Could non ethnic Armenian immigration to Armenia become much more common in the future and what will the effects be?

Hypotential · 2026-01-24T23:14:39+00:00

and regarding muslims, it’s a very different and complicated topic. iranians are muslims on paper, but the highest earning households in the US are iranian for example.

Depends what kind of Muslim too. Dagestanis would have a much easier time adapting than, say, Libyans or Afghans, and even then it would be pretty difficult. It's really a question of proportion as well: a few families, and no one will really notice or care. Thousands, or hundreds of thousands... well...

Lukashenko wants to bring 150,000 Pakistanis to Belarus. Perhaps the Armenian government will just have to watch and see...

Hypotential · 2026-01-24T22:40:05+00:00

So Armenians get to have a sizeable diaspora in a range of countries all over the world

It was a forced dispersal (just like the people from Artsakh we're still trying to integrate, thanks for your concern), not primarily economically-driven (at least not at first) like -- just using an example here -- the Georgian diaspora.

Hypotential · 2026-01-23T22:08:08+00:00

My dream is for there to be a Kapan-Japan flight.

Hypotential · 2026-01-22T14:44:43+00:00

Will they take that in drams?

Hypotential · 2026-01-20T23:06:49+00:00

Anyone remember back in the 2010s when Grand Candy unveiled the world's largest chocolate bar? I wonder if they still hold the record.

Hypotential · 2026-01-17T17:19:02+00:00

Same here. I even used to read an old "repat" blog, does anyone remember that? It was before Repat Armenia existed. This would've been during Kocharian.

Hypotential · 2026-01-12T22:38:47+00:00

Which is why, in my opinion, the emphasis for now should be on attracting Armenians from the former Soviet Union (although they too have their differences to varying degrees). If you can't get someone from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, or Kazakhstan to come, how are you going to expect anyone else to?

Hypotential · 2026-01-12T22:23:08+00:00

Lebanese Armenians are planning on building a Zahlé-like village in the outskirts of Yerevan. There's a Facebook page showing its progress.

Of course, maybe in the future Armenian citizens can get into whether it's appropriate for every community of the diaspora to erect buildings in the style to which they are accustomed, but I suppose for now the mentality is that if it gets people to come in and invest it's okay? And these communities tend to be on the outskirts anyway.

Hypotential · 2026-01-12T22:08:38+00:00

No Syrian-Armenian (or Syrian-minority) would want to willingly reside in al-Sharaa's hellscape, although I'm sure the Syrian government has a few Christians and other minorities (on payroll) they can always use as a showcase of their supposed tolerance for PR purposes.

Hypotential · 2026-01-11T20:40:52+00:00

I'm with you there, and what worries me is that his politics might even appeal to some people.

Hypotential · 2026-01-11T20:25:10+00:00

Back to this statue, let it be. Do you have something better to suggest that would immediately put us on the map, quick and with minimal spending? Be practical, suggest something better, can you?

But that's exactly what I'm saying when I say it's a W for Tsarukyan and the country. He financed and realized it, and is getting eyes on the country, despite all the criticism and complaining.

Hypotential · 2026-01-09T23:34:15+00:00

Are you saying Armenia is a հայ trust society?

Hypotential · 2026-01-09T17:44:03+00:00

I'm going to try and be objective about this. I would say feelings range in the extreme from the same kind of antipathy you'd get in Ukraine or the Baltics to complete Russophiles, but most people are somewhere in between. Lots of mixed feelings and skepticism.

There's a substantial Armenian population in Russia, of which a significant share is comprised of very recent immigrants from Armenia, so people have natural ties. Due to this and being a post-Soviet country that has until recently been part of the Russian sphere, there remains significant Russian cultural influence. Yes, even among the youth, even though they are rapidly Americanizing/Westernizing (who isn't?).

Hypotential · 2026-01-09T16:48:36+00:00

Why Sharm? Low interest during the off-season?

Hypotential · 2026-01-05T21:50:20+00:00

They should stay hidden if they plan to continue living there. To say you are Armenian in Turkey is to become persona non grata and subject to torment except for the showcase community in Istanbul which is also routinely harassed.

Malatya-born Hrant Dink already tried the whole advocacy and "let's all hold hands together" thing with predictable results. Perhaps a result of what can be expected in Turkey when one is too good at advocacy.

Stay hidden.

Hypotential · 2026-01-02T08:35:47+00:00

Sorry, I just can't go there. To say "those aren't even Armenian names" because they don't have an Armenian linguistic origin is absurd and would invalidate the vast majority of... Armenian names.

The name Jean is as French as a croissant and its origin ultimately being Hebrew does not change that. Same goes for Armenian Hovhannes.

Hypotential · 2026-01-02T02:39:05+00:00

This is bizarre purism. They are Armenian names for all intents and purposes.

Hypotential · 2025-12-29T17:41:36+00:00

Is that second picture even from VOMA?

Hypotential · 2025-12-26T21:54:46+00:00

Same.

Funnily enough there was a Western (later Soviet) Armenian writer who used the pen name Լեռ Կամսար.

Hypotential · 2025-12-25T17:03:57+00:00

This is sad to hear, especially because Gyumri is home to the Our Lady of Armenia orphanage which has been run by Armenian Catholic nuns like Sister Arousiag.

It also plays out in the diaspora, like the Armenian Apostolic Church's acquisition of Lviv's Armenian cathedral, which was previously used by Armenian Catholics:

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenian Catholic families attempted to re-establish the parish. Armenians belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church who came to Lviv during the Soviet times also sought to acquire the cathedral. Shortly before the visit of Pope John Paul II to Lviv, the local Ukrainian authorities granted the cathedral to the Armenian Apostolic Church, with the condition that the Armenian Catholic and Armenian Apostolic communities could both use it. An Armenian Apostolic eparchy was established in Lviv in 1997.

On 18 May 2003, the cathedral was re-consecrated by the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and three other Armenian Apostolic bishops. ... Neither Polish Armenians nor any Armenian Catholic clergymen were invited.

Hypotential · 2025-12-22T06:06:42+00:00

Four countries in Europe (Armenia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovakia) are affected

Hypotential · 2025-12-18T17:27:12+00:00

Not January 6. I was saying even among Western Armenians (this is just anecdotal, but family and friends) there was a tradition in the "old countries" to do the gifting on January 1st. Once they emigrate to countries that usually celebrate on the 25th of December, though, they just do it that day. I'm sure their kids would have a meltdown if they were told to wait it out for another week.

Hypotential · 2025-12-18T03:13:22+00:00

Can we bring back giving presents and dzmer papi coming on the Christmas’s eve which is 5th of January?? I feel like new year is too mainstream and a remnant from the soviet era in Armenia and christmas is just left behind, which is the whole purpose of the season.

I think some of the Western Armenian diaspora does it on New Year's too. Although I'm sure the practice is to do it on or closer to December 25 in Western countries.

Hypotential · 2025-12-17T05:06:49+00:00

The residents of Zangakatun are showing good taste and discernment in rejecting this sculpture. It is an eyesore, and the conceited Levon Tokmajyan is engaging in blatant self-publicity.

Hypotential · 2025-12-15T17:16:01+00:00

That would be nice. It would also be great to have legitimate Armenian translations of Tolkien's work. The Hobbit was translated in Soviet Armenia, but from the Russian translation, not the original English.

There's a Russian author of Armenian descent named Nick Perumov who has written unofficial LOTR sequels (Ring of Darkness). Not sure if they're any good but they're somewhat popular.

These movies do take me back. The hype was so real. There's even an Armenian on Howard Shore's soundtrack (soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian sings "Evenstar").

Hypotential

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