On the same day, the Patriarch paid courtesy visits to the Mayor of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç, and the Governor of Kayseri, Gökmen Çiçek. Following these visits, Patriarch Maşalyan toured the city’s library, accompanied by the Director of the Tourism Office.

The building in question was formerly the Holy Mother of God Church, the seat of the city’s Armenian Archbishopric. Used for various purposes over the years, the building was restored by the municipality and opened as a public library.

Patriarch Maşalyan then visited the Surp Krikor Lusavoriç (St. Gregory the Illuminator) Church in Kayseri, entering the church to the sound of ringing bells. After performing a pilgrimage prayer, he received information about the church from members of the local Armenian community.

The final stop of the day was Mount Erciyes. After the snowy visit, the Patriarch and his group returned to their hotel. That evening, the Patriarch attended a dinner held in his honor.

As part of his itinerary, Patriarch Maşalyan will also visit Vakıfköy in Hatay to attend a liturgy and will initiate the restoration work for the Karasun Manuk (Forty Martyrs) Church in İskenderun. The Karasun Manuk Church had been damaged during the February 6 earthquakes.

(Patriarchate press release, Agos)

The study regarding the parliamentary elections on June 7 was conducted via telephone calls with 1,506 participants.

When asked which political party or alliance they would vote for if national elections were held next Sunday, 24% of participants stated they would support the Civil Contract Party led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The second most prominent party was the Strong Armenia Party, led by Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, receiving 9% support.

Other parties received smaller percentages. The Armenia Alliance, led by former president Robert Kocharyan and including the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, received approximately 3% support. Another 3% stated they would vote for the Prosperous Armenia Party, led by billionaire Gagik Tsarukyan.

Pashinyan is weak in Yerevan

However, a large portion of participants—30%—stated they have not yet decided who to vote for. While 8% said they would definitely not vote, 5% stated they would deliberately invalidate their ballots to ensure their votes are counted but do not go to any party.

When results are calculated to include participants who indicated a high probability of voting, support for Civil Contract rises to 29%, while Strong Armenia sees 11% support. The poll also revealed that 69% of participants are certain of their choices and will not change their minds before election day.

Support for the Civil Contract Party appears weaker in Yerevan. Only 15% of those surveyed in Yerevan said they would vote for the ruling party. Support rises to 25% in other cities and to 31% in rural areas. Armenia's population is distributed equally among these three categories.

Support for the Strong Armenia party, led by Samvel Karapetyan, appears to be evenly distributed geographically: there is approximately 9-10% support among participants in Yerevan, other cities, and rural communities. Kocharyan's Armenia Alliance shows a different geographical distribution: it receives 5% in Yerevan and approximately 2% in rural areas.

Generational gap

The poll also reveals generational differences in voter preferences. The Civil Contract Party shows its strongest performance among voters aged 56 and older, with 34% support. Among young voters aged 18-35, the rate of those saying they would vote for the ruling party is 12%, while support for Karapetyan's Strong Armenia Party in the same age group remained at 10%.

Political disappointment is also evident among younger participants. 14% of voters aged 18-35 stated they do not intend to vote, while 34% said they are undecided.

Among participants who said they would not vote, the most frequently cited reasons were a lack of trust in any party or political leader (20%), the belief that their vote would not matter (13%), and distrust in the electoral process (12%).

(Civilnet)

During the dinner, hosted by Jbid İskenderoğlu Kalaycı, businessman Berç Darçın stated that the month of Ramadan is an occasion for love, brotherhood, and sharing. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sıvacıoğlu emphasized that at a time when the language of war, tension, and division is rising in different parts of the world, the sounds of the adhan and church bells resonate together under the same sky in Istanbul. In his speech, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacırtouched upon the importance of producing together and creating added value for Turkey. Kacır praised the employment, production, and economic contributions provided to Turkey by industrialists belonging to the Armenian community.

At the dinner, Patriarch Maşalyan presented plaques of appreciation to leading industrialists of the community Aret Erganyan, Avedis Polat, Hayk Aslanyan, Anahid Bozacıyan, and İrma Polat for their contributions and efforts. Delivering the closing speech of the dinner, Patriarch Sahak Maşalyan thanked President Erdoğan and state officials for the interest and support shown to minority communities. Stating that AKP MP Sıvacıoğlu serves as a bridge between the community and the government, Patriarch Maşalyan noted that he is carrying out efforts to resolve existing issues.

Although air travel between Armenia and Turkey has been ongoing since the early 2000s, these flights have been carried out by private airline companies. The start of THY flights, however, holds special importance as the company is state-controlled.

According to THY's planning, the capacity on the route will be gradually increased in line with the rise in passenger demand. In this context, the weekly frequency of Istanbul-Yerevan flights will be increased to 10 as of May 14, 2026. The frequency increase will continue later in the summer season, and as of June 15, 2026, flights will be operated 14 times a week.

Stepan Payaslyan, Vice Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee of the Republic of Armenia, Marcelo Wende, Director of Armenia International Airports, and his deputy Sergey Avetisyan attended the welcoming ceremony held for the first flight. From THY, Vice President of Sales for Eastern Europe Hüseyin Özbek, General Manager of Sales for Georgia and Armenia Kenan İnce, as well as other guests, were in attendance.

The start of THY's flights to Yerevan is seen as a step within the framework of the normalization process between the two countries.

(Agencies, Civilnet)

In his speech, Pashinyan noted that the most significant development since his previous address to the parliament in October 2023 has been the progress toward establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Speaking at a joint press conference with EP President Roberta Metsola and during his address to the General Assembly, Pashinyan revisited the concept of security. He remarked that for 30 years, Armenia perceived security solely through the lens of the army and weaponry. "It is now clear to me that the only guarantee of security is peace. The second layer of security is economic cooperation and mutual interdependence," he stated.

While noting ongoing military cooperation with France and support received from the European Peace Facility, the Prime Minister emphasized that the military should not be viewed as a foreign policy tool, but rather as a "reserve" to be deployed only when diplomatic instruments fail. Pashinyan also identified the frozen political dialogue between the EU and Georgia as the greatest challenge facing Armenia’s EU integration process. Vowing that Armenia will continue reforms to meet EU standards, he said, "If the EU accepts us as a full member, that is excellent; if not, we still win by being a country that has attained EU standards."

Regional Transportation and the TRIPP Project

Stating that the peace achieved with Azerbaijan has created opportunities for new infrastructure projects, Pashinyan announced that Armenia is ready "even today" to provide a highway connection between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan via its existing infrastructure (the Kornidzor-Goris-Yeghegnadzor-Yeraskh route).

Reminding the audience that there has been total tranquility at the border for eight months and that 2025 was recorded as the first year since 1991 without any loss of life, the Prime Minister highlighted that a train departing from Azerbaijan reached Armenia in November 2025. He expressed his gratitude to the Azerbaijani administration for lifting this restriction. Pashinyan also announced that an agreement regarding the practical implementation of the "Trump Road for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP) project between the US and Armenia would be signed soon.

Karabakh Refugees and Detained Armenians

Regarding the situation of Armenians who migrated from Karabakh, Pashinyan stated that the emotions of refugees should not be exploited and expressed his opposition to giving them "false hope." He explained that Yerevan’s clear strategy is to settle these individuals permanently in the country by granting them Armenian citizenship, noting that 4,886 families have already benefited from this program.

Pashinyan maintained that they are conducting "quiet diplomacy" for the release of Armenians held in Baku, arguing that the recent release of four individuals was a result of this strategy. He reminded the assembly that 19 Armenians, including former political and military leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh (such as Arayik Harutyunyan, Ruben Vardanyan, Davit Babayan, etc.), remain imprisoned in Azerbaijan.

Domestic Politics: "We Will Not Allow a New War"

Defending the decision to begin the border delimitation process with Azerbaijan in April 2024 as having saved Armenia from the brink of destruction, Pashinyan used harsh words against the domestic opposition movement led particularly by the Church.

Citing the border village of Kirants as an example of a place that is now much safer and more developed than before, Pashinyan accused certain clergy members of having links to foreign intelligence services (with an emphasis on the "KGB") and of conspiring with former rulers to drag the country into a new war. The Prime Minister stated, "We will never allow our independence, won with the blood of thousands of victims, to be sacrificed for anti-Christian goals or for the country to be led into a new war."

Message on the Middle East

Finally, addressing the escalating tensions in the Middle East and the recent attacks by Israel and the US on Iran, the Prime Minister expressed that they are watching these events with deep sorrow. Defining Iran as a "thousand-year-old neighbor and a good friend" and the US and Arab nations as "good partners," Pashinyan added that as a modest state, Armenia can only pray for diplomatic solutions.

According to the statement by the ÇGD, the award was granted for the investigative report titled "The Chain of Neglect and Abuse Aimed at Ukrainian Orphans Brought to Turkey." This international report focused on the situation of 510 orphans brought to Antalya as part of the "Childhood Without War Project" during the Russia-Ukraine war process; it documented cases of psychological and sexual abuse reflected in official reports and brought them to the public's attention.

The names and works recognized in other categories in the list announced by the ÇGD are as follows:

• News Award: Mine Şenocaklı and Efekan Akyüz for the report "The Homes of Retirees are Now Cheap Hotel Rooms!"

• Mustafa Ekmekçi News Award: Can Öztürk and Fundanur Öztürk for their reports regarding allegations of abuse.

• Rafet Genç News Award: Oğulcan Özgenç for the report uncovering discriminatory official instructions.

• Behzat Miser News Award: Melis Yıldırım, Batuhan Dükel, Eylem Ladin Değer, and Cemal Berk Aytekin for their reports documenting the security screening moments at Anıtkabir.

• TV News Award: Cengiz Karagöz for his reports on allegations of assault at the police station.

• Interview Award: Furkan Karabay for his work titled "Conscience is Also Suspended."

• Local News Award: Burak Necip Başar for the report on zoning plan violations in Fethiye.

• Research and Inquiry Award: Sadık Güleç and Osman Çaklı for their book "New Generation Gangs."

• Mahmut Tali Öngören Documentary Award: Tunca Öğreten and Murat Baykara for the documentary "Torture in the Homeland."

• İzzet Kezer News Photography Award: Ümit Bektaş for his photograph of the March 19 protests.

• Page Design Award: Kardelen Tatar Sinecan for the design "No Time to Prepare the Page Today."

• Cartoon Award: Muzır Neşriyat for their work on muzir.org.

• Solidarity Award: Tele1.

Also present at the event were Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, the Ministers of Interior and Culture and Tourism, the President of Religious Affairs, the Chief of Staff to the President, the Secretary General of the Presidency, the Presidential Communications Director, the Chief Advisor to the President on Foreign Policy and Security, a member of the Presidential Culture and Art Policies Board, the Director General of Foundations, and AKP MKYK member Sevan Sıvacıoğlu.

Speaking at the program, Erdoğan stated: "I believe that the image of unity, togetherness, and solidarity presented here is very meaningful at a time when wars, conflicts, divisions, suffering, and oppression define the agenda of humanity."

Erdoğan expressed that Anatolia is a geography where civilizations meet, different beliefs blend, and mosques, churches, and synagogues on the same street complement each other, saying: "This evening, distinguished representatives of Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Jewish, Syriac, Catholic, and various other communities meet around the same table. I thank each of you individually for accepting our invitation. I particularly want to express that you are not only representatives of your own communities but also of Turkey’s multicultural and multi-faith social structure."

“The culture of living together is in the very yeast of these lands. Mutual respect is in the soul of these lands. Brotherhood is in the memory of these lands. Yunus Emre expressed this in his pure, clear Turkish: 'I read the meaning of the four books. I memorized them; when it came to love, I saw it was but one long syllable.' This is the essence, the summary, the core of the matter: To love the created for the sake of the Creator. It is neither anyone’s place nor right to categorize people created by Allah, to engage in racism, or to marginalize based on sect or disposition."

“A New Church Was Built for the First Time in Republican History”

Stating that they have taken very comprehensive steps in the last 23 years, Erdoğan said: "We have made significant regulations regarding the return of the past properties of community foundations. With the reforms we implemented in foundation legislation, we expanded the rights of community foundations. We restored many churches and houses of worship that had been neglected for many years and placed them back at the service of the communities. We also provided serious convenience regarding the religious officials needed by the communities. For the first time in Republican history, a new church was built during our tenure."

Stating that the Mor Afrem Syriac Orthodox Church, opened for worship in Yeşilköy, Istanbul, is a strong symbol of the atmosphere of religious freedom in Turkey, Erdoğan used the following words: "We are greatly pleased to see our citizens of different faiths active in academia, bureaucracy, the business world, and politics. The recent appointment of a citizen of Armenian descent as a district governor and the fact that our Armenian deputies have long served in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey are among the best examples of this. Inshallah, in the coming period, we will continue to further enhance this climate in cooperation and unity with you."

Stating that "certain international circles unfairly criticize Turkey on the issue of religious freedom," Erdoğan said: "The words of those who place hostility toward Turkey at the center of their politics have no value in our eyes. Turkey is an exemplary country where everyone possesses freedom of religion and conscience, can freely fulfill their beliefs, where communities can maintain their own institutions, and where mutual respect prevails. What occurred during the visit of the spiritual leader of the Catholic world, Pope Leo XIV, to Turkey is an important indicator of this. Both the prayer program in Iznik and the mass held in Istanbul were performed thanks to the facilities provided by our state."

“Antisemitism is a Crime, an Unjustifiable Evil”

Stating that the world today faces serious problems such as discrimination, hate speech, and marginalization, Erdoğan noted: "Islamophobia, which has escalated particularly in recent years, clearly threatens both our people and the culture of living together. As Turkey, we are against all forms of discrimination. We are determinedly fighting against this both domestically and internationally. Likewise, we have no tolerance for dark, DAESH-like structures that bomb mosques, churches, or synagogues without distinction and have no respect even for places of worship. As I have always said, just as Islamophobia is a crime against humanity, antisemitism is also a crime; it is an evil that cannot be considered reasonable or legitimate. Our goal is clear. We have built, and inshallah will continue to build, a Turkey together where everyone living on these lands feels equal, free, and safe."

Erdoğan thanked the clerics who attended the iftar invitation and wished that Ramadan would bring peace, tranquility, and abundance to the country, the nation, and all of humanity.

According to the latest information, there are fortunately no confirmed fatalities among residents. However, several people are believed to be trapped under the rubble as rescue efforts continue at the site.

Majidiyeh is one of Tehran’s historic Armenian neighborhoods. The district is known for its vibrant community life and developed infrastructure, much of which has been established and expanded with significant contributions from the Iranian-Armenian community.

Հրթիռային հարված Թեհրանի հայկական թաղամասին

Ամերիկա-իսրայելական դաշինքի ագրեսիայի հարվածի թիրախ է դարձել հին հայկական Մաջիդիե թաղամասում գտնվող բնակելի շենքը։ Ըստ վերջին տվյալների, բարեբախտավար, բնակչության շրջանում զոհեր չկան, սակայն որոշ բնակիչներ հայտնվել են փլատակների տակ։… pic.twitter.com/Mha9R0F05Q

— IRI Embassy in Armenia (@iraninyerevan) March 10, 2026

Public Radio of Armenia

The play will be performed on February 27 for the benefit of Getronagan High School, on March 3 for the Huys Association, and on March 13 for the benefit of Topkapı Levon Vartuhyan Schools, with a special performance on March 27 for World Theater Day. The plays will begin at 9:00 PM. All performances will take place at the Getronagan High School Alumni Association in Harbiye.

Alen Tekbıçak, President of Şişli Sports Club, made the following statement following Beşiryan’s success:

“We are proud of our young athlete. As Şişli Sports Club, we aim to experience these achievements alongside many of our youths and bring them together through sports by investing more in our youth development. Seeing the rewards for every step we take on this path brings us additional joy. We are experiencing great pride and happiness on behalf of our club. I also extend my gratitude to our coach, Hakan Günartan, who has put great effort into our athlete's development.”

At the end of the Feminist Night March, as the crowd dispersed, the police detained six people. Despite all the objections from the women, those detained were taken to the police station. Feminist lawyers went to the station to monitor the proceedings. Late at night, a post on the digital media account of the March 8 Feminist Night March announced that the six detained individuals had been released.

Barricades in Taksim

According to a statement made by the Istanbul Police Department early today, the roads to be closed to traffic within the scope of the demonstrations in Kadıköy were determined as of 11:00.

According to reports from Anadolu Agency, in this context, the Söğütlüçeşme Street Tram Road, Bahariye Street Tram Road, and Albay Faik Sözdener Street Tram Road were closed to traffic. Additionally, in a statement made on the social media account of Metro Istanbul, it was announced that in line with the decision taken by the Istanbul Governor's Office, as of 15:00 and until further notice, the Taksim and Şişhane stations of the M2 Yenikapı-Hacıosman Metro Line and the F1 Taksim-Kabataş Funicular Line would be closed.

However, despite all road and transportation closures, women moved toward Taksim. Although they could not enter Taksim Square, which was surrounded by barricades, the women who gathered in Cihangir and Sıraselviler managed to break the blockade this year as well with slogans, banners, and anthems.

The "March 8 Women's March," which started at 19:30, ended around 21:00 with dances and the reading of the press statement in Turkish, Kurdish, and Arabic.

Palestinian, Druze, and Alevi Women

The press statement of the 24th Feminist Night March in 2026 is as follows:

"Today, we are here together for the 24th Feminist Night March. As every year, we raise our voices with our enthusiasm, our rebellion, and our solidarity. We came to this area today by overcoming police barricades and walking long distances. Why? Because we all know that our liberation lies in feminism, and that feminism is our only option to exist in this world.

Yesterday, today, and probably tomorrow. Every day, we wake up to wars and destruction caused by men. While US and Israeli missiles fall on Iran right next to us, Turkey becomes an accomplice to this crime by opening NATO bases for use. Palestinian women are being tortured in the prisons of Israel, which tries to justify this war in the name of 'liberating women.' HTS, which is in power in Syria with US support, is killing Alevi, Kurdish, Arab, and Druze women. Trump, who does everything he can to cover up the Epstein files and his own complicity, only remembers women's freedom when it serves to bomb his enemy. We know this lie from Iraq and Afghanistan!

We watch those who plunder the world, how they steal from us and grow rich. All while they test us with hunger and eye the few cents in our pockets, the two bites in our mouths. We see those who increase their power while turning us into enemies of one another. How they leave all of us breathless. In these days when the world we know is being turned upside down, we remind each other not to get caught in this darkness, not to get used to hopelessness, and not to settle for this order created by men. That is exactly why we join the voices of women who, while resisting Islamist dictatorial regimes on one hand, say 'our freedom will not come from your hands' against US and Israeli aggression on the other.

For centuries, men have been living off the backs of us women; they lead a life of comfort thanks to the unpaid labor of women. They show up in public life, work comfortably in paid jobs, and gain status thanks to the life that women reproduce within the home. They control women's sexuality and, calling it love, they usurp women's rights to make decisions over their own lives. With an unshakable belief that women are subordinate to them, they see it as their right to commit violence against women and to kill them—sometimes taking the strength of a religious sect behind them, sometimes a gang, and sometimes the power of being a state prosecutor. Men feed on the failure to implement preventive and protective policies, on impunity, and on the fact that women's most basic rights—the civil code, divorce, alimony, and abortion—are constantly made a matter of debate and are under attack.

Calling it the 'Year of the Family'

By calling it the 'Year of the Family,' by saying they will de-gender us, they are trying to prevent trans people's access to hormones and their right to life by taking things as far as controlling gender and creating fabricated categories like 'behaviors not suitable for one's gender,' fundamentally trying to protect the dominance of men over women. Because they know this dominance is in danger; because they are aware of the danger created by the transformative power of feminism. Because this order will change—thanks to every woman who is here or cannot be here today and who struggles against patriarchy in her own life.

Just as we have exposed the crimes committed by men against women by making real a struggle that a woman walking on this street a hundred years ago could perhaps only imagine, we will build a new world in the same way. Thanks to our feminist solidarity. To direct our own lives, to be free, to claim our bodies, our labor, our sexuality, and our identities. To claim our future.

We say our liberation lies in feminism. Liberation is possible together, with feminist solidarity. We will transform the world with what we have learned from our own lives and from all the women who came before us. Because we learned from feminism that it is possible to live by building a peaceful, equal, and just life without being enemies.

Therefore, we repeat: Long live our feminist struggle!"

We continue to voice the struggles of those in the Armenian community who are in difficult circumstances. I was aware that it would be difficult to speak with the people whose doors I knocked on. They were expecting me; we had spoken on the phone. I rang the bell and waited at the door for about five minutes before it finally opened. The 94-year-old mother, having difficulty walking, greeted me with slow steps and a smile. When I entered, I saw her daughter, Z.K., sitting on a sofa, smiling at me. Her carefully combed hair, spotless clothes, and pristine home left me in admiration. It was as if they were not the protagonists of an environment that grew more somber as we spoke... 72-year-old Z.K. is ill and paralyzed. She is cared for by her 94-year-old mother. They are experiencing serious health problems and are struggling to meet rent, healthcare, and other expenses.

How old is your mother?

She is 94.

Do the two of you live alone? Does your 94-year-old mother care for you?

Yes. That is correct. She cooks our meals, washes our clothes, and tries to manage the house.

How old are you?

I was born in Istanbul in 1954.

Have you ever worked?

I can say I have never actually worked. In my youth, I worked for a few months at an antique carpet repair shop, that’s all. The burden of the household was on my father, but my mother worked as well.

What was your mother’s occupation?

She was a nurse’s aide at our hospital (Surp Pırgiç).

Were you ever married? Do you have children or siblings?

I never married. I have no children. I have siblings. One of my brothers passed away during his military service. The other is an alcoholic. I do not speak with my sister due to certain problems. I have no refuge other than God and my mother.

When did your health problems begin?

I developed colitis in 1996. I received treatment and underwent surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery was not successful. Complications developed afterward. My intestine was accidentally perforated, and I ended up in this state. Now, those who performed that surgery are out enjoying life, while I am begging for death.

I believe you have an open wound on your abdomen?

Yes. There is an inflammatory leakage. I have to dress and clean it myself. If I drink water, it leaks out of my stomach.

When did you suffer a stroke?

I had a brain hemorrhage eight years ago. My left arm and leg are paralyzed. Before that, I could walk more or less, go outside, and get some fresh air. Now, I can barely move at home even with a walker. My mother stands behind me so I don’t fall, and I try to walk with the walker using one leg and one arm. I fell the other day; the neighbors came and picked me up, bless them.

Do you have other illnesses?

I cannot eat. I have kidney failure. I have cardiac arrhythmia. I have a herniated disc. I have restless leg syndrome. I have everything, my dear.

You say you clean yourself. Isn't that difficult?

How could it not be? I have leakage every 10-15 minutes. The inflammation never dries up. I am always wrapped in cotton so that we don’t soil the bed and blankets when we sleep.

Which hospital do you go to in emergencies?

They took me to Bakırköy State Hospital by ambulance a few times. They took me there by ambulance, but returning home by our own means after treatment was very difficult. Once, a neighbor carried me into the house by placing me on a rug.

Under normal circumstances, how should patients like you receive care? Or do they do their own dressings?

No, of course not. Those who have the means have their dressings done. But I don't have the means. I use cotton. There are times when I can't even find that. Then, I have to cut up bedsheets at home and use them for my dressings.

Is there any income entering this house?

My mother has a retirement pension. My father wasn't insured, so nothing was left from him. I have a 79% disability ID from the state. The state gives me 6,000 lira in disability aid. We add 600 TL to that and pay our rent.

Do you rent this home?

It’s a rental. We currently pay 6,600 TL, but we are in court. The landlord wants a rent increase. We had three months of rent debt, which was paid by the Bakırköy Church. I heard my landlord wants 30,000 TL; I don't have 30 cents, let alone 30,000, to pay. We haven't been able to pay the apartment maintenance fee for a year either. Creditors come constantly asking for money. We will end up on the street.

Are you affiliated with the Bakırköy Church Poor Relief Committee?

Yes. I receive 2,000 lira a month in aid. Two food parcels arrive every month from the Patriarchate. It’s a parcel mostly consisting of legumes. Chicken comes twice a year, at Easter and Christmas. And meat comes once a year from the "Love Tables" of the Bakırköy Church. Patients like me apparently need protein and meat, but unfortunately, we cannot get them.

Natural gas, water, electricity, medications... How are these needs paid for with these pensions?

I owe money to everyone. Because my special needs are many. I have blood medication that must be purchased. I use five packs of cotton on my stomach every day. Every day, I am in great need of burn cream, isotonic saline, cotton, and gauze. I have to cover these myself—or rather, I can't cover them.

It is also a difficult situation psychologically.

My life is already over. I can’t go out, I can’t eat what I want, I can’t wear what I want, I can’t do what I want at home. I don’t even see people. I have no strength left to endure. I am just breathing.

After I became paralyzed, I thought about killing myself every day. I still do. I tried to throw myself from the balcony, but it didn't work. My mother saw me while I was taking pills; the woman fell while running to stop me, and I couldn't even pick her up off the floor.

What would make you feel a little better? What do you need to hold on to life?

If there were a foundation-church house somewhere we could sit... If our rent were paid, our bills covered, and my medical supplies provided, maybe I would want to live.

Z.K., whose name I do not wish to share at this stage, told me about the difficulties she experienced with all her sincerity, as you have read. It is clear that this elderly mother and daughter need medical, financial, and humanitarian aid as soon as possible. It is also clear that the cries for help rising from our community are increasing day by day...

The church foundation has applied for a 25-million TL grant allocated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism specifically for the restoration of historical structures following the earthquakes. Yusuf Tabaş, President of the Foundation, told Agosthat they have not yet received a response regarding their application.

Tabaş, who attended the ERVAB (Union of Armenian Foundations) meeting on March 2, noted that he received pledges of support from other church foundation boards for the restoration project. The total cost for the restoration of the church, the shops, and the outbuildings is estimated to reach approximately 77 million TL.

The self-satisfied expression of pride on Epstein’s face—his certainty that he has done exactly what befits him—felt painfully familiar. Every woman who grew up in Turkey in the 1980s experienced open harassment, because it was never considered strange for the men in her family to read newspapers filled with pornographic images. Reading those papers at home or in public, thrusting them into women’s sight, normalizing this as an ordinary part of life—this was overt, unabashed harassment for all of us. Parents who failed to recognize that girls must be protected from both adult and underage men actively contributed to raising sons who felt entitled to do whatever they could.Families—and entire neighborhoods—chose to shield the abusive boys, uncles, fathers, and brothers among them. They normalized the perpetrators’ actions while accusing and punishing the victims as deviant. The message was crystal clear: harassment and rape are normal components of male sexuality. And this norm is reinforced by women’s silence—by the “justified” shame imposed on those born into the supposedly deficient, non-male sex.

The crimes that have exploded like a bomb in the white world with the Epstein file are not aberrations; they are essential to the colonial order. Indeed, they are no different from what occurred daily on the plantations where enslaved people were forced to labor in America. To express shock at such crimes requires ignoring the colonial violence accumulated over centuries by humanity’s blindingly white half. As the colonial knowledge of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries was obscured by nationalist theories, empires transformed into nation-states, and that knowledge became a founding pillar of white supremacy. The foundational knowledge that nourished Epstein and allowed that smile to settle on his face is precisely this accumulated knowledge.

Epstein’s victims call themselves “survivors.” We are told there are a thousand of them; when we consider their families, we are speaking of thousands—perhaps tens of thousands—of victims. We live in a time when the law has almost entirely severed its connection to justice. Legal processes—when they function at all—rarely go beyond technical mediation. In doing so, they require perpetrators to confront victims, compel victims to “find a language,” to recount repeatedly “what happened.” Yet as this case demonstrates, when everything is already laid bare, when crime has wholly supplanted normality, when crime is served up as a daily breakfast routine, as entertainment, as pleasure—and when thousands line up to partake in the crime—how meaningful is it to claim that justice can be established through law?

Given the limitations of the legal mechanisms available to us, revelation is an important tool. But the crucial question is how to make this mechanism function in a way that protects victims—survivors—most effectively. We must consider how to prevent survivors from being left alone, and how to ensure that those exposed remain condemned in the public conscience for decades.

Several years ago, researching an 1856 case of incest, abortion, and divorce within the Armenian administration of Akşehir fundamentally transformed my understanding of exposure. While studying Armenian canon law, I examined the place of incest within it and, drawing on the work of Nerses Melik-Tankyan, wrote that incest was treated as equivalent to murder under Armenian church law. This was such an accurate characterization. It may have been my ignorance, but until then I had not encountered any legal framework that defined incest as murder. And indeed, if a process that kills a woman’s spirit—reducing her to unarticulated aggression, driving her toward psychiatric confinement, toward madness, toward the erasure of her life—if that is not murder, then what is?

Armenian church law treated the perpetrator of incest as a murderer and required him to perform public penance before his community for twenty years. Let us consider what it means for a person to confess and repent publicly every Sunday for two decades. Everyone in the place where he lived would know that he had committed this crime; this knowledge would pass down through generations. The person he harmed would live not alongside denial, but alongside a man visibly paying the price for the crime he committed against her. I do not know whether this was implemented exactly as prescribed in practice. You may ask how such a system could function in a “modern” society. Even so, as knowledge distilled from centuries of legal experience about how such crimes should be evaluated, it offers a powerful point of reference.

I also find it crucial that the woman in that case did not withdraw her testimony—that she did not retract her statement that she had become pregnant by her uncle. Another document from Istanbul shows a family making a serious claim for compensation in a similar case involving their daughter. Moreover, we see that the woman’s family did not abandon the lawsuit. There was a time when broken arms did not remain hidden in sleeves. Let it be our task to adapt the experience of that time to our own and to consider what kind of collective mechanisms we might build today.

The region is currently in a very volatile state. Iran is at war with America and Israel; we know there are mutual attacks, and Iran’s spiritual leader has been killed. Armenia officially contacted the Iranian side on the third day of the war, expressing condolences and offering humanitarian aid. Can you explain the reasons for this diplomatic delay?

I would not characterize this as a "delay" on the part of the Republic of Armenia, because reactions are not limited to public statements. Armenia’s response to the situation is, first and foremost, to analyze what is happening in the region and how it might affect Armenia. In other words, it was not a delay. There were contacts and meetings with the parties throughout the process.

The situation in Iran is quite difficult, as it is in the Gulf countries, because Iran is also attacking American military bases there. There are Armenian citizens and representatives of the Armenian diaspora in both Iran and the Gulf. Is there any work being done to evacuate these people?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has issued several statements indicating that our diplomatic missions in the aforementioned countries are actively dealing with this issue. There is a hotline, and we are in active contact with our citizens. I hope people will reach Armenia in the near future.

Armenia's Ambassador to Iran held a press conference yesterday and presented Yerevan’s official view. He mentioned that Armenia and Iran are developing a strategic cooperation document that could be signed this year. Given the current situation—where we have a document on strategic relations with the US on one hand and are developing a similar one with Iran on the other, while these two sides are in a bloody war—how will we balance these interests?

The Armenian government has repeatedly and publicly stated its goals to establish a strategic partnership with Iran. Therefore, this situation is not a surprise to our citizens or our friendly and partner states, including the US. Generally, the Republic of Armenia conducts its foreign relations as follows: we are very transparent when building relationships and clearly state what is acceptable or unacceptable for us.

We have been very transparent with the US and emphasized the importance of Iran as a crucial southern neighbor for us. Of course, there are many reasons for this. As you correctly noted, these military operations involve states that are key and friendly to Armenia. In this case, all of Armenia's statements and positions must stem solely from our state interests. Our position is clear: every step must first and foremost express our own interests.

Does this mean the document on establishing strategic relations with Iran will be signed? What is Yerevan’s current perspective?

The MFA will announce this when the time is right. I cannot make any claims regarding changes. As for exactly when the strategic partnership document will be signed, the MFA will clarify that.

Since you served as Ambassador to the US for a long time, how would Washington react if Armenia does not change its stance on this document and continues negotiations? For example, VP Vance was recently in Armenia and expressed clear support for Armenian officials, especially PM Nikol Pashinyan.

We are transparent in our relations with all our allies and partners. Regarding the US, we are aware of the sensitivity of the Iran factor for them, but Armenia has always clearly stated that while trying to normalize relations with its two difficult neighbors (Turkey and Azerbaijan), it does not aim to complicate or worsen relations with other neighbors.

The second point is that we clearly state to all our partners what is possible for us and what our red lines are. The third important aspect is the predictability of states' behavior. Will a specific state use its relations against a third state? The Republic of Armenia does not position itself this way. There are criticisms about whether our relations with the US could be used against any of our neighbors. Of course not; there is no such thing. Likewise, our relations with our neighbors cannot be used against another state.

To simplify: Armenia says to the US, “We are building similar relations with Iran, but we have no intention of harming you with this,” and vice versa. Is that correct?

Exactly. You are quite right; that is precisely the case.

Is this accepted calmly, or is there any opposition?

It requires difficult, daily, meticulous, and consistent work. Achieving this perception is not easy... And I can confidently say that currently, the US has a clear perception of Armenia's relationship with all its neighbors.

The wife of Jirayr Garibgün, one of the former presidents of the Samatya Surp Kevork Church Foundation, Talin Çortan Garibgün is survived by a daughter and a son.

As Agos, we offer our deepest condolences and wish patience to her family, her loved ones, the Çortan and Garibgün families, and Tarkmanças School, where she most recently served.

The American neocons had great plans for the Middle East. By occupying Iraq, and using its limitless oil reserves, they planned to finance a new Middle East dominated by America, and friendly to Israel. They did not trust their traditional allies, the Saudis, who were in the grips of a Salafi-Jihadi ideology. And by dominating over the Middle Eastern hydrocarbons (25% of global exports), the US could exert its influence far beyond, over Europe, India, and especially on China.

Yet wars have a bad habit of not following the original plan. The influential Sunni officers of Saddam’s security forces, who were ejected from power by the US occupation, rebelled against the occupation, used roadside bombs for which US troops were not ready for, and caused over 4’000 American casualties, and trillions of dollars. That was not the worst: the American occupation handed the keys of Baghdad to pro-Iranian Shia parties namely al-Da’wa and the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, both closely associated with the Iranian regime. Americans, with their 2003 invasion, not only eliminated Saddam, Iran’s main enemy, handed Iraq and its resources to the Mullahs, but also in an overnight they turned the Islamic Republic of Iran into a regional empire, stretching from Tehran all the way to South Lebanon and beyond.

The Islamic Republic of Iran exaggerated its outreach, leading wars from Syria to Yemen. While Barak Obama tolerated the Iranian expansion, even collaborated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps of Qasem Soleimani to fight Daesh in Iraq and Syria, Donald Trump and his Israeli allies did not tolerate that. The assassination of Soleimani in 2020, even before the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, was the count-down of reshaping the regional (dis)order. The pretext is the Iranian nuclear weapons, just like Saddam’s chemical and biological weapons, but that is only the pretext as the aim is total domination over the Middle East.

Yet the Iranian leadership did not understand that the times were changing. With the start of the Gaza war, the Lebanese Hizballah launched its “Support War” (H’arb al-isnad), giving Israel the pretext to turn the Genocidal war against the Palestinians into a total war to redraw the map of the Middle East. Ali Larijani, one of the powerful personalities in Iran, wrote on March 2, 2026, in Arabic on “X”: “We will not negotiate with the United States”. His words only confirm the hopeless situation after an Israeli-US air attack assassinated the Spiritual Leader of the Islamic State Ali Khamenei. A total war it is, pushing the Iranian ruling circles into a mystic sense of martyrdom. They are now throwing all that they have into this total war; either they survive and preserve their regime, or they perish fighting a war they did not choose.

This suicidal, “end-of-the-times” mindset is evident from Iran sending its drones and missiles on all Gulf countries. It is also evident from ordering the Lebanese Hizballah to launch a few Katyusha missiles on northern Israel, although the Lebanese Shiite militia was decapitated in its conflict with Israel in 2024. The few primitive Katyushas do not make any sense militarily, but will plunge Lebanon and especially its Shiite population into a merciless Israeli retaliation.

The current war in the Middle East is the modified continuation of the 2003 invasion. Yet it is necessary to underline the differences as well. Unlike in Iraq in 2003, there will be no foreign occupation, no American “boots on the ground”. The American-Israeli alliance do not aim at changing the Iranian regime with another, loyal one. The bombing waves that are targeting the Revolutionary Guards, the Basij, and even Police offices suggest an intention to degrade the central state structures and leave Iran to become a “failed state”.

There are no guarantees that the decline of Iran will lead to regional stability. A new regional conflict is already brewing on the horizon: a new confrontation between Isreal and Turkey. Israeli officials – former and current – are increasingly describing Turkey as “The New Iran”, and that Türkiye poses a threat to Israel through a “Sunni alliance”. Therefore, the current military madness is not a “war to end all wars”, but just one more on the way of Israel becoming the uncontested regional hegemon. But it seems rulers in America and Israel fail to understand that it is not possible to dominate and to rule with blood and iron only.

Under the mentorship of Alen Taşçıoğlu, one of the school's computer science teachers, the team—consisting of 11th-grade students Talya Kuyumcu, Sara Demirciyan, Liana A. Kuyumciyan, and Anita Çilingir—secured first place in the organization. They received full marks from the jury for their innovative ideas and implementation success aimed at raising awareness on environmental sustainability and conscious consumption. Furthermore, the Getronagan students and their mentors, who stood out for their problem-solving skills and bold visions for the future, received a great round of applause at the end of the event.

The leaders of the three countries stated in the joint communique that they were “appalled by Iran’s indiscriminate and disproportionate missile attacks against countries in the region, including those that did not participate in the initial US and Israeli military operations.”

The statement continued: “The E3 leaders are appalled by Iran’s indiscriminate and disproportionate missile attacks against regional countries, including those that did not take part in the initial US and Israeli military operations. Iran’s reckless attacks have targeted our close allies and threaten our military personnel and civilians in the region.”

Cooperation with the United States

Calling on Iran to immediately cease its attacks, the statement noted that steps would be taken to defend the interests of the E3 countries and their regional allies, including “supporting necessary and proportionate defensive measures to destroy Iran’s missile and UAV launch capacity at the source.” The leaders also agreed to cooperate closely with the United States and regional allies to address the situation.

Following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran—which killed several high-ranking Iranian leaders, including the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—Tehran responded with a series of drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, US assets, and various Gulf nations.

A spokesperson for the German military (Bundeswehr) confirmed media reports to AFP, stating that Iran's attacks targeted a multinational military base near Erbil in northern Iraq and a German military camp in eastern Jordan. They added that there were no casualties in the attacks.

Meanwhile, French broadcaster BFMTV reported on Sunday that France has decided to redeploy the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its naval strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean, cutting short their mission in the Baltic Sea due to rising regional tensions. This move followed a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council held by President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace to assess the evolving security situation.

"Iran Sees Revenge as a Duty and a Right"

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the killing of Khamenei as a “declaration of war against Muslims” and warned: “Iran considers taking revenge on the perpetrators and instigators of this historic crime as its legitimate duty and right.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the US network ABC News on Sunday, “We will defend ourselves by doing whatever is necessary, and we set no limits for ourselves in defending and protecting our people.”

Sources: Anadolu Agency, France 24

So, day and night, I roamed the back streets of Beyoğlu, Istiklal and Taksim. It never even occured to me to visit Üsküdar, Beşiktaş Kadikoy or Kinali, even though they were names that had impressed me in my youth in Beirut, when our teachers had introduced us to the works of Istanbul’s Armenian writers like Sibil, Baronyan, Yesayan etc...sometimes I think it was as if I went through a short period of Amnesia during that first visit to Istanbul: as if forgot that their writings had talked about Pera, the ferryboats to the other side of the Bosphorous or the tramways. How much I had dreamt about all the streets and neighbourhoods those writers had mentioned when I had first read their stories!

But my days here were not wasted just hybernating. My camera was with me all the time and I photographed a lot. I was also very curious about Agos. Even though I had discovered who Hrant was just a year or so beforehand, I really wanted to visit the Paper and express my condolences. But it was August 2007 and only a few months had passed since his tragic death. I did not dare ask just anyone on the street about how I could go to Agos. The couple of times that I overheard Armenian words whispered on the Street and I approached the people, stating who I was in Armenian, resulted in cool reception. I asked about the paper, about Armenian churches and how I could visit the Patriarchate, but they did not help. It was as if I was someone to be suspiscious of.

One of the things that I wanted to do while in Istanbul, was to find CD albums of the music band Vova. Sure, back home in Toronto, we had cassette tape copies of their songs that my brother Hratch had brought back from Armenia. We loved those songs. But we did not know if they were from a single album or a potpurry of a few albums. I had thought  that maybe I will buy all their albums in Istanbul. So every time I passed a music store, I went in and asked but always came out disappointed. No one had any of their albums. I think on the third  day I went into a bookstore on Istiklal to ask for Turkish fiction in English translation, and I noticed a whole shelf of music CDs. A young man approached me and realizing that I was a foreigner, aked me with hand and face gestures accompanied by the very few English words he knew, what I was looking for. I wrote down the words Vova and Hemshin on a scrap of paper and showed it to him. He nodded a ‘yes’ with his head and brought me a CD. He also said the words ‘tek album’ with an apologetic smile. I knew what tek meant. He made my day nevertheless.

His name was Murat and coincidentally a Diyarbekir Kurd who claimed a big love for Armenians. Vova’s music brought us together and for the next days, I passed by his workplace every day to say hello. He had also indicated that he would help me with any question I had. And believe me, he did. The next day, when I stopped by the bookstore to ask for some information, he he kept saying the words ermeni patrikhane, kumkapi and maryam ane kilise. I knew most of the words except for patrikhane and kilise. He kept saying, ‘you must, you must. Beautiful’. After a while, seeing that my puzzled face was not changing, he took out a piece of paper and drew a chuch dome with a cross on the paper and kept saying ‘maryam ane kilise…kilise, kilise. patrikhane. Kumkapi’. Finally it dawned on me that  he was talking about a church called mother Mary in the patriarchate in Kumkapi. He drew up a route for me to go there. My good old only friend Murat! How much I wanted to see him again when a few years later I moved to Istanbul. The store was closed and there was no Murat any more. But this photo of a wedding I witnessed at Meryem Ane kilisesi in Kumkapi, was taken that same day he sent me there. His smile always flashes in my memory every time I happen to go to Kumkapi.

In a statement attributed to the Supreme National Security Council, no details were provided regarding how Khamenei was killed or who might succeed him.

Official media stated that Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren were also killed alongside him in the attack. The Fars News Agency, which is linked to the Revolutionary Guards, reported that one of Khamenei’s daughters-in-law was among the dead. The statement also emphasized that Khamenei’s "martyrdom will be the beginning of an uprising against oppressors."

Unconfirmed for Hours

Earlier, US President Donald Trump had announced that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the joint attacks conducted with Israel.

In a written statement released on his social media platform, Truth Social, Donald Trump stated, "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead."

Trump added, "He could not escape our intelligence and highly advanced tracking systems; because we worked in close cooperation with Israel, neither he nor the other leaders killed with him could do anything."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also stated on Saturday evening that there were an increasing number of signs confirming Khamenei’s death.

Trump also noted that many of Iran's top leaders lost their lives in the strikes. In his speech, Netanyahu said, "This morning, we eliminated senior officials of the Ayatollah regime, Revolutionary Guard commanders, and top figures of the nuclear program, and we will continue."

The attacks, which began yesterday morning, targeted many key locations, including Khamenei’s compound.

According to the Iranian constitution, Khamenei’s successor is chosen by the Assembly of Experts, which consists of 88 clerics who also select the leader. In reality, only the names most loyal to the Islamic Republic are allowed to run for candidacy. Consequently, the majority of the clerics in the current assembly are at least as hardline as Ayatollah Khamenei.

Iran: It Will Not Go Unpunished

Following the announcement of Khamenei’s death, the Iranian government issued a statement.

Declaring that the attack in which Khamenei was killed would not go unpunished, the statement noted that those responsible and those who gave the orders "will be made to regret it." The Iranian Presidency also noted in a statement that the attack on Khamenei "will not go unpunished."

However, high-ranking Iranian officials were not the only casualties. In the attacks carried out by the US and Israel, at least 115 girls died when the Shahare Tayyebeh school in the Minab district of Hormozgan province was hit. Witnesses reported seeing the lifeless bodies of girls aged between 7 and 12 lying inside their school.

According to the city's mayor, at least 115 people—almost all of them schoolgirls—lost their lives in the airstrike on the elementary school located in southern Iran. Iran's Tasnim and Fars news agencies reported that the victims were between the ages of 7 and 12.

A staff member at the Minab school, who requested anonymity, told Middle East Eye that she remains in shock over the severity of the attack. The woman stated that she had stepped out of the school to run an errand when she suddenly heard a terrifying noise. Within seconds, a missile—or something similar—struck the school building.

She rushed back toward the school after hearing the blast and encountered a scene she says she will never forget: "You could hear the children crying and screaming."

"We still don't know how many people are under the rubble. Some say it's more than 100. Some of these children are in critical condition. Their families have come to the school, and it has turned into a house of mourning."

The airstrike on the school left many inside trapped under the debris. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing.

Iran vows revenge

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack on X, stating that the deaths of the children "will not go unanswered."

In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israel. Additionally, various targets in the region were hit, including the US Navy in Bahrain. In the United Arab Emirates, at least four people were injured at a luxury hotel in Dubai, and one civilian died in Abu Dhabi due to debris following an "attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles."

A "special and permanent state of emergency" has been declared in Israel.

In the statement, issued under the signature of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, it was stated that the country's "territorial integrity" and "national sovereignty" were clearly violated. Confirming that defense infrastructure and military facilities were targeted, the statement said: "This new military aggression by the US and the Zionist regime against Iran is a clear crime committed against the Islamic Republic of Iran. This act is a blatant violation of Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the United Nations Charter and is contrary to international law and the sovereignty of states."

The statement, noting that Iran's "national interests" and security were targeted, declared that Iran would exercise its right to legitimate self-defense arising from international law.

The statement continued with the following remarks: "This constitutes an armed attack against Iran. Therefore, Iran possesses the right to exercise its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter." The statement further added: "The Republic of Iran demands the UN Security Council take urgent and effective steps against this aggression, which threatens international peace and security. The UN Secretary-General and the members of the Security Council must take the necessary initiatives within the framework of their duties and responsibilities.

All UN member states, particularly regional and Islamic countries, are expected to condemn this blatant aggression and fulfill their collective responsibilities for the protection of international peace and security. Throughout history, the Iranian people have resisted all forms of attack and tyranny and have never surrendered. With its faith in God and its resilience, this nation will respond to this attack with determination. History has shown that Iranians have never bowed down to aggression and tyranny. This time, the Iranian nation will display a firm and decisive stance, and the aggressors will regret their actions."

Sirens were heard throughout Israel while the attacks continued. However, the Israeli Ministry of Defense informed citizens that there was no need to enter shelters at this stage. Israeli airspace has been closed.

Trump: It Will Be Large-Scale

US President Donald Trump spoke regarding the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, stating, "We have launched a major operation against Iran." Trump released a video statement regarding the attacks via his social media account.

"We have launched a major operation against Iran," Trump said, explaining the objective of the attack as follows:

"Our goal is to defend the American people by eliminating the threats from the Iranian regime—a brutal group of very tough, horrible people who engage in activities that directly threaten the United States, our troops at overseas bases, and our allies around the world."

Trump called on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Iranian armed forces, and police members to lay down their arms to obtain full immunity, saying, "Otherwise, you face death."

Emphasizing that US policy is centered on Iran not possessing nuclear weapons, Trump stated, "Iran can never have nuclear weapons. This is why, as part of 'Operation Midnight Hammer' held last June, we destroyed the regime's nuclear programs in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan."

Trump argued that they had repeatedly warned Iran regarding nuclear weapons following the operation in June 2025 and had tried to reach an agreement. Additionally, Trump characterized the military action in Iran as a "large-scale and ongoing" operation aimed at preventing the country from endangering the lives of US citizens.

According to unconfirmed reports in the Israeli press, one of the targets is the Iranian presidential building. Furthermore, it is stated that the strikes are targeting locations from which Iran could potentially attack Israel.

Retaliation Statement from Iran

Ebrahim Azizi, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Council, announced that they would retaliate against the Israeli attack.

Israeli Military: Missiles Fired from Iran to Israel

The Israeli military announced that missiles were fired from Iran toward Israel. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that defense systems were activated to intercept the missiles. Meanwhile, according to Al Jazeera, the sounds of explosions were heard in northern Israel.

"Nournews," known for its proximity to Iran’s security bureaucracy, reported that dozens of ballistic missiles were fired at Israel in response to the US and Israeli attacks.

"US Attack to Last Several Days"

Speaking to Reuters, a US official said the operation launched by the US and Israel is expected to last for several days.

It was revealed that prior to the reassignment in October 2025, various complaints had been filed against Güşeli by his colleagues to the Avcılar District Directorate of National Education. The complaint petitions alleged that since the 2023-2024 academic year, Güşeli had "engaged in labeling, speech, and behavior that offended students in his classes; continuously introduced extracurricular political, racial, religious, and sectarian topics instead of following the official curriculum, thereby causing discomfort among students; discriminated by holding Alevism superior to other races and beliefs; made praising or supportive remarks about Armenians and Selahattin Demirtaş; engaged in ideological taunting through Agos and Evrensel newspapers, disturbing other teachers and the peace of the school; used inappropriate and insulting language and epithets toward teachers; failed to comply with majority opinions and decisions; and hindered school and departmental cooperation by imposing his own wishes and thoughts." While the Avcılar District Governorate requested an investigation, the Avcılar District Directorate of National Education appointed two investigators to substantiate the nature of the allegations.

Allegations of obstructing the use of the workspace

According to information obtained from Güşeli’s lawyer, Bilgütay Hakkı Durna, the appointed investigators heard the complaints and requested disciplinary action against Güşeli. The petitions included allegations that "he spread Agos and Evrensel newspapers on the teachers' lounge table, reacted when the newspapers were moved aside, left the newspapers open when he left, negatively affected the order and cleanliness of the teachers' common area, made it difficult to use the workspace, entered into arguments with teachers, disrupted the school's peace, deviated from the curriculum in lessons, and portrayed Alevis as superior." The investigators subsequently took İsmibey Güşeli's statement regarding these allegations.

Spouse’s health issues disregarded

The Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education first imposed disciplinary penalties of "1-year suspension of professional step advancement" (which, since he is at the 4th step of the 1st degree, resulted in a 1/4 deduction from his gross salary) and a "1/30 salary deduction." Subsequently, the decision was made to reassign Güşeli from his current school to Küçükçekmece Kadriye Moroğlu Anatolian High School. Güşeli filed a lawsuit for the annulment of the penalties. The lawsuit petition stated that Güşeli’s right to defense was restricted and the presumption of innocence was violated.

The petition noted that, despite a written request, the investigation file was provided to Güşeli in a highly incomplete form, preventing him from making an effective defense, and that he was not informed of the exact nature of the charges or how the attributed acts constituted a disciplinary offense.

According to the petition, Güşeli resides in Esenyurt, and his commute to the school in Avcılar took 20 minutes; it is crucial for him to be in a school near his home due to an accident his wife suffered. However, the petition emphasized that Güşeli’s mobility was restricted upon his reassignment to Küçükçekmece. According to the petition, the family has two children. Due to his wife’s health problems, Güşeli must drop the children off at school himself, a situation that creates further hardship.

Request for reassignment to Esenyurt rejected

The petition stated that although Güşeli repeatedly notified the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education, both verbally and in writing, of his request to be assigned to one of the schools in the Esenyurt district—where there is a teacher shortage—the family's special circumstances were not taken into account.

Speaking to Agos, Güşeli’s lawyer, Bilgütay Hakkı Durna, stated that the Administrative Court rejected the request for a stay of execution regarding the cancellation of the reassignment and that the file is currently before the Regional Court of Appeals (İstinaf). Lawyer Durna also noted that separate lawsuits have been filed for the disciplinary penalties and that the legal process is ongoing.

In the speeches delivered during the ceremony on Sunday, February 21, striking warnings were issued regarding current global crises and the rising far-right, alongside the heritage of past resistance.

"Establishing Peace is the Greatest of Struggles"

Edmond Yanekian, President of the Armenian Cultural Union of Montreuil, took the floor and emphasized that memory must encompass not only the past but also the present. Yanekian criticized international diplomacy by pointing to conflicts in regions such as Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh.

"They were Jews, Spaniards, Italians, Armenians from various Eastern European countries like Poland, Hungary, and Romania, and two of them were French. Most had fled persecution in their own countries, yet the struggle they waged by making the ultimate sacrifice for freedom has forever etched their names into France’s Panthéon.

This was the case for Missak Manouchian, a survivor of the first genocide of the 20th century. It was the same for his Jewish comrades who suffered persecution in various European countries before the Holocaust, for Italians or Spaniards who were victims of dictatorship and fascism, and for Poles, Hungarians, or Romanians. They all had common reasons not to submit to the German occupation. They all shared a vision of a better, fairer, and more fraternal society.

Nothing had predetermined that Missak Manouchian would become the man history remembers today. In 1934, he joined the French Communist Party, where he found the opportunity to express his beliefs freely.

His pride and commitment as a militant inspired Manouchian to pour his feelings and solidarity with the working class into poems titled 'The Unemployed,' 'Staying Awake,' or 'Tailors.' However, he was not a man to settle for a merely intellectual approach. He aided all social struggles against injustice.

He supported the young Soviet Armenian Republic through the Armenian Relief Committee (HOK), where he served as secretary. Alongside Henri Barbusse and Romain Rolland, he took part in the Amsterdam-Pleyel movement against war and fascism. He joined the Popular Front (Front Populaire). He was a member of the Aid Committee for Spanish Republicans. After being imprisoned twice, he joined the FTP-MOI to take part in the resistance. Within a very short time, the record of the Manouchian group was striking: 56 attacks, 150 dead, 600 wounded.

These actions shook the morale of the Nazi troops. High-ranking officials of the Nazi regime, such as Julius von Ritter, who was responsible for the Compulsory Labor Service (STO) in France, were punished. This action was carried out in Trocadéro, Paris, under the responsibility of Marcel Rayman.

This commemoration is not just about a past era. Unfortunately, the same evils continue to gnaw at our societies today. Our vigilance and determination to act against the rise of racist, xenophobic, nationalist, and extremist ideologies must be maintained with the resolve required by respect for the most fundamental rights of a human being, regardless of their origin, skin color, or religion.

Although history is never written exactly the same way, the consequences of wars are always tragic. The war in Ukraine is unfortunately the worst example of this, with the risk of spreading to all of Europe and even beyond. Today, we strongly condemn Russia’s aggression against a state within its internationally recognized borders. Nevertheless, we believe that since the dissolution of the USSR, everything has not been done to prevent these tensions—which affect the world and especially Ukraine today—from escalating and reaching a deadlock. As Jean Jaurès reminded us, our common compass must be the defense of peace.

To quote him: 'Establishing peace is the greatest of struggles.' Even though we are aware of the complexity of the context and the magnitude of today’s task... The resolution of tensions and conflicts in the world unfortunately often gets lost in the geopolitical labyrinths of an unfinished diplomacy that lacks a perspective for a lasting solution, as seen in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

There is another conflict that concerns us closely: Nagorno-Karabakh. To be honest, this issue does not interest many people. The ethnic cleansing applied by Azerbaijan against the Karabakh Armenians, who have lived on their ancestral lands for thousands of years, along with the heavy humanitarian crisis it brings and the destruction of monuments and places of worship that witness an ancient civilization, creates a conflictual environment that could even threaten the very existence of Armenia today.

Today, Armenia and its people are once again under the threat of extinction on their own lands, which were registered with the Alma-Ata Protocols in December 1991. Faced with this threat, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention had issued a warning in January 2023 regarding Azerbaijan’s actions.

Missak Manouchian and his comrades belong to the history of France. It is a duty for current and future generations to remember the sacrifice of those executed by firing squad along with the Red Poster (L’Affiche Rouge). Our loyalty to the values embodied by the Manouchian group, and more broadly by the resistance in all its diversity, must never waver."

Heroes Whose Names Are Difficult to Pronounce

Méline Le Gourriérec, Municipal Councilor for Youth and Memory in Montreuil, touched upon the importance of the "immigrant resistance fighter" identity represented by the Manouchian group in today’s political atmosphere. Issuing warnings as a report against the global rise of far-right ideologies, Le Gourriérec pointed to the risk of history repeating itself.

“Most of these 23 people were immigrants who had been exiled, either themselves or their families, due to fascism or poverty in their countries. They were women and men from elsewhere who chose to defend France, even though it sometimes welcomed them poorly. They fought until death for the liberation of this country, which they believed to be the land of freedom and human rights and saw as their new homeland.

They were communists and were burning with ideals of fraternity. What a great lesson it is that these women and men, whose names are so difficult even to pronounce, have become symbols of the French resistance in our country and far beyond. This country they took refuge in finally offered them the respect they deserved in 2024 by admitting Mélinée and Missak Manouchian to the Panthéon and placing a plaque to honor their comrades.

"Violence Starts Not with Rifles, but with Words"

Today, exactly 82 years after the execution of the Manouchian group, thousands of far-right militants, neo-Nazis coming from all over France and neighboring countries, are demonstrating freely in Lyon with the approval of the Minister of the Interior and under the protection of law enforcement.

In the 1930s, far-right groups were also marching in France. They were screaming their hatred for the Republic, foreigners, Jews, trade unionists, and communists. Many underestimated the danger they represented. We know the price that was paid for that.

In recent years, many have warned about the normalization of far-right ideas, their dominance in the media, and their electoral success in France. In the world, the ‘Brown Plague’ (fascism) has already infected many countries: Hungary with Orbán, Italy with Meloni, Slovakia with Fico, the Czech Republic with Babiš, Chile with Kast, Argentina with Milei, El Salvador with Bukele, the USA with Trump, Israel with Netanyahu... The list is long.

Yet history reminds us that political violence does not start with rifles; it starts with words, with the normalization of what is unacceptable.

The Struggle Against Racism, Antisemitism, and Islamophobia

Today, honoring the members of the Manouchian group is not just about laying a wreath; it is deciding to join together in the struggle against all forms of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and exclusion. It is deciding together to fight for respect for the other, justice, equality between women and men, the rights of everyone, the right of peoples to self-determination, democracy, and peace. It is our responsibility to call fascism by its name. It is our responsibility to call racism by its name.

Over 80 years ago, the 23 members of the Manouchian group made a choice. Today, it is our turn to make a choice.”

The ceremony, the second major anniversary event held following the transfer of Missak and Mélinée Manouchian’s remains to the Panthéon in 2024, concluded with the laying of flowers at the monument. In addition to municipal officials, numerous representatives of non-governmental organizations and local residents attended the ceremony.

DEM Party announced that an event will be held in Ankara on Friday, February 27, regarding the first anniversary of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s “Call for Peace and Democratic Society,” which he made on February 27, 2025, following the call by MHP Chairperson Devlet Bahçeli.

Evaluations of the process to be shared

In the statement, it was noted that evaluations regarding the stage reached within the scope of the “new dialogue process” over the past year and the future of the process will be shared with the press and the public. The statement also mentioned that Öcalan’s new message regarding the process would be conveyed.

The DEM Party statement announced that the event would take place on Friday, February 27, at 11:00 AM at the Yılmaz Güney Hall in the Çankaya district of Ankara.

The DEM Party Press Office shared an accreditation form for press members who will follow the meeting. It was stated that press workers who will follow the meeting—which will be attended by DEM Party Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan and members of the DEM Party Imrali Delegation—must fill out the accreditation form sent by 8:00 PM on February 26.

Background

PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, whom MHP Chairperson Devlet Bahçeli called upon in Parliament to "end terrorist acts and dissolve [the organization]," announced on February 27, 2025, that his organization should dissolve itself and all groups should lay down their arms.

In Öcalan's call, the following statements were included: "In this climate formed by the call made by Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, the will put forward by Mr. President, and the positive approaches of other political parties toward the aforementioned call, I am making a call to lay down arms and assuming the historical responsibility for this call."

The process continued months after this call with a symbolic disarmament ceremony on July 11 and the establishment of the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission in Parliament on August 5, 2025.

In the process titled "Terror-Free Turkey" by the government, the joint report of the commission, which included political parties in Parliament, was most recently accepted unanimously.

Finally, following the acceptance of the report, Öcalan will send a new message to the public. Members of the DEM Party Imrali delegation—consisting of TBMM Deputy Speaker Pervin Buldan, DEM Party MP Mithat Sancar, and Faik Özgür Erol, one of the lawyers from Asrın Law Office—along with DEM Party Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, will hold a press conference on Friday, February 27, the anniversary of Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society."

The call for the march, which will be held for the 24th time this year, is as follows:

“We will change this system through our feminist struggle and solidarity. An equal and free world, where life is livable for us too, is possible. We stand together in every step against patriarchy—with our rebellion, our enthusiasm, our anger, and our joy. We are at the Feminist Night March at 7:30 PM on March 8.”

Lusine Gevorgyan, President of the Tourism Committee of Armenia, stated the following regarding the issue: “I am constantly asked whether there will be direct flights from Yerevan to Los Angeles; THY operates such flights and has this potential. I cannot yet say how they will respond, but as the world’s third most powerful airline, they could create the possibility of direct flights between Yerevan and Los Angeles. This is one of the destinations we have just started negotiating; I cannot say when it will happen at the moment, but we are giving this matter our full attention.”

Turkish Airlines will begin organizing direct flights to Yerevan starting in March. The frequency of the Istanbul-Yerevan flights, which will be carried out 7 days a week starting from March 11, 2026, will increase to 10 per week as of May 14. As of June 15, flights will be operated 14 times a week. The airline has also launched advertising campaigns targeting Armenian-speaking users on social networks regarding the new flights planned from Yerevan this year.

The full text of Minister Mirzoyan's speech at the Human Rights Council is as follows:

"Mr. President, Excellencies,

First of all, let me convey my most sincere congratulations to the President of the Human Rights Council and the members of the bureau on their election. On this occasion, I would also like to express my deep gratitude to the High Commissioner for Human Rights and his Office.

Armenia's vision and goals are based on the belief that the human rights pillar of the United Nations must be further strengthened and appropriately supported with the necessary resources to prevent violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law, ensure accountability, and prevent the recurrence of these violations.

In addition to increasing conflicts and humanitarian crises, systemic inequalities and their irreversible global consequences require a highly determined approach. Armenia is ready to ensure that the current 'UN 80' initiative and the upcoming review process of the Human Rights Council turn into an important opportunity for concrete actions and a sincere assessment that will strengthen the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms as the fundamental building blocks of the UN's human rights architecture.

Distinguished colleagues,

Like many other democracies today, our society faces a powerful wave of hybrid threats, including disinformation, manipulation, and foreign interference. These are deliberate, coordinated, and unfriendly campaigns aimed at achieving specific goals, including undermining our citizens' trust in democratic institutions and the effective implementation of human rights. Facing these challenges has become a part of our daily work by continuously strengthening our democratic resilience.

Significant reforms implemented over the years, the elevation of policies based on the rule of law and human rights to a higher level, as well as transparent and accountable institutions, have provided concrete development results reflected in internationally recognized indices. In Freedom House's 'Freedom in the World 2025' report, Armenia showed high performance in the areas of political rights and civil liberties, receiving a score of 54 out of 100.

It is also a remarkable result that in 2025, Armenia made significant progress in the 'World Press Freedom Index - 2025' report by the Reporters Without Borders organization, rising to 34th place compared to 43rd place the previous year.

According to the World Economic Forum's '2025 Global Gender Gap' report, Armenia is among the leading countries in the indicator of women's education level and is recording a steady increase in the representation of women in all areas of political life.

In line with Armenia's commitment to the coordinated and effective implementation of its international obligations in the field of human rights, the Armenia Monitoring Digital Platform (AI-NEMRA), a digital tool of a national mechanism aimed at strengthening international accountability, was launched last year. This structure is a centralized system that brings together recommendations provided by international and regional mechanisms in the field of human rights.

However, Armenia's engagement in this field is not limited only to internal implementation frameworks. We aspire to make a significant contribution to the strengthening of global protection mechanisms against the gravest violations of international law. In this context, at the current session of the Human Rights Council, Armenia will once again submit the draft resolution titled 'Prevention of Genocide.' The progressive development of this resolution has reflected new challenges arising at the intersection of international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and international criminal law, and has created an international consensus around tools to address them. The support of all member states for this important resolution will be the most needed indicator of our common obligation to end the scourge of genocide.

Excellencies,

After decades of armed conflict and humanitarian crises, Armenia and Azerbaijan have taken decisive steps toward establishing long-term peace in our region. The Peace Summit held in Washington last year not only established peace between the two countries but also paved the way for trade, mutual connectivity, and people-to-people contacts. To carry this path beyond the agreements reached between governments, we are laying the foundations for genuine dialogue and trust between our societies, including the population affected by the conflicts.

Although the painful humanitarian consequences of the conflict still await resolution and the wounds of the not-so-distant past remain open, we have chosen the difficult path of reconciliation. This is undoubtedly a complex process, considering that 19 Armenian detainees are still in Baku, the need to clarify the fate of missing persons and uncover cases of enforced disappearances continues, and distorted historical narratives are simultaneously being spread. Nevertheless, with the awareness that the further institutionalization of peace will create a more favorable environment for addressing the consequences of the conflict, Armenia remains determined to maintain this path in order to reach a future-oriented harbor.

Mr. President,

In closing, I would like to emphasize that despite the immense pressure on multilateral institutions, we must maintain our principled optimism and express our deep conviction that the human rights system and the United Nations itself will emerge from this process with renewed capacities to fulfill their global mandates.

Thank you."

(Armenpress)

Sometimes I would notice that there were important people there from the way, everyone opened the way for them or greeted them. Some of them had good posture or charismatic faces. I would then try to capture them with my lens, without knowing who they were. Years later, looking through my archive, I have come to realize that there are many famous actors, writers and politicians in those photos. I feel fortunate for having photographed intuitively.

This photograph is one that I took one rainy morning as I rushed on the double-decker bus from Beylikduzu to Taksim, so that I could start photographing early and get back home to cook on time. I ran into this entourage as soon as I arrived at the Square. And then this man on the left, showed up. I somehow felt that his face was familiar, probably from a TV music program and that he must be a musician. I did not know his name either. But the way he carried himself around and the sense of respect the people showed towards him, made me want to click away as much as I could. Later that night, after seeing on of the photos, my wife told me that it was Edip Akbayram, the famous leftist singer.

What was so impressive about these protests on Istiklal was that most of them resembled the ones in Toronto in the sense that they started and ended peacefully, with many volunteers keeping the marchers in order. During my first few years in Istanbul, I never even noticed any police presence, even though I am sure they were there to keep law and order. People would gather, make their cause heard, feel a certain collective empowerment and then go home assured that some things will change for the better.

These peaceful marches impressed me in a way. Istiklal in my eyes was like Hyde Park in London, from what I had heard about it from one of my teachers when I was very young. He had told us that the British were so liberal that any of their citizens could say whatever they wanted, outright criticize their government whenever they wished in that park. No one would touch them. In the Park, they had immunity against arrest. Standing in Istiklal and watching the protest marchers would make me think that I was in a Turkish Hyde park: anyone who had a qualm, ran to Taksim or Istiklal flashing a banner. I would not be exaggerating if I were to say that there were days when one protest would wrap up and a second one would start…even a third one later on. And I rarely saw any clashes with the police or any violence until the events of Gezi Park in 2013.

I am not trying to make everything look rosy. Of course in other neighbourhoods and sections of Istanbul, protests must have been not so-peaceful. I used to watch the news after all and I knew enough about the sociopolitical and economic problems of the country. But you see, my impressions about the protests I saw in those first years were based on what I had experienced in my youth in Beirut. Somehow that experience had set a certain harsh standard for a young student like me, as to what a real protest full of police brutality is, when the grievance, the injustice and economic disparities felt by working class people are huge. Once upon a time I was a fourteen-year-old boy, who had just started becoming curious about the daily struggles of the poor.  One day some tobacco workers went on strike because they thought enough was enough. The powerful and rich owners of the tobacco factory were not pleased. They asked their friendly government to help. The government sent the police to break the strike and force the workers back to work. The police took their task very seriously and shot down three of the strikers dead. A huge protest in solidarity with the strikers was organized by the opposition parties. We, my friends and I, the young buds of humanity, went to our first protest in solidarity with the families of the dead strikers. And there I saw what violence is for the first time in my life. And I will tell you about it hopefully soon.       

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, whose real name is "El Mencho," was the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), considered one of Mexico's most formidable criminal organizations. The drug kingpin managed a vast criminal enterprise responsible for trafficking large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States. It was reported that Cervantes, a 60-year-old former police officer, was wounded during the operation in Jalisco in the western part of the country and passed away while being transported to Mexico City.

Following the operation, violence that began specifically in Jalisco quickly spread to neighboring states. It was reported that groups linked to the cartel blocked numerous roads and set fire to many vehicles and some businesses. Images reflected on social media drew attention to rising smoke and burning vehicles in different states. The Jalisco state government declared a "red alert" due to the increased security risk. While public transportation services were temporarily suspended, the public was called upon not to leave their homes. Federal and local authorities established a joint crisis task force. Since the morning hours, many highways and urban arteries have been closed to transportation.

Call for calmness from Sheinbaum

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated in a post on the social media platform X that daily life continues in most of the country and that they are in full coordination with state governments. Sheinbaum emphasized, “We must remain informed and maintain our calm,” while thanking the security forces and stressing that the government continues its work to ensure peace and public order.

Statement from the USA

White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also announced in a statement regarding the operation that the US provided intelligence support to the Mexican government. Leavitt stated that El Mencho was a “high-level target” for both countries, particularly due to fentanyl trafficking.

Recalling that US President Donald Trump had previously defined the CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization, Leavitt noted that the operation was the result of security cooperation between the two countries.

In addition to US-based airlines United Airlines and American Airlines, Air Canada also canceled its flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Furthermore, the US State Department issued a stay-at-home warning for US citizens in the states of Jalisco and Tamaulipas, as well as parts of Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon.

Announcement from the Turkish Embassy in Mexico

In a post shared by the Embassy on the social media platform of the US-based company X, it was stated that the developments that occurred yesterday in the states of Jalisco, Michoacan, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas, Aguas Calientes, and Zacatecas are being closely monitored.

The post emphasized that it is of great importance for Turkish citizens to be vigilant in the face of current developments, pay maximum attention to their safety, and follow the warnings and directions of local authorities, noting that the Embassy can be reached via the emergency line at "+525579177785."

Sources: bianet, BBC Türkçe, Euronews Türkçe, Anadolu Agency

At the 76th Berlin Film Festival, İlker Çatak won the festival’s most prestigious award, the Golden Bear, with his film “Yellow Letters” (Sarı Zarflar), while Emin Alper was deemed worthy of the Silver Bear for his film Salvation (Kurtuluş).

Director Emin Alper, honored with the Silver Bear, stated in his Berlinale speech that his films are about "perpetrators who committed terrible crimes," saying: "Throughout the film, I wanted to understand their mindset. At the same time, I tried to understand the situation of the survivors. I thought about them a lot, and one of the things I learned was this: the most terrible kind of loneliness is the loneliness you experience while suffering. When you are losing your rights day by day, when you are hit by bullets bought with your own taxes, when you are being bombed by those who do not even see you as human, you are completely alone in those moments. But when you see that no one cares about you and no one thinks of you, you become the loneliest person in the world. So, what we can do here is to break the silence and remind them that they are truly not alone."

Greetings from Silivri to Rojava, from Gaza to Iran: We Are Not Alone

The full text of Emin Alper's speech is as follows:

"First of all, I would like to thank the Berlinale team for hosting us here, and of course, I thank the jury. This is a great honor for me. I thank my producers, my wonderful cast and crew, and everyone who supported this film.

Our film is about perpetrators who committed terrible crimes. Throughout the film, I wanted to understand their mindset. At the same time, I tried to understand the situation of the survivors.

I thought about them a lot, and one of the things I learned was this: the most terrible kind of loneliness is the loneliness you experience while suffering. When you are losing your rights day by day, when you are hit by bullets bought with your own taxes, when you are being bombed by those who do not even see you as human, you are completely alone in those moments.

But when you see that no one cares about you and no one thinks of you, you become the loneliest person in the world. So, what we can do here is to break the silence and remind them that they are truly not alone. Palestinians living and dying under the most horrific conditions in Gaza, you are not alone.

People of Iran suffering under oppression, you are not alone. Kurds fighting for their rights in Rojava and the Middle East for nearly a century, you are not alone. Finally, my people, you are not alone.

My dear friend Çiğdem, who has been in prison for four years, you are not alone. Tayfun, Can, and Mine, you are not alone either. Osman Kavala, who has been in prison for eight years; Selahattin Demirtaş for nine years; and the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and all other mayors currently in prison. You are not alone.

We are not alone. We will not be alone. A small note, this is a birthday present for my daughter. she will be three years old soon and she loves bears."

Emin Alper, who competed for the grand prize in 2019 with the film "A Tale of Three Sisters" (Kızkardeşler), returned to the main competition selection seven years later with the film Salvation (Kurtuluş). Set between Batman and Mardin, Salvation (Kurtuluş) focuses on the land conflict between the village guard (they are the government-mandated militia that acts under the Gendarmerie General Command in Türkiye) Hazeran tribe and the Bezariler, who returned to the village they were forced to leave years ago. Produced by Liman Film, the film's cinematography was handled by Ahmet Sesigürgil and Barış Aygen, editing by Özcan Vardar, and music by Christiaan Verbeek.

The Grand Prize Goes to Çatak's "Yellow Letters"

The winner of the grand prize, "Yellow Letters," is a Germany-France-Turkey co-production. Written by İlker Çatak, Ayda Meryem Çatak, and Enis Köstepen, "Yellow Letters" deals with the conflict between a family's ideals and their struggle for survival.

The film tells the story of Derya and Aziz, an artist couple living in Ankara, who lose their jobs and homes following the events after the premiere of their new play, and their efforts to build a new life in Istanbul with their 13-year-old daughter Ezgi.

Starring Özgü Namal and Tansu Biçer, the production also features Leyla Smyrna Cabas, İpek Bilgin, Aydın Işık, Aziz Çapkurt, Yusuf Akgün, Uygar Tamer, Jale Arıkan, Seda Türkmen, Emre Bakar, Elit İşcan, Sultan Ulutaş Alope, Emine Meyrem, and İpek Seyalıoğlu.

After receiving the award, Çatak said: “I had prepared a speech, and it was a political one. But I won't get into that speech right now because many people have said very smart things, and I also want to dedicate this stage to the wonderful people I made this film with; they are the true heroes of this award and I could never have made this film without them. I think the film explains itself with its political message, or rather, its questions.”

The vast majority of the actors in the group are alumni of Tarkmanças School. Directed by Yeğya Akgün from Hangardz, with Diana Chilingaryan as assistant director, the cast includes Arpen Çınar, Aksel Cavak, Lara Danacıoğlu, Süzan Pırnalyan, and Talar Köseoğlu, as well as Antranik Bakırcıoğlu, Tvin Zeytunyan, and Sevada Demirci from Hangardz. Tarkmançats School Principal Diruhi Berin, Tarkmançats Association President Aras Alakuş, and Talar Köseoğlu, one of the actors, visited Agos to provide information about the play.

Stating that they want to revive the theater tradition in Ortaköy, Berin mentioned that they founded the Ganç Theater Group and want it to be permanent. Talar Köseoğlu, noting that they used artificial intelligence for the play, provided the following information:

“The play takes place in the digital world. It compares the past with the present. Hagop Baronyan is important to us, and other characters like Tovmas Fasulyeciyan, Mardiros Mınakyan, and Arusyak Papazyan are also important. We will be showing this to young people as well.”

On the other hand, the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey had announced on its social media account in the final days of 2025 that it had increased the prices of wedding, baptism, and funeral ceremonies by 50% due to the inflationary environment.

In the statement, it was specified that it was decided by the Spiritual Council that the Patriarchate share would not be taken if no extra clergyman or church decoration is used in baptisms, if weddings are held with 2 clergymen and no decorations are used, and if funerals are held with 1 clergyman in cemetery chapels. With the Patriarchate waiving this share for the first time this year—having previously received a Patriarchate share in every situation—and with the funeral ceremony being held in a chapel instead of a church, the funeral fee decreases significantly.

How is a free funeral ceremony conducted?

Taking this picture into account, we researched which path families experiencing financial difficulties can follow after losing their relatives. Accordingly, a person in need, after losing a relative from their family, goes to the church in the neighborhood where they live or close to that neighborhood. If they are included in the church's poor relief branches list, the church foundation assumes that person's funeral expenses.

A community member in need who is not registered on the church poor relief branches list can still follow the same path. They can go to the church in their neighborhood and apply. The church foundation where the application for the funeral ceremony is made sends a letter to the Patriarchal seat for the person not registered on the list. After that, the foundation management and organizers try to provide the necessary facilities. However, this situation does not mean that funeral ceremonies will be “completely free.” If the funeral ceremony was conducted for free, the requiem (ayin-i ruhani) ceremony is also conducted for free.

In the current situation, when these paths are not resorted to for funeral ceremonies, even the most modest funeral ceremony can reach at least 100,000 TL, while the highest-priced funeral ceremonies exceed 200,000 TL.

Would you like me to prepare a summary of these economic developments for a community bulletin?

I witnessed this astonishment a few years ago at a conference I attended in Paris. At this gathering, where experts on Simone de Beauvoir and Virginia Woolf came together, I delivered a presentation discussing the ekphrastic narratives in the works of Beauvoir, Woolf, and Yesayan, comparing how this aesthetic style of writing transformed into a social response and critique through the eyes of these three women. The fact that the event was taking place in the very location where Yesayan was once a student, changed nothing, of course; almost no one in the hall had any idea who Zabel Yesayan was. In the brief biographical information I provided before starting the close reading of the texts, what surprised the majority was that an Ottoman Armenian woman of that period had traveled to attend the Sorbonne for a university education; especially when even Virginia Woolf could not study at Oxford or Cambridge due to the rigid English rules of her time.

You might think I am sharing this anecdote as a source of pride now, or imagine how I beamed with pride for Yesayan upon seeing scholars from many different countries unable to hide their amazement at this fact. However, I would like to state the opposite: no. When we look at the big picture, this was not a matter of pride but rather one of sadness. While the textual analyses of De Beauvoir and Woolf were being discussed, I began to question in my mind whether the only intriguing thing about Yesayan was that she had studied at the Sorbonne during that era, and I did not hesitate to voice this question with a smile on my face. Immediately afterward, some listeners began researching which of Yesayan's works had been translated into different languages, and they were already starting to ask questions about the novel I examined, My Exile Soul, and Yesayan’s literature in general.

In fact, perhaps I should not have been surprised, because even within our own society, there were those who preferred to examine Yesayan through a stereotyped understanding of feminism. This approach acknowledged the testimonies Yesayan lived through. However, when it came time to examine her works, most of which have not properly come to light anyway, what she wrote about women "as a woman" and what she did for women's rights took on more importance. This is because Yesayan has been turned into the pioneer figure of the "Ottoman Armenian women’s feminism" concept created today, which I also discussed in my previous article. In a sense, this was an approach that did not go much further than identifying Yesayan with classical Western feminism. My goal back them was to discuss the intersections of oral and visual narrative in Yesayan’s text; for me, this textual discussion was vital for capturing a new perspective in Yesayan’s literature, not for seeking a sense of equality with De Beauvoir and Woolf.

I see Zabel Yesayan not only as a writer who sought to establish women's existence against patriarchy, but also as one who witnessed the fragmentation both in the provinces and in Istanbul, from the inside, before and after it occurred; seeking a social existence behind this testimony. In her novel My Soul in Exile, the sections where a female painter returns to Istanbul, turns her home into a virtual gallery, and verbally describes this interaction while observing her own visual works, emerge as an artistic critique of the struggle she was part of and her encounters and reckonings with the Armenian intelligentsia after 1915. Therefore, in a text where verbal and visual descriptions gain such importance in interpreting personal and social conditions, speaking only of a romantic depiction of the painter Emma would be both an injustice to the author and an exclusion of a significant part of the narrative.

Producing within a patriarchal order has been one of the common issues for the world's most famous female writers. This is the same for both Woolf and Yesayan. However, the fact that Yesayan continued her life as a writer and supported her family despite being tossed around in exile through the devastating experiences she endured, and her ability to weave her testimonies and social deductions from the provinces and Istanbul into literary fiction, carries Yesayan's literature to an important place of its own. At this point, to understand Yesayan through a new perspective, it is necessary to remember the importance of evaluating her testimonies stretching from Istanbul to the provinces and the historical, social, and cultural reflections of these testimonies, alongside evaluating her works through her views on women's issues. I believe that when we approach Yesayan's works in such a multi-faceted way, we will actually better grasp her understanding of feminism, and this grasp will contribute to all Armenian women's writing and Yesayan studies.

The atmosphere of the festival was heavily influenced by Jury President Wim Wenders, who stated during a press conference on the first day that they "should not enter the field of politics" in response to a question. Wenders' remarks were addressed to many figures, including director Emin Alper, whose film is competing for the Golden Bear.

While these comments and the responses from filmmakers continue to draw heat, 81 figures—including actor Javier Bardem, a long-time supporter of Palestine; Tilda Swinton, who received the Berlinale Honorary Award last year; and Brian Cox, who has consistently spoken out against the genocide in Gaza—signed a letter calling on the Berlinale management to oppose the genocide in Gaza and state it publicly.

“Cinema and Politics Cannot Be Separated”

The letter reminds the Berlinale, which is supported by the German government, that it has previously made "clear statements" regarding atrocities in Iran and Ukraine. Addressing Jury President Wenders' claim that they should stay away from politics, the letter responded: "You cannot separate cinema and politics."

The statement continued: “We call on the Berlinale to fulfill its moral duty and state its clear opposition to the genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed by Israel against Palestinians, and to completely end efforts to shield Israel from criticism and calls for accountability.”

A Call for Moral Responsibility

The signatories also echoed the sentiments of the Palestine Film Institute:

“As the Palestine Film Institute has stated, ‘We are appalled by the Berlinale’s institutional silence regarding the genocide against Palestinians and its unwillingness to defend the freedom of expression of filmmakers.’ Just as the festival has taken clear positions on atrocities in Iran and Ukraine in the past, we call on the Berlinale to fulfill its moral responsibility; to openly oppose the genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed by Israel against Palestinians; and to end the stance that protects Israel from criticism.”

In a statement shared on the social media platform X, Greene highlighted that the hardships faced by Christians in Bethlehem—the birthplace of Jesus Christ—are not sufficiently known by the American public. Greene stated, "Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus. American Christians are largely unaware of the persecution happening there, but they need to learn and raise their voices."

Checkpoints and Constricting Living Space

The meeting also addressed the changes in Bethlehem’s demographic and geographic structure. According to data shared by Greene, there are currently 139 Israeli military checkpoints in the city. Even more striking is the data regarding the city's surface area: Bethlehem, which once spread across 66 square kilometers, has been squeezed into just 11 square kilometers today due to settlement policies and restrictions.

"Churches are Being Targeted"

Sharing information received from Mayor Canawati, Greene emphasized that Christians in the region desire to live in peace with their Jewish and Muslim neighbors, but their legally owned homes are being seized by settlers.

The statement also touched upon the pressure on Christians in Gaza and the West Bank, recalling that Christians have lost their lives and churches have been targeted in Israeli attacks on Gaza. Pointing out that the Christian presence in the region is in danger, Greene asked: "What does the Holy Land mean without Christians?"

According to a report by The Telegraph, the museum management implemented these changes following complaints that the term was "anachronistic" for ancient periods. Specific objections were raised regarding the labeling of the Eastern Mediterranean coast as "Palestine" in Ancient Egyptian and Phoenician displays. The complaints were spearheaded by the UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), a group that claimed the exhibitions contained “historically inaccurate references” to Palestine. In a letter sent to Museum Director Nicholas Cullinan, the group argued that the retroactive use of the term was “misleading” regarding historical continuity.

The museum did not remain indifferent to these "complaints." A spokesperson for the institution announced that the term "Canaan" would be used for the southern Levant region in ancient geographical contexts, while modern maps would adhere to United Nations terminology. The statement also noted that the term "Palestinian" would continue to be used as a cultural or ethnographic identifier where appropriate.

A funeral ceremony will be held for Sarıaslan on Wednesday, February 18, at 2:00 PM at the Beyoğlu Üç Horan Church. Following the service, İkna Sarıaslan will be buried in the intellectuals’ section of the Şişli Armenian Cemetery.

Sarıaslan, who worked at the Nor Marmara newspaper, was also a Full Member of the Honorary Board of the PEN Writers Association.

Born in Istanbul in 1945, İkna Sarıaslan was regarded as one of the significant poets of contemporary Istanbul Armenian literature.

After graduating from St. Joseph French School and continuing his higher education at the Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Sarıaslan began writing poetry at an early age.

He won the Sarkis Boğosyan Poetry Prize in 1962. His first book was published in 1974 under the title “Lo,” and the book was selected for the AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union) Alex Manoogian Literary Prize.

Sarıaslan was a member of the writers' unions in Turkey and Armenia, as well as the International PEN Association. Sarıaslan, who also produced works in the Turkish language, had his poems translated into 14 languages and included in various anthologies and textbooks.

Sarıaslan’s poem, ‘Todori at Sunset’ (Günbatımında Todori), was adapted for the stage by the Berberyan Company under the direction of Bercuhi Berberyan. ‘Todori at Sunset’ was first performed as a one-man show by actor Boğos Çalgıcıoğlu on March 27, 2008, at the Getronagan High School Alumni Association in Istanbul.

Sarıaslan has a book titled ‘Kuyner Hedker’ [Colors and Traces] published by Aras Publishing.

As Agos, we extend our condolences to the Sarıaslan and Marmara families.

Prosecutor General’s Office Declines to Give Details

The case is based on the dismissal of Bishop Saroyan. According to a statement from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Catholikos Karekin II dismissed Saroyan from his leadership role on January 10, citing abuse of power, neglect of duty, and alleged pressure on the clergy. Saroyan—who is among a group of bishops calling for the Catholikos’s resignation and who has met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan—challenged the decision in court and obtained an order for his temporary reinstatement.

Investigators claim that members of the Church’s Supreme Spiritual Council obstructed the implementation of this court order. On January 31, several senior clergymen were summoned as defendants and banned from leaving the country. This effectively prevented them from attending the assembly in Austria.

Legal experts have questioned the unusual haste in executing the decision regarding Saroyan and the speed of the investigation, noting that many court rulings in Armenia remain unimplemented for years.

Earlier this month, the Vienna-based Forum for Religious Freedom-Europe (FOREF Europe) stated that the actions against senior clergy amount to "systematic interference" in the internal affairs of the Armenian Apostolic Church and threaten constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.

A Widening Rift

These developments occur amidst a widening conflict between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Church. Over the past year, Pashinyan has openly questioned the legitimacy of Catholikos Karekin II and called for his resignation, while insisting that legal actions target alleged criminal behavior rather than the institution itself.

Critics argue that the scope and timing of the measures—including travel bans imposed days before a planned bishops' meeting abroad—create the appearance of political interference in church governance. Government officials, however, maintain that court rulings must be implemented regardless of status.

The criminal case against the Catholikos follows earlier prosecutions of senior clergy. Currently, at least 11 clergymen are either in prison, in detention, or facing criminal prosecution. Bishop Mikayel Ajapahyan of the Shirak Diocese was sentenced to two years in prison, while Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is being held in custody in Yerevan awaiting trial. Authorities have also arrested Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, along with other senior clergy, and initiated criminal proceedings against six bishops and a priest who were summoned as defendants and placed under travel bans.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin condemned the criminal proceedings against Catholikos Karekin II and the travel ban, describing the measures as "baseless, illegal," and politically motivated. In a statement, the Church accused the authorities of unconstitutional interference in its internal affairs, stating that these actions disregard the historical role of the Church and millions of believers while obstructing the spiritual duties of the Catholikos. Etchmiadzin urged prosecutors to immediately review the decisions targeting the Catholikos, six bishops of the Supreme Spiritual Council, and their secretary, warning that these steps risk deepening social divisions and damaging the country’s reputation.

(Civilnet)

One day when we were talking like that, he mentioned that he had just come back from Diyarbekir. I was curious as to why he had been there and was told that he had been teaching Armenian there and the term had just ended. It was through the sponsorship of the Sur municipality as a heritage program for islamasized Armenians who could not speak or write in Armenian. In those days, I was not contributing to Agos yet. As a photographer I was always in search of a story and hearing Kevork talk about these lessons in Diyarbekir, all of a sudden made me think that, had I known, this could have been a good story for me. It would have been maybe the beginning of a visual story on this little-known community of Diyarbekir Armenians. I felt a slight tinge of regret in my heart, for finding out too late. When I told him that I would have loved to photograph one of his classes, he said that there would be another term in the Spring and I was welcome to visit and take photographs. I was so happy because he would let me know when classes started again.

Well, the man kept his promise and one day he phoned telling me that the second term was about to start. So, off I went to Diyarbekir. It was a bit difficult for me because I was unemployed and short of money. I could only afford to stay a couple of nights in a cheap hotel. But I was very keen on doing a story about this special school. I had been to Diyarbekir before and had seen only the Ofis district aside from Sur. To go to the class though, I had to go through a very long route with buses and then walk quite a distance through a very different Diyarbekir full of big buildings, gas stations and a shopping centre that had non of the charm of Sur.

Kevork was waiting for me outside an office building where classes were being held. I was nervous because I did not know how the students would react to my intrusion on their lesson with my camera. I was wrong to have had such doubts because when I shyly entered the classroom, a very welcoming atmosphere put me at ease right away. The students, with a noticeable female majority, were very excited about an Armenian photographer, curious about their class, coming all the way from Istanbul to photograph their lesson. They were so sweet showing off with the few Armenian words and sentences they knew. They spoke Turkish and Kurdish mainly and myself, very little Turkish. But we understood each other through our mutual curiosity about each other and our excitement at such a meeting. They asked so many questions about my life and family roots. My Diyarbekir, and especially Lice/Hazro, family origins broke all the ice between us. They saw me as one of them and they showed this with great warmth. Kevork also did a lot of translation for us to ease up our question and answer session.

It was quite a long interruption to their lesson but everyone, including their teacher, was happy. Eventually they resumed their lesson and I began photographing. They all had textbooks: one was a Turkish-Armenian speaking manual and another for Armenian letters and writing. Kevork was teaching them about the past tense by showing them the different Armenian endings that made up the simple past tense on the white board. He was a very good instructor. And very kind and patient. He was like a friend to them rather than a teacher and made them laugh a lot. I took a lot of photos and tried to concentrate on details rather than faces. This photo is one that I like because it shows the nature of the lesson without being so graphic. That night I felt very much at home amongst these students and in the years that followed, I would run into many of them during my trips to Diyarbekir or their visits to the paper. And some of the photographs, even though the paper did not run them when I submitted them, were used many times accompanying articles about Islamasized Armenians. But that was later, after I had joined the paper.

As part of the program, a traditional parade was held with the participation of all classes and teachers. Students designed their own costumes by recycling waste materials in line with a designated theme. The preparation process, which received support from families, produced creative and vibrant imagery. Following the parade, the event continued with traditional Paregentan games. Students both enjoyed themselves and had the opportunity to connect with cultural values.

The school management emphasized that such events play a vital role in transferring cultural heritage to new generations, stating that Paregentan celebrations enrich the social and cultural life of the school.

Following the opening of the premises, a cocktail was held at the Naregyan Hall of the Üç Horan Church. The opening speech was delivered by one of the association's founders, Parin Yakupyan. Sharing details about her life story, Yakupyan said she became acquainted with autism after her son, Garen Yakupyan, was diagnosed.

Noting that options in the field of special education were limited 25 years ago and that she established a special education center in 2007, Yakupyan recalled that Garen could not attend Armenian schools. She stated the following:

“The real difficulty began at school age. Our Armenian schools, which my husband, myself, and everyone in our family had attended, closed their doors to us. My son, whose academic success was ahead of his peers, unfortunately could not attend Armenian schools, despite being a well-adjusted child. I struggled a lot for his right to education. His primary, middle, and high school years were spent through this struggle. During this process, I realized that this was unfortunately not just a problem I was facing. In order to benefit more children and families, carry out advocacy movements, and ensure that information spreads easily to everyone, I founded the Special Children’s Education and Solidarity Association (ÖÇED) in 2014.”

Yakupyan stated that the idea for Huys emerged after meeting with Selda Topaloğlu. She noted that they founded the association together with Sister Kayane Dulkadiryan, Alen Ohannesyan, Alin Taşçı, Karin Ataoğlu, Karin Şeşetyan, Lerna Bıyıklı, Minas Oflas, Ohannes Süylünoğlu, Ohannes Yalın, Selda Topaloğlu, Sera Yöndem, and Talin Pehlivan. She expressed that the Huys family grew further with the participation of Eva Orakyan, Garine Ovsepyan, Levon Yıldırımyan, and Tanya Marukyan.

Medium and Long-Term Goals

Defining Huys Association as the product of a collective conscience, Yakupyan described their goals with these words:

“Today, within this association, we aim to conduct activities that support the social and emotional development of individuals with special needs in the short term and to create support mechanisms for families. We want to expand awareness efforts throughout the community, starting with schools. Establishing education support funds for individuals with limited financial means is also among our priorities.

In the medium term, we aim to strengthen the independence and social participation of young individuals through vocational rehabilitation, handicrafts, sports, and social skills programs. In the long term, we aim to establish a self-sufficient, exemplary rehabilitation center operating with a multidisciplinary approach based on scientific foundations, and to realize a holistic structure that supports residential care and independent living skills.”

The logo of Huys Association features a starfish. The logo’s designer, Kirkor Sahakoğlu, explained the story of the starfish with the following words:

“What matters is not what we missed, but what we did not hold. You know the story of the starfish. A man is trying to throw the starfish that have washed ashore back into the sea. Someone comes along and says, ‘Millions of them wash ashore; you’re saving one or two.’ And he says, ‘Go ask the ones who were saved.’ I hope that in three to five years, we will come together here with those who were saved. Then my story will have found its place as well.”

“Every Bit of Support is Precious”

During the event, Garine Ovsepyan and Selda Topaloğlu, mothers of children with autism, spoke about their struggles. Ovsepyan stated, “Every bit of support provided, every bond established is very precious and decisive for the present and future of our special children.”

The Otidans Community, comprised of individuals with special needs, performed a dance during the evening. In his closing speech, Patriarch Maşalyan noted that while Zibeç (a former center) had closed, it lived on in the heart of the community, and predicted that Huys Association would be successful. Maşalyan said:

“Are we the keepers of children with special needs? Yes, we are, and this is what makes us a people. Let the story that began with ZİBEÇ continue with Huys. Let it go as far as it can.”

In the open letter published on Thursday, authored by seven leading figures of the Armenian diaspora, it was stated: “The Armenian government’s approach, even if not intentional, risks severing its relationship with the diaspora; something that even the Ottoman Empire or the Soviet Union failed to achieve.”

The letter was signed by Noubar Afeyan, co-founder of Moderna; Anthony Barsamian, former chairman of the Armenian Assembly of America; Lord Ara Darzi (Baron Darzi of Denham), a British-Armenian surgeon and member of the UK House of Lords; Eric Esrailian, a UCLA physician and philanthropist; Vatche Manoukian, businessman; Joseph Oughourlian, a French financier; and Berge Setrakian, former president of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).

The Case of Samvel Karapetyan

The diaspora’s letter comes amid escalating tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government and the Armenian Apostolic Church, led by Catholikos Karekin II. In recent months, the dispute has intensified further with legal actions targeting high-ranking clergy and harsh criticism of the Church by government officials.

“Recent ongoing political disputes in Armenia—including the growing conflict between leaders of the Armenian Government and leaders of the Armenian Apostolic Church—have culminated in government demands for the removal of the church leader,” the letter stated.

The signatories argued that the Catholikos was elected in accordance with church regulations and that any removal process must take place within church structures, not under state pressure.

The statement also drew attention to criminal cases filed against clergy and the imprisonment of Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan. “Certain archbishops have been imprisoned on charges of making political statements, and a prominent Russian-Armenian philanthropist and businessman was jailed for publicly supporting the church’s position,” the statement read.

The Vienna Meeting

The letter highlighted the “Holy Assembly of Bishops,” scheduled to be held in Vienna on February 17-19, which the Church convened to address internal issues.

“The Church had previously called for an assembly of bishops to be held in Vienna. Unfortunately, it is reported that the government has sent legal notices to several bishops, prohibiting them from leaving the country to attend the meeting,” the signatories wrote.

In January, Armenian authorities reportedly blocked several bishops from attending the planned meeting by imposing travel bans ahead of the mid-February assembly in Vienna. Following this meeting, a session of the National Ecclesiastical Assembly—described as “the highest governing body of the Church and the only body that elects the Catholikos”—was expected to take place.

“It is vital for the Church to govern itself for continuous development and reform,” the signatories stated, calling for all disputes to be resolved within church governance structures.

The Diaspora Dimension

The diaspora leaders addressed the conflict between the government and the church as an issue with global consequences. They argued that the institution has long been at the center of Armenian identity, citing Armenia's adoption of Christianity in 301 AD and the role the Church played following the 1915 Genocide and during Soviet rule.

“It was the Church that helped the people survive and revive in the period following the Genocide. It was the Church that helped resurrect the Armenian spirit, and the same Church is needed for an ancient nation scattered across the world to flourish,” the letter said.

Considering that approximately 3 million Armenians live in Armenia and an estimated 7 million in the diaspora, the signatories noted that actions affecting the Church resonate far beyond the country’s borders.

“The Armenian Church offers a spiritual bond to all Armenians, including the vast majority of Armenians living outside of Armenia. Therefore, any attack or interference in the governance or activities of the Church directly affects Armenians around the world,” they wrote.

The letter concluded with the following words: “Armenia is at a critical turning point in its history. This is not the time to allow internal divisions between church and state in Armenia to further weaken the Armenian nation spread across the world. On the contrary, it is time to de-escalate this internal crisis so that the Armenian state, the Armenian church, and the Armenian diaspora can move toward a new era of peace and prosperity.”

Pashinyan mentioned that his recent call to the Russian side regarding the restoration of railway sections seemingly received a positive response. However, he raised a "very important practical issue" in the context of regional communications. Armenia is seeking the urgent restoration of the railway lines near Nakhchivan and Turkey.

Speaking about the "Trump Route," which aims to connect Azerbaijan with its exclave of Nakhchivan, Pashinyan stated it is clear the route would enter Armenia through Meghri from Zangilan in Azerbaijan and then continue to Nakhchivan.

However, Pashinyan noted there are "two rival options" for the railway's continuation. One is a project already announced by Turkey and Azerbaijan to build a new line from Kars in Turkey to Nakhchivan. The other option is through Armenia, from Yeraskh to Akhurik, where a railway line already exists.

Pashinyan pointed out that in Yeraskh, which borders Nakhchivan, only a few kilometers of tracks are missing, while in Akhurik, bordering Turkey, the missing section is "even shorter."

"From an international perspective, we see that the fact that this section of the railway is under Russian management is being used to make the Kars-Dilucu route appear more advantageous. This is a problem for us because we lose our competitive advantage even though we have a ready-made railway," Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan further suggested that a solution with Russia should be found through a "friendly, friendly, friendly, and brotherly logic." He did not clarify whether these remarks implied that he might demand the termination of the management contract with the Russian Railway Company.

Pashinyan stated that he had raised this issue during meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

"I said, 'We are moving towards normalization, we are moving towards peace—meaning we are already in a state of peace—and this railway passes through Armenia. So why are you spending billions of dollars to create something that already exists?'" he recounted. He added that this question was met with "diplomatic silence."

"We are talking about Armenia's long-term strategic interests, and all our friendly countries should be interested in ensuring that our interests are protected; otherwise, our interests will reach a dead end," Pashinyan added.

Armenia Will Never Act Against Russia

During the interview, Pashinyan was asked about Russia's concerns regarding Armenia establishing close relations with the EU.

"Everywhere, with all our partners, we share this idea: harming Russia or Russian interests has not been, is not, and will not be on our agenda. This is absolutely excluded," Pashinyan stated. He added that this stance has been shared with Russia as well as other international partners.

Pashinyan also emphasized that they had addressed the concerns of the Russian side and highlighted that Russia had been offered the opportunity to create a project similar to the "Trump Route" over the "last five years."

"Of course, the path Trump followed was not there back then, but we only asked for five words—five words. Those words were: territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, reciprocity, and inviolability of borders. I said, 'Put these five words on paper, and I am ready to sign that paper at any moment,'" he said.

(Agencies, OC Media)

According to a report by Armenpress, the delegation from Azerbaijan arrived in Armenia through a designated section of the land border and underwent all necessary procedures. This step is being assessed as an important and concrete development in building trust between the two nations.

During the meetings, Armenian and Azerbaijani civil society representatives will discuss the peace agenda approved at the Washington summit on August 8, 2025. Separate sessions will focus on the emerging regional security architecture, the dividends of peace, public perception regarding the establishment of relations between the two societies, economic cooperation perspectives, and the role of civil society in strengthening mutual understanding and trust.

Participants from the Armenian Side:

• Areg Kochinyan – National Coordinator, President of the “Armenian Council” Analytical Center

• Boris Navasardyan – Honorary President of the Yerevan Press Club

• Naira Sultanyan – Director of the Democracy Development Foundation

• Narek Minasyan – Associate Expert, “Armenian Council” Analytical Center

• Samvel Meliksetyan – Expert, “Armenian Council” Analytical Center

• Stepan Grigoryan – Chairman of the Board, “Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation” Foundation

• Edgar Vardanyan – Associate Expert, “Armenian Council” Analytical Center

• Robert Gevondyan – Expert, “Armenian Council” Analytical Center

• Lusine Kharatyan – Author, cultural anthropologist

• Nelli Minasyan – Associate Professor of Historical Sciences, Turkologist

• Davit Stepanyan – Political commentator for 1in.am, Expert at the Armenian Institute of International Security and Affairs

• Ruben Babayan – Artistic Director of the Yerevan State Puppet Theater

• Eleonora Sargsyan – Expert on peace and gender issues, youth programs coordinator

• Naira Martikyan – Editor, Director of the JAMnews Armenia Office

• Vazgen Karapetyan – Associate Director of the “Eurasia Partnership” Foundation

• Tatev Danielyan – Editor-in-Chief of Political Programs and Host at Public Television of Armenia

• Armen Petrosyan – Regional Policy Expert at the “Orbeli” Center

• Alen Amirkhanyan – Director of the “AUA Acopian Center for the Environment” at the American University

• Nelli Rafayelyan – Journalist at the Media Initiatives Center

• Jirayr Habetian – Cameraman for Public Television of Armenia

Participants from the Azerbaijani Side:

• Farhad Mammadov – Coordinator, Director of the Center for South Caucasus Studies

• Rusif Huseynov – Director of the “Topchubashov” Center

• Kamala Mammadova – Editor-in-Chief of the 1news.az online publication

• Ramil Iskandarli – Chairman of the Council of the National NGO Forum

• Fuad Abdullayev – Expert at the Center of Analysis of International Relations

• Konul Badalova – Researcher at the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication

• Zaur Shiriyev – Expert at the Carnegie Russia and Eurasia Center

• Murad Muradov – Associate Director of the “Topchubashov” Center

• Ayten Gahraman – Advisor at the Baku International Multiculturalism Center

• Rauf Agamirzayev – Transport Expert, Member of the Public Council of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport

• Gulbeniz Ganbarova – Chairwoman of the NGO “Association of Women for Rural Communities”

• Nazrin Aliyeva – Representative of the NGO “Human Rights Support Center”

• Eldar Hamzali – Researcher, independent expert

• Sanam Rzayev – Editor and political commentator for the CBC television channel

• Gulshen Akhundova – Chairwoman of the NGO “Women, Development, Future”

• Emin Aliyev – Editor-in-Chief of the TREND International News Agency

• Orkhan Babayev – Employee of the Center for South Caucasus Studies

• Ilyas Huseynov – Head of Department at the Social Research Center

• Fuad Agamaliyev – Head of the Engineering and Technical Department of the CBC television channel

His life story was featured in the book titled "The Lost Identity of the Black Sea" (Karadeniz’in Kaybolan Kimliği), published by İletişim Yayınları, under the chapter titled “The History of the Unofficial in the City of Ordu: The Story of Coppersmith Master Harut.”

According to the information provided there, his father, Mıgırdiç Artun, was also a coppersmith, and his mother’s name was Hıngani. Harutyun Artun was born in their house in the Zaferi Milli neighborhood, where the city’s non-Muslim population predominantly resided. According to his own research, his family roots in Ordu date back approximately 240 years. In Zaferi Milli, an area once dense with chestnut trees, his grandfather had a wooden mansion built. His grandfather was also a timber merchant who processed timber brought from Romania and sold it to inland regions, particularly to Sivas, Erzincan, and Malatya.

In the 2004 local elections, Harutyun Artun became the first-row candidate for the municipal council from the ÖDP(Freedom and Solidarity Party) and conducted election campaigns.

In an interview with the Ordu Kent Newspaper, Artun shared glimpses of his life:

"I was born in 1924, but it says 1926 on my official records. I never had a problem among the public. Religion is one thing, nation is another, politics is another. But ignorance is very bad. In recent years, the ignorance of the people has diminished a bit. Everyone's religion is their own. Also, there has been a great struggle recently for everyone to live together. Prices were paid."

You struggled a lot as well. You worked in the Democrat Party. Now you are a member of the ÖDP. You even ran for the Municipal Council?

"Yes, in the 2004 elections, I was the first-row candidate for the Ordu Municipal Council from the ÖDP. (After searching for a while, he finds his business card from that period and gives it to us as a memento.) I worked in the Youth Organization of the Democrat Party (DP). Then they came to power and did the exact opposite of what they said. When the DP was first founded, it was very democratic. For example, when Celal Bayar came to Ordu as President, they said ‘Democracy is coming.’ It was raining so hard. No one would give them a hall to hold a speech. He gave a speech to a group of people gathered under the rain. I was one of those holding an umbrella for him there. The DP changed a lot while in power. So, I left them. I am a leftist."

The passing of Harutyun Artun, one of the city's most beloved figures, has also resonated widely in the local press across Ordu and the Black Sea region.

The axis of the discussions revolved around the personality and struggle of Hrant Dink, who was killed in a political assassination in front of the Agos newspaper office on January 19, 2007. The speakers emphasized that Dink’s legacy regarding the building of peace in the region stretching from Anatolia to the Caucasus continues to be a source of inspiration.

This traditional commemoration, which has been held for over a decade, focused this year on the themes of hope for peace and social conscience. The panel featured journalist and historian Burçin Gerçek, author of “Against the Flow: Those who Defied Orders, Saved, and Resisted during the Armenian Genocide”; author and publisher Ara Krikorian; Romain Fleury, director of the documentary “The Righteous Turks: A Very Long Silence”; and political historian Duygu Taşalp, author of “A Hundred Years of Denial.”

The event opened with the broadcast of the "balcony speech" delivered during this year’s main commemoration by Leda Mermer, deputy editor-in-chief of Agos and a colleague of Hrant Dink.

During the panel hosted by L’ACORT, the speakers explored the concept of “Righteousness” through Dink’s legacy and the contemporary repercussions of the Armenian Genocide.

Taşalp: “I Thought He Was a Bad Person”

One of the most striking moments of the panel came from Duygu Taşalp. She summarized how Hrant Dink was "othered" for an entire generation through her own personal history:

“When you are little, you know nothing about the genocide and you don’t talk about it. When Hrant Dink was killed, I thought he was a ‘bad person’ based on what we were taught.”

Taşalp pointed out that today, even the perpetrators of the genocide attempt to place themselves in the shoes of the “Righteous.” Noting that those who appear on paper to have helped do not always reflect the truth, she highlighted the manipulation of history: “If being righteous is a good thing, everyone wants to claim it; if you ask, every family has at least one ‘righteous’ ancestor.” According to Taşalp, resistance was not just about survival, but about defending the truth.

Krikorian: “The Subject I Could Not Discuss with My Family”

Author Ara Krikorian shared the deep silence of his family while explaining why he focused on this topic. Krikorian—whose mother and aunt were adopted by a Turkish family and whose two uncles were forced to change their religion—touched upon a subject he still cannot discuss with the relatives he sees: “I still meet with them, but there was one topic we could never talk about: the Genocide. Even in France, a silence prevailed regarding this issue.”

Stating that the existence of Turks he met in the art world who are ready to apologize and accept the past is encouraging, Krikorian wished for them to one day become the majority. He also posed a vital question regarding the future of Armenia: “Will Armenia remain surrounded by enemies, or will it find a path to peace with its neighbors—Turkey and Azerbaijan?”

Fleury: “The Harder It Was, the Better”

Romain Fleury, director of the documentary “The Righteous Turks: A Very Long Silence,” which brought his grandmother’s witness of the genocide to the screen, expressed the painful process with these words: “The more I struggled while making this film, the more real and better the result became.” Fleury’s work demonstrated how art serves as a space of resistance against forgetting.

The Concept of “The Righteous” Must Be Open to Debate

In the Q&A session, it was emphasized that the unity of peoples is possible through the efforts of the people themselves, not just states. Historian Burçin Gerçek responded to an audience question—“How has the concept of the Righteous changed since the genocide?”—with a conceptual critique:

“First of all, the term ‘The Righteous’ (and its usage) needs to be changed and redefined.”

Gerçek underlined that this concept should not turn into a tool for exoneration but should instead be part of a genuine confrontation with the past.