Keghart Lives On: Strengthening Our Voice, Broadening Our Reach

By Karen Mkrtchyan, Yerevan, 15 July 2025

When Keghart announced its possible closure, many of us who have long considered it a crucial part of the Armenian media landscape were deeply unsettled. Over the past 19 years, Keghart has been more than just a publication—it has been a voice for Armenian thought, memory, and conscience. At a time when independent Armenian media platforms are few and far between, the role Keghart has played is not only vital, but irreplaceable. I am humbled and grateful to be entrusted with the responsibility of continuing its mission.

My association with Keghart goes back to my student days in India. I would eagerly read its articles, often finding that the topics raised echoed questions I carried with me—about identity, justice, diplomacy, and diaspora. I occasionally engaged in the vibrant comment sections, where thoughtful readers and contributors shaped lively debates. Later, I became an occasional contributor, and eventually had the honor of briefly serving as editor. Throughout, I remained deeply appreciative of Dr. Dikran Abrahamian’s vision, the tireless efforts of the Keghart team, and the contributions of its many dedicated writers and editors.

That’s why, like many others, I was disheartened to learn that Keghart might come to an end. It is a scenario I could not accept. The Armenian world today is in flux—too many questions remain unanswered, too many stories untold, too many truths unheard. In such times, we cannot afford to lose a platform like Keghart.

Armenia and Armenians worldwide are living through a defining moment. The painful loss of Artsakh and the displacement of its people, the endangerment of our national and religious monuments, the growing clash between church and state, and the evolving peace talks with Azerbaijan—all point to a period of deep transformation. At the same time, initiatives like the much-talked-about Crossroads of Peace, the Armenia–Turkey normalization talks, regional tensions such as the Iran–Israel standoff, and the widening gap between Armenia and segments of the diaspora present new challenges and opportunities.

We need platforms that can unpack these developments—not only from a local or nationalist lens but from a wider, strategic, and humanistic perspective.

As I take on this role, my vision for Keghart is clear: it should be a space where informed voices—both experienced and emerging—can share their ideas freely and responsibly. It should be a place where complex issues are analyzed critically and compassionately. It should not shy away from the occasional controversy, nor become a tool for propaganda. It must remain rooted in its values of independence, inclusivity, and intellectual honesty.

Over the coming months, Keghart will gradually enter a new phase. We will expand our contributor base, engage new readers, and bring in voices from different backgrounds—including non-Armenians whose perspectives enrich our understanding. We will launch campaigns, initiate interviews with public and private sector figures, and open channels of engagement for youth, thinkers, and those whose voices are often unheard.

This will be an evolution, not a rupture. The Keghart you know will continue to reflect the seriousness, commitment, and integrity that readers have come to trust. But it will also begin to speak in new tones, with new faces, and on new platforms—always guided by the same core belief: that truth matters, and that informed dialogue is essential to the health of our nation and our people.

I want to thank Dr. Abrahamian and the Keghart team for their support and confidence, and I thank all current contributors and readers who continue to walk with us. I hope to live up to your expectations, and I ask for your patience as we navigate the transition. Your feedback, criticism, and guidance are not only welcome—they are necessary.

My door—and my inbox, [email protected] —is always open.

Warm regards,

Karen Mkrtchyan
Keghart Publisher-editor