Congressman Sherman Commemorates the 1988 Sumgait Pogroms Against Armenians

Emil Lazarian
Van Nuys News Press
Mar 11 2026

Congressman Sherman Commemorates the 1988 Sumgait Pogroms Against Armenians

By George Christopher Thomas

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Vice Chair of the Congressional Armenia Caucus, issued the following statement marking the anniversary of the 1988 Sumgait Pogroms:

“Today we stand in solidarity with the Armenian American community in commemorating the 1988 Sumgait Pogroms. Thirty-eight years ago, Azerbaijani mobs targeted Armenian residents of Sumgait solely because of their ethnicity, unleashing days of horrific violence that culminated in the murder, rape, and expulsion of ethnic Armenians living in Azerbaijan at the time.

The atrocities in Sumgait were not isolated. They were followed by additional anti-Armenian violence in Kirovabad and Baku. 

As we honor and remember the victims of these pogroms, we must also confront the continued dangers of anti-Armenian hatred today. The world witnessed the consequences of unchecked aggression in 2023, when Azerbaijan’s military offensive resulted in the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh’s entire Armenian population and effectively ended their centuries-old presence in the region. 

I remain deeply concerned by credible reports of ongoing abuses, including the continued detention of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians, and threats facing Armenian cultural and religious heritage sites. These issues demand sustained international attention and accountability.

The United States must continue to press for the immediate and unconditional release of Armenian detainees, support the protected right of return for displaced Armenians of Artsakh, and work with international partners to safeguard Armenian cultural and religious heritage.

For decades, I have worked with my colleagues in the Congressional Armenia Caucus to hold Azerbaijan accountable and to strengthen the U.S.–Armenia relationship. We must ensure that the lessons of Sumgait are not ignored.

On this solemn anniversary, we remember the victims, stand with the Armenian people, and reaffirm our commitment to preventing anti-Armenian violence wherever it occurs.”


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Turkish press: Turkish Airlines launches Yerevan flights amid Armenia-Turkey t

Chmshkian Vicken
Turkish Minute
Mar 11 2026
Turkish Airlines launches Yerevan flights amid Armenia-Turkey thaw

Turkish Airlines launched direct flights between İstanbul and Yerevan on Wednesday, marking a new step in the slow rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey, which have never established formal diplomatic relations.

The move comes as Yerevan and Ankara pursue a cautious normalization after decades of hostility rooted in the World War I-era mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and Ankara’s support for Azerbaijan in its long-running conflict with Armenia.

“Flights on the route Istanbul-Yerevan-Istanbul will be operated daily,” the Armenia International Airports company said after the inaugural flight of the Turkish flag carrier landed at Yerevan international airport.

The frequency of flights will gradually increase in the coming months, the statement added.

Armenia and Turkey have no diplomatic ties, and their land border has remained closed since 1993.

In 2021 the two countries appointed special envoys to explore a path toward reconciliation.

Direct commercial flights between the two countries resumed in 2022 after a two-year suspension.

Since then, Ankara and Yerevan have taken several limited steps aimed at improving ties.

They agreed to allow direct air cargo trade and to open the land border to third-country nationals, though the frontier has yet to reopen in effect.

In another modest confidence-building move, the two governments announced in December simplified visa procedures for holders of diplomatic, special and service passports.

© Agence France-Presse

https://www.turkishminute.com/2026/03/11/turkish-airlines-launches-yerevan-flights-amid-armenia-turkey-thaw/

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Filmmaker on trial in Turkey for screening Armenian genocide film

Bedik Zaminian
Mar 11 2026

Kurdish filmmaker Rojhilat Aksoy has gone on trial on charges of “publicly insulting the Turkish nation and state institutions” for screening an animated film about the Armenian genocide in Diyarbakır province, Turkish media reported.

The Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office drafted the indictment, citing scenes and dialogue from the film “Aurora’s Sunrise,” which was screened on December 17, 2024. The case is being heard at the Diyarbakır 22nd Criminal Court of First Instance.

The indictment cited the animation’s depiction of the 1915 events as genocide, its portrayal of Armenian resistance as a “legitimate struggle of freedom fighters” and scenes showing Armenians being forced to change their names and religion as evidence.

It also alleged that references to Armenian men conscripted into the Ottoman army who never returned, as well as scenes showing bodies floating in a river and Ottoman soldiers separating children from their mothers, contradicted historical facts.

During the hearing Aksoy denied the accusations, saying the film falls within the scope of freedom of _expression_.

The court adjourned the hearing and scheduled the next session for April 6.

The animated documentary, directed by Armenian filmmaker Inna Sahakyan, tells the story through the eyes of Aurora (Arshaluys) Mardiganyan, who witnessed the events as a teenager before eventually settling in the United States.

The animation also incorporates surviving fragments of the 1919 film “Auction of Souls,” in which Mardiganyan portrayed herself shortly after arriving in the United States.

The documentary also draws on archival footage from the 1910s and 1920s as well as Mardiganyan’s recorded testimony from the 1980s.

It premiered in London in November 2023 and was submitted by Armenia as its official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2023 Academy Awards. It has since received numerous awards at festivals across Europe and the United States.

Turkish courts have previously ruled that using the term “Armenian genocide” falls within the scope of free _expression_. On July 2, 2024, journalists Haluk Kalafat and Elif Akgül were acquitted of similar charges of “publicly insulting the Turkish nation” over six articles published on the Bianet news website between 2015 and 2019.

The Armenians, supported by a majority of historians and scholars, say 1.5 million of their people died in a genocide committed by the Union and Progress government of the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Turkey acknowledges that large numbers of Armenians and Turks died in the conflict but firmly rejects the characterization of the deaths as genocide.

Filmmaker on trial in Turkey for screening Armenian genocide film

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addresses the Parliament on Armenia’s EU member

Chakhmakhchian Vatche
European Interest
Mar 11 2026
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addresses the Parliament on Armenia’s EU membership aspirations

On Wednesday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed MEPs, underscoring the vital importance of fostering peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and Armenia’s aspirations for European Union membership.

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Pashinyan noted that since his last visit to the European Parliament in 2023, Armenia and the South Caucasus region have experienced significant historical changes. He articulated the Armenian government’s commitment to advancing its participation in the US-brokered TRIPP infrastructure programme, which aims to establish seamless multimodal transit connectivity within Armenian territory and link the main part of Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister addressed recent political developments within Armenia, highlighting ongoing initiatives to resettle Armenians who were displaced during the previous conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. He expressed concerns regarding the actions of certain clergy and political opposition groups that may seek to undermine peace efforts. Lastly, he emphasised the importance of working towards the release of Armenian prisoners of war who are still detained in Azerbaijan.

“The most memorable of these changes is the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, formalised on 8 August 2025 in Washington DC, when President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and I signed a Joint Declaration in the White House, effectively securing peace between our two nations”, he said.

Addressing those issues is critical to the current peace process, he said: “We are criticised for the fact that the peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan is not perfect. But I ask you: Where is peace perfect? Where has perfect peace ever existed, and when? (…) On the contrary, it is the will to care for peace that can bring it as close to perfection as possible (…).”

Armenia’s journey towards EU membership

Pashinyan emphasised that Armenia continues to implement reforms with the support of European partners. He highlighted the country’s adoption of the law on the “Launch of the Process of the Republic of Armenia’s Accession to the European Union,” which marks the start of Armenia’s journey towards EU membership.

Now, after the adoption of this law, the prime minister said, many in Armenia ask: When will Armenia become a member of the European Union?

“Our answer is very clear: No country can become a member of the EU without meeting its standards. Therefore, our task is to continue the path of reforms with the support of our European partners and first objectively meet the EU’s accession criteria.”

The Armenian Prime Minister noted that one of the main obstacles to Armenia’s EU integration is the stalled political dialogue between the EU and Georgia.

“Georgia is our path to the European Union, and we adopted the law on the Launch of the Process of the Republic of Armenia’s Accession to the European Union after Georgia received EU candidate status. This made Armenia’s EU membership perspective tangible, and our expectation and request is that the constructive EU-Georgia process will develop. This is as important for Armenia as it is for Georgia,” he explained.

The prime minister emphasised that the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia on 7 June should focus on reinforcing peace, stating, “Our democracy must make peace irreversible, and then peace will make democracy irreversible.”


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Iranian Ambassador Reaffirms Commitment to Armenia; Rejects Nakhchivan Strike

Nahapetian Zhanna
Caucasus Watch, Germany
Mar 11 2026

On March 10, Khalil Shirgolami, the Iranian Ambassador to Armenia, stated in an interview with Shant TV that Iran considers Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity to be of vital importance. "We have friendly relations with Armenia, based on mutual trust. We have always emphasized that Armenia's security is our security," Shirgolami stated, adding that Tehran takes this issue seriously and has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment. He emphasized that Iran does not want the ongoing war to cause even the slightest harm to Armenia.

Addressing economic cooperation, Shirgolami noted that bilateral ties between the two countries continue to function without major disruption. He stated that the border between Iran and Armenia remains open for both passenger and cargo transportation and that economic relations have not been significantly affected. "There is no significant impact on economic relations; they continue to be active and dynamic," he emphasized.

Commenting on the reported drone strike on Azerbaijan, which allegedly targeted Nakhchivan Airport and contributed to rising tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan, Shirgolami rejected claims that Iran had carried out such an attack. He stated that if Iran had made such a decision, the strike would have been precise, similar to previous attacks carried out against certain US bases and Israel. "Therefore, this incident was somewhat dubious, and Azerbaijan's response was disproportionate and unfriendly," Shirgolami stated. He added that Azerbaijan’s reaction prompted Iran’s military command to warn Baku to prevent the Israeli regime from launching attacks on Iran from Azerbaijani territory. According to him, in the event of such an attack, Iran would respond "without hesitation and with complete determination."

Shirgolami also addressed Israel’s presence in Azerbaijan, stating that Iran is aware of Israeli security activities there. At the same time, he emphasized that Tehran has warned countries in the region that the US and Israel must not use their territories or capabilities against Iran. "We want to maintain excellent, friendly and fraternal relations with all countries in the Caucasus region, and I see no reason for tension at this time," Shirgolami stated.

Speaking about the broader conflict, the ambassador emphasized that Iran is prepared to defend itself for as long as necessary. "As long as the aggression continues, the Iranian people and the Iranian Armed Forces will defend their country," Shirgolami stated.

Responding to questions about the origins of the current war, Shirgolami said that Iran had entered negotiations with a serious and sincere approach and continued them in the same manner. He noted that during the final stage of negotiations in Geneva, Iran presented what he described as a practical package of proposals aimed at achieving a comprehensive agreement. According to him, statements made by the American side following the talks also indicated that negotiations were progressing positively.

However, Shirgolami stated that the situation changed when former US President Donald Trump, influenced by "bellicose individuals in his entourage, including Netanyahu," became involved in what he described as a war of aggression. He emphasized that Iran had not ruled out the possibility of such developments and that its military forces had remained prepared. He also noted that Iran had warned that any territory used by the United States to launch strikes against Iran would become a legitimate target.

When asked whether Iran was prepared for a prolonged conflict, Shirgolami referred to the experience of what he described as a 12-day war. According to him, calls for "unconditional surrender" were later replaced by demands for a ceasefire after Israel allegedly faced strong resistance. He stated that Iran accepted the ceasefire at the time as a sign of goodwill but emphasized that a fragile truce cannot guarantee stability.

Shirgolami stated that Iran’s current position regarding a potential ceasefire requires several conditions. First, he emphasized that attacks against Iran must stop. Second, a clear legal and institutional ceasefire mechanism should be established, preferably within the UN and the UN Security Council, and reflected in a formal document. He added that the aggressor must be identified and condemned by the international community, and that the issue of compensation for damages caused to Iran must also be addressed.

"In response to further ceasefire signals, the Islamic Republic of Iran declares that it lacks confidence," Shirgolami stated, emphasizing that Iran would continue to defend itself if the attacks persist. "Iran is prepared to defend itself against this attack for as long as necessary. We have no time limit."


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Armenia Strengthens International Partnerships During Nuclear Energy Summit in

Emil Lazarian
Caucasus Watch, Germany
Mar 11 2026
11 Mar 2026 | News, Politics, Armenia

In a high-profile March 10 visit to Paris, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highlighted Armenia’s commitment to civil nuclear energy at the Second Nuclear Energy Summit, while engaging in key talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, and EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso; simultaneously, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan strengthened Armenia’s strategic partnerships with France and the US, advancing energy, infrastructure, and regional cooperation ahead of the European Political Community summit.

Second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris

On March 10, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the Second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, which was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi. The summit included high-level participants such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and the prime ministers of Slovakia and Croatia. Following a joint photo session, Pashinyan delivered a speech highlighting Armenia’s commitment to civil nuclear energy as a low-carbon, dispatchable power source that complements renewable energy. He noted Armenia’s support for the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050 at COP28 and the First Global Stocktake assessing progress toward the Paris Agreement goals.

Pashinyan outlined Armenia’s plans to extend the operational lifetime of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) until 2036 as a cost-effective path toward energy security and a transition to a new nuclear unit. He emphasized the country’s focus on innovations in civil nuclear energy, particularly Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technologies, which offer scalable capacity and shorter construction timelines. Armenia is currently evaluating international proposals, guided by considerations of reliability, sustainability, and strict nuclear safety and non-proliferation standards.

Pashinyan stressed the importance of developing a skilled workforce to support nuclear energy, from design to safe operation and decommissioning. He highlighted Armenia’s commitment to safe management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel and noted that throughout the ANPP’s operational history, no incidents related to nuclear or radiation safety have occurred. He concluded by emphasizing the Summit’s role in fostering international initiatives and partnerships in the nuclear sector.

Pashinyan Strengthens Armenia’s Ties With IAEA, EBRD, And France 

During his visit to Paris, Pashinyan met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to discuss the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, technical cooperation, nuclear safety, and ongoing programs in Armenia, including SMR technologies.

He also held talks with Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, focusing on the progress of bilateral cooperation. They discussed continued support for government reforms, private sector competitiveness, small and medium-sized enterprise development, and infrastructure modernization. Renaud-Basso confirmed the EBRD’s readiness to support Armenia in implementing planned programs and reforms across various sectors.

Pashinyan met with Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, including deepening political dialogue, implementing joint economic and infrastructure programs, and regional developments. Both leaders emphasized consistent efforts to strengthen peace and stability in the region and discussed the prospects for further development of Armenia-European Union cooperation, highlighting the importance of promoting joint initiatives and deepening partnerships.

Mirzoyan Advances Armenia-France and Armenia-US Strategic Partnerships

On March 10, in Paris, Ararat Mirzoyan, the Foreign Minister of Armenia, met with Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France. The discussion focused on advancing the strategic partnership between Armenia and France, including cooperation in key sectors such as energy and infrastructure. The ministers also addressed preparations for the upcoming European Political Community summit in Yerevan in May and emphasized continued collaboration to strengthen democratic resilience. They exchanged views on developments in the Middle East, with Mirzoyan highlighting the importance of resolving the situation and ensuring regional stability.

On the same day, Ararat Mirzoyan met with Thomas DiNanno, the US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. The talks covered the deepening of Armenia-US strategic cooperation. Both sides welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the Agreement on Cooperation between Armenia and the United States in the Field of Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy, noting their readiness to sign the agreement and further develop collaboration in the sector. Regional infrastructure projects and other issues of mutual interest were also discussed.


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PM Pashinyan Says Armenia To Keep Nuclear Power For Security

Maral Chavushian
Eurasia Review
March 11 2026
 March 11, 2026  0 Comments

By PanARMENIAN

The Armenian government has adopted a policy of maintaining nuclear energy as an essential factor of energy security, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the second Nuclear Energy Summit that opened in Paris, where he delivered a speech.

In his remarks, Pashinyan noted that nuclear energy is now viewed as a low-carbon and controllable energy source that can be effectively combined with renewable energy sources.

He added that advances in safety technologies make it possible to extend the operating life of existing nuclear reactors, providing an effective pathway toward achieving zero emissions.

In this context, Pashinyan said Armenia has launched a program to extend the operating life of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant until 2036, which will also lay the groundwork for building a new nuclear power unit in the future.

“To this end, our attention is focused on innovations in civilian nuclear energy, particularly small modular reactor (SMR) technologies, which offer promising prospects. Growing demand encourages leading companies to develop safer and more flexible solutions with shorter construction times and scalable capacity that can better match the needs of national power grids.

Taking these factors into account, Armenia has decided to consider the application of small modular reactor technology. We are currently carefully studying the technologies and evaluating proposals from international partners. The selection process is guided by reliability, long-term sustainability and our commitment to the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation.

By 2050, a qualified workforce will be the backbone of the nuclear sector—from design and construction to safe operation, maintenance and eventual decommissioning. Training and educational programs are essential to ensure the availability of the necessary workforce. In this regard, Armenia highly values international cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral formats.

I am pleased to note that thanks to these efforts and the dedication of Armenian specialists, no nuclear or radiation safety incidents have occurred throughout the entire operation of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the importance of the safe management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, which is crucial for both present and future generations. Protecting human health and the environment must remain our guiding principle,” Pashinyan said.

The summit was also attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the prime ministers of Slovakia and Croatia, as well as several other heads of government and officials.

Earlier, after meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said Armenia and the United States had completed negotiations on a “123 Agreement” on civilian nuclear energy, opening opportunities for major projects. According to him, this could include up to $5 billion in initial exports from the U.S., plus $4 billion in support for fuel and maintenance.

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Tigran Hamsyan’s Concert Homage to Armenia Hits Home Richard S. Ginell on Mar

Emma Jilavian
SFCV San Francisco
Mar 10 2026

Richard S. Ginell oPianist Tigran Hamasyan — and we just say “pianist” to avoid pinning him down into one genre — has ranged all over the place from anodyne New Age noodling to the most rhythmically and harmonically complex jazz-based compositions. Most of all, though, his roaming is usually solidly rooted in his Armenian heritage. He doesn’t let us forget it, and his fans don’t let him forget it, either.

Thus, when Hamasyan made his first appearance at The Soraya on Saturday March 7, the region’s expansive Armenian diaspora turned up en masse for their countryman, who moved back to Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, in 2018. He was in town to promote his new album, Manifeste (released in February), which is an overt homage to his heritage, however expressed in a progressive musical language that takes cues from Western jazz-rock. He calls it, unsurprisingly, a “manifesto,” one of ideas about war, struggles of children, and the environment as they relate to Armenia, drawing upon musical sketches that date back to 2011

Not taking the easy road for the concert, Hamasyan performed nothing but excerpts from the new album, extending the territory and pushing the energy level well beyond what is on the recording. With Yessai Karapetian on synthesizer and duduk, Evan Marien on electric bass, and Arman Mnatsakanyan on drums, Hamasyan’s band sounded locked in, stringently rehearsed to the letter of Hamasyan’s often complex writing.

If one were to put a label on this music, it was highly charged jazz-rock of a mindset that was in fashion around 1972, full of repetitive, rapid-paced modules of notes emanating from Hamasyan’s acoustic grand piano, often spiced with Armenian melodic ideas. If the late keyboard giant Chick Corea had been Armenian, he might have come up with something like this.

Starting the album’s title track deceptively with delicate solo piano, Hamasyan quickly shifted into the higher electric gear with the rest of the band, occasionally vocalizing wordlessly. “Ultradance” kicked up the pace even further in a call-and-response manner, interpolating repeating solo piano riffs in between electric outbursts. The Armenian folk influence in melodic line and rhythm sounded the strongest in this number.

“War Time Poem” — in what Hamasyan called the “extended version” (to say the least) — found him preparing a few of the strings on the piano to make plunking sounds like droplets of water. The selection was expanded way beyond its length on the album into a new, partly-improvised, arc-like structure, eventually culminating in dissonant violence — hence, war time — before bowing out in the subdued way in which it started.

“Dardahan” rumbled along until the lopsided revolving rhythm took a hold of everyone in the foursome in unison, reminding me a bit of “Ostinato” from Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi album. “A Eye (The Digital Leviathan),” punning on the tech tool that threatens to take over the world, was another series of repetitive riffs, with complex drumming dominating the field.

The contemplative finale, “National Repentance Anthem,” sounded like a minor-key lament for Armenia, with sampled water sounds and a moaning vocal from the composer. So moving was this music for the predominantly Armenian audience that they spontaneously started to hum and sing along with the tune. With a hand signal, Hamasyan quieted them down as he took a solo, after which the mass vocalizing started up again.

At encore time, at first, Hamasyan asked for requests, and the titles of many numbers from his previous albums were shouted out from the hall. But he took it back.

“We’re not going to do old stuff,” he said as he launched into “Prelude for All Seekers” from the album, plus another number with wistful whistling over a solo piano in the upper registers.

Richard S. Ginell writes regularly about music for the Los Angeles Times, Musical America.com, and Classical Voice North America. He has also contributed to Gramophone and The Strad, among many other publications. In another lifetime, he was chief music critic of the Los Angeles Daily News. He is also the author of the recently released book Makin’ a Joyful Noise: The Lives and Times of the (Slightly) Fabulous Limeliters.

https://www.sfcv.org/articles/review/tigran-hamsyans-concert-homage-armenia-hits-home#

n March 10, 2026


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Jazz, folk, and fire: Tigran Hamasyan Brings ‘Manifeste’ to Cleveland Museum

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
Fresh Water
Mar 11 2026

Jazz, folk, and fire: Tigran Hamasyan Brings ‘Manifeste’ to Cleveland Museum of Art

Armenian piano virtuoso Tigran Hamasyan, known for his distinctive jazz-meets- piano compositions that combine jazz, minimalist, electronic, rock, and Armenian folk, will stop at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Gartner Auditorium tonight, Wednesday, March 11, as part of his Manifeste Tour.

Armenian composer and pianist Tigran Hamasyan, known for his unique fusion of jazz, rock, and traditional Armenian folk music, is performing at the Cleveland Museum of Art.Wednesday’s concert features Hamasyan on piano, Yessaï Karapetian on keyboards, Evan Marien on bass, and Arman Mnatsakanyan on drums.

The Manifeste tour is based on the release of his 2025 album by the same name and subtitled “A Transcendent Journey Through Rhythm, Ritual, and Armenian Soul,” Hamasyan’s work is described as “a sonic statement infusing the deep spiritual traditions of his Armenian heritage throughout.”

Recorded between 2023 and 2025 in studios throughout the world, “Manifeste” is a personal declaration and a vivid portrait of seeking, the joy of creation, and spiritual transformation.

“Manifeste” follows Hamasyan’s 2024 “The Bird of a Thousand Voices,” which continues his exploration of ritual sequence.

"Seeking and working on yourself to find who you are…finding something that may have always been there but that you need to dig for in order for it to manifest and be born into this world," Hamasyan reflects in his “Manifeste” liner notes. "That moment when a piece of music is being born and joy fills your heart is the most precious moment for me as a musician."

Born in Gyumri, Armenia, in 1987, Hamasyan’s musical journey began in his childhood home, where he was exposed to a diverse array of musical influences leading to him playing piano at the age of three.

He performed in festivals and competitions by the time he was 11 and won the Montreux Jazz Festival piano competition in 2003. Hamasyan released his debut album, “World Passion,” in 2004 at the age of 17.

The following year, in 2005, Hamasyan won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition (renamed in 2019 to the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition) and has won several competitions ever since then.

Hamasyan has earned praise from jazz luminaries, including Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau, and the late Chick Corea, while also building a dedicated following worldwide.

The concert, today, Wednesday, March 11,  runs from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Gartner Auditorium. Tickets range from $26 to $53 for CMA members; $35 to $59 for nonmembers; and $10 for students (purchase at the door; subject to availability).

https://freshwatercleveland.com/street-level/Jazz-Folk-Fire-Tigran-Hamasyan-Brings-Manifeste-To-Cleveland-Museum-Of-Art_031126.aspx

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Russian personnel evacuated from Iranian nuclear power plant via Armenia

Emil Lazarian

Read the article in: فارسیArmenian:

Russia has evacuated the remaining personnel at the Bushehr nuclear power plant via Armenia. According to RIA Novosti, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev said the second round of evacuations included 150 people, comprising both plant personnel and their family members.

Likhachev said that the second phase of the evacuation of Russian staff and their families from the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran has thus been completed.

“Last night we completed another phase of the evacuation of our staff. A few days ago, 150 people left the Bushehr nuclear power plant and crossed the Armenian border overnight. They are already on their way to our country. This is the second phase of the evacuation,” RIA Novosti quoted Likhachev as saying.

The evacuation comes amid heavy U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting various targets across Iran. 

Read the article in: فارسیArmenian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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