'I Felt I Had To Be Here': The Armenian Diaspora Who Joined The Protests
Members of Armenia's large diaspora population came home to join the wave of mass protests that brought down the government. Armenia's population is around 3 million, but twice as many Armenians live abroad. (Photos by RFE/RL's Giorgi Gogua)
1
Henry Avagian
Belgium
“We did not go to Europe to stay there. We left because of the authorities in Armenia, because of the government. But we will return with our families, with our children.”
Belgium
“We did not go to Europe to stay there. We left because of the authorities in Armenia, because of the government. But we will return with our families, with our children.”
2
Diana Yayloyan, researcher working on Armenian-Turkish projects
Ankara, Turkey
“This is a really important time in my life because I am in a very hectic period with my exams, but I still felt that I had to be here because it’s a historic moment for my nation. This is an event of national unity, democracy, and justice for all Armenians all over the world.”
Ankara, Turkey
“This is a really important time in my life because I am in a very hectic period with my exams, but I still felt that I had to be here because it’s a historic moment for my nation. This is an event of national unity, democracy, and justice for all Armenians all over the world.”
3
Hayk Stver, musician
Kyiv, Ukraine
Stver wrote a song that has been played at rallies and protests throughout what has been dubbed the "velvet revolution" in Armenia. “For me, as a singer and songwriter, it is very important that so many people are listening to my song. I can’t express my emotions with words… it’s like winning a TV music contest.”
Kyiv, Ukraine
Stver wrote a song that has been played at rallies and protests throughout what has been dubbed the "velvet revolution" in Armenia. “For me, as a singer and songwriter, it is very important that so many people are listening to my song. I can’t express my emotions with words… it’s like winning a TV music contest.”
4
Sevak Karamian, political scientist
St. Petersburg, Russia
“I don’t have any illusions that people will live better the day after tomorrow, but changes have already happened. People’s minds have changed. Even their facial expressions are different, more relaxed. People smile.”
St. Petersburg, Russia
“I don’t have any illusions that people will live better the day after tomorrow, but changes have already happened. People’s minds have changed. Even their facial expressions are different, more relaxed. People smile.”
5
Shaghik Matevosian, student, with her fiance Matty Griffioen
Bulgaria
They came to Yerevan to make a documentary about protests in Armenia since 1998, and found themselves in the heart of the protests. She says: “As a person who has been involved in protests since I was 15, it's especially important for me to have legal and democratic justice."
Bulgaria
They came to Yerevan to make a documentary about protests in Armenia since 1998, and found themselves in the heart of the protests. She says: “As a person who has been involved in protests since I was 15, it's especially important for me to have legal and democratic justice."
6
Arsen Meliksetian, economist
Paris, France
“The most important thing for me is that people should have power, and not just for one day every five years. To this day the people of Armenia have not had any power at all, because the elections have always been falsified.”
Paris, France
“The most important thing for me is that people should have power, and not just for one day every five years. To this day the people of Armenia have not had any power at all, because the elections have always been falsified.”
7
Anna Karapetyan
Los Angeles, California, United States
“I grew up in Yerevan. We left for the United States in 1997, when I was 12 or 13, and my whole life I felt like something was stolen from me: my youth. And for me, when this whole revolution started, I felt like I needed to be part of it. I thought: 'This is the time for me to come and be part of something that will help me take back whatever was taken from me.'”
Los Angeles, California, United States
“I grew up in Yerevan. We left for the United States in 1997, when I was 12 or 13, and my whole life I felt like something was stolen from me: my youth. And for me, when this whole revolution started, I felt like I needed to be part of it. I thought: 'This is the time for me to come and be part of something that will help me take back whatever was taken from me.'”
8
Zareh Sinanyan, Mayor of Glendale, California
Glendale, California, United States
“When I saw so many people on the streets in Armenia, I felt excitement and happiness much like everyone else witnessing it. Change in Armenia was much needed and unfortunately, like most people, I had kind of given up on the hope of change. So when it happened I was extremely pleasantly surprised.”
Glendale, California, United States
“When I saw so many people on the streets in Armenia, I felt excitement and happiness much like everyone else witnessing it. Change in Armenia was much needed and unfortunately, like most people, I had kind of given up on the hope of change. So when it happened I was extremely pleasantly surprised.”
![Elen Asatryan, political analyst Glendale, California, United States “We were also organizing [demonstrations] back in Glendale, because there is a large Armenian-American community there. It was all very uplifting. Many of us cried many happy tears.”](https://gdb.rferl.org/3d6c7e67-cbfc-46f9-af59-900c7ea6eed5_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
9
Elen Asatryan, political analyst
Glendale, California, United States
“We were also organizing [demonstrations] back in Glendale, because there is a large Armenian-American community there. It was all very uplifting. Many of us cried many happy tears.”
Glendale, California, United States
“We were also organizing [demonstrations] back in Glendale, because there is a large Armenian-American community there. It was all very uplifting. Many of us cried many happy tears.”
10
Varduhi Balyan, journalist
Istanbul, Turkey
“In the beginning, to be honest, I was quite skeptical that it would grow this big. But then, when I saw people gathering, I found myself watching the demonstrations on my phone while I was working, writing an article, or anything… I said, 'I can’t concentrate on anything and I should be there.' So I just bought my ticket.”
Istanbul, Turkey
“In the beginning, to be honest, I was quite skeptical that it would grow this big. But then, when I saw people gathering, I found myself watching the demonstrations on my phone while I was working, writing an article, or anything… I said, 'I can’t concentrate on anything and I should be there.' So I just bought my ticket.”
![Tigran Hakobian Seville, Spain “I believe, one year after the revolution, we’ll see the elimination of corruption. We’ll see that Armenia will prosper and that monopolies will be eliminated. And if, God forbid, we don’t see these things, I am sure our people will make the decision [to protest] again.”](https://gdb.rferl.org/7b33821c-d20a-4ac0-8fdd-3d3fc44961cc_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
11
Tigran Hakobian
Seville, Spain
“I believe, one year after the revolution, we’ll see the elimination of corruption. We’ll see that Armenia will prosper and that monopolies will be eliminated. And if, God forbid, we don’t see these things, I am sure our people will make the decision [to protest] again.”
Seville, Spain
“I believe, one year after the revolution, we’ll see the elimination of corruption. We’ll see that Armenia will prosper and that monopolies will be eliminated. And if, God forbid, we don’t see these things, I am sure our people will make the decision [to protest] again.”