth”")
Armenian by Choice13.07.2025“Armenia is magnetic,” says Ivan Krisanov The first time Ivan visited Armenia was in 2017 – just as a tourist. Soon enough, he returned for business forums: organizing, attending, and bringing others along. In 2019, he took part in the Shape Eurasia Forum, supported by the World Economic Forum, and later that year he brought a business mission of Ivanovo entrepreneurs to Yerevan. Big Friendship in a Small Camp -
-webp(85)-o(jpg).webp?token=e8e15c98c66ad71f165a17978500b308 "Finding Her Best Self: A Journey from Kyiv, Through Artsakh, to Ijevan")
Repat Story11.07.2025For the next repatriate story, I traveled to Ijevan to meet Sofia Hakopyan, who settled there with her husband. Leaving the big city and reviving her ancestors' traditions had long been her dream: her interest in beekeeping grew after meeting her husband, who had hives and made honey in his lost homeland of Hadrut. Running Away from Kindergarten to Get to Yerevan Sofia left the big city twice: the first move was her parents' choice (something she now appreciates), and the second was her own strong wish. “I was born in Kyiv. My parents moved there from Yerevan. Returning to Armenia was always part of our lives. My dad said he didn’t start a business there because he knew we’d leave someday. He planned our move when we were still young to make adaptation easier. Before we moved, Dad visited family in Armenia every year, and I was lucky to go three times. I remember once running away from kindergarten in Kyiv. When the teachers caught me and asked where I was going, I said, ‘To Yerevan,’” Sofia begins. -
-webp(85)-o(png).webp?token=ce11a0269c3d409316d05f99e4592124 "Life in Armenia – Desire and Decision")
Repat Story12.06.20252 minThat Nairi Grigoryan is an artist is easy to guess from his image, his manner of speaking, and the environment and atmosphere he creates wherever he steps. In his hands, the brush moves smoothly, stone turns into a work of art, and even the smallest hall becomes a true stage.
