Culture of protest: the symbols of Armenia’s Velvet Revolution

Tigran Amiryan

The elevation of protest leader Nikol Pashinyan to the post of prime minister last month was the dramatic culmination of Armenia’s peaceful revolution. Immediately after the deputies in parliament voted for Pashinyan, a truckload of snow was brought from the slopes of Mount Aragats to Yerevan’s central square and dumped in the middle of the jubilant crowd. In the warm light of a sunny spring evening, the joyful protestors staged a celebratory snowball fight. 

This hail of snow was not just a bizarre coda to the weeks of protests that swept the country and brought the streets of Yerevan to a standstill, but reflected the culture of the demonstrations themselves and the beliefs of the young people who drove them.

Recap: Anthony Bourdain's 'Parts Unknown' Visits Armenia

Bridget Hallinan

 

Every Sunday, we live vicariously through Anthony Bourdain's globe-hopping, face-stuffing adventures on CNN's Parts Unknown. This week, he takes us to Armenia: a true "part unknown" for the TV host, as it's his first time in the country. With the accompaniment of Serj Tankian—lead singer of System of a Down, and an Armenian-American—Bourdain dives deep into Armenia's history. There are painful discussions (the Armenian genocide in 1915, when an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman government; the diaspora; the earthquake in 1988), as well as optimistic glimpses into the country's future, bolstered by a booming IT industry and impressive after school programs. “Armenia remains a dream, a subject of stories; it is still, against all odds, a place,” Bourdain said during the show.

Parts Unknown Fan Recap: Armenia

On Sunday, May 20, 2018, CNN aired Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown highly anticipated episode dedicated to Armenia. Bourdain traveled to Armenia with System of a Down’s Serj Tankian. They talked about Armenia's painful history, the strength of the Diaspora, and those who are shaping its future. Roads & Kingdoms co-founder Nathan Thornburgh and stand-up comedian Jennifer Neal rehash the episode.

The Armenian Velvet Revolution is over: Pashinian voted in as prime minister

Monica Ellena

 

The honking started early. Around Grigor Lusavorich (“The Illuminator”) Church, vehicles of all shapes and ages set out hours before Armenia’s National Assembly was due to convene to appoint the country’s new prime minister. Ancient Soviet Ladas and shiny SUVs alike were driven down the central Tigran Mets, all flapping the Armenian orange-blue-red flag, and all beeping, hard. It was the summons to the square.

Not that people needed it. After weeks of protests that have transformed Armenia’s politics from a sluggish Soviet Lada to a speedy Lamborghini in a matter of three weeks, Republic Square has become the pulsing heart of a whole country called to wake up from its lethargic post-Soviet stillness.

Nikol Pashinyan Elected Prime Minister of Armenia

Armenia witnessed a historic day as the country’s legislature elected Nikol Pashinyan as prime minister barely two weeks after a popular movement toppled his predecessor Serzh Sarkisian, forcing him to resign a post to which he was elected mere seven days before.

After failing to elect a prime minister on May 1, the National Assembly elected Pashinyan on May 8 with a vote of 59 to 42. Pashinyan, the people’s candidate, was nominated by one-third of lawmakers to the highest office to the country,

Genocide and Kim Kardashian: The Bloody History Behind System of a Down's Tour

Kory Grow

 

System of a Down will be embarking on a tour to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

Between their spasmodic rhythms and jagged melodies, System of a Down have always been committed to a sobering cause: raising recognition for the Armenian genocide of 1915. The group’s self-titled debut LP contained a song called “P.L.U.C.K.,” in which frontman Serj Tankian sang “A whole race, genocide/Taken away all of our pride,” and over the years the band has held several one-off “Souls” concerts to help raise awareness of the tragedy.