Pen Armenia Celebrates 30th Anniversary and Launches New Website

This year, PEN Armenia celebrates its 30th anniversary with a new website. PEN Armenia, now in its third installment, is now a member of Human Rights House and includes 52 members,  bringing hope to the organization and to the future of Armenian literature.  

PEN Armenia was founded in 1991 by the renowned Armenian poet, translator and public figure Gevorg Emin in the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse, a time of tremendous doubt during a geopolitical crisis. The official name at the time was the Armenian P.E.N Centre, P.E.N. being the acronym for Armenian Poets, Essayists, Novelists, Center Non-Governmental Organization. After the death of Gevorg Emin, the organization suspended their activities in 1998. PEN Armenia’s second chapter was run by the inimitable translator, literary analyst and publisher Anna Hakobyan. Under her presidency, PEN Armenia changed the bylaws to reflect its true name, PEN moving away from ideologies derived from political parties. This was a successful era. The organization worked closely with the Union of Armenian writers, including Hrant Matevosyan, Hamo Sahyan, Sero Khanzadyan, Vardges Petrosyan, Aghasi Ayvazyan, Vahagn Davtyan, Silva Kaputikyan, Anahit Sahinyan, Maro Margaryan, Edvard Jrbashyan, Ruben Zaryan, Hovhannes Ghukasyan, Alisa Kirakosyan, Stepan Alajajyan, Stepan Topchyan, Hrachya Tamrazyan, and others. They participated in PEN’s activities, most notable for “presenting reports on the freedom of speech and expression in Armenia, establishing and running the P.E.N. awards, organizing international conferences, events dedicated to the International Day of Poetry, discussions, as well as publishing an almanac,” according to penarmenia.org. Today, it’s run by the extraordinary fiction writer, essayist, and translator Armen Ohanyan. Ohanyan was elected president during the Velvet Revolution, a time that brought the ideology of democracy and solidarity to Armenia. PEN Armenia’s history can be viewed as a cultural triptych demonstrating the changes in Armenia’s social and political landscape. 

In a section on the newly launched website called Post War Query, writers Marine Petrossian, Vahram Martirosyan, Lusine Kharatyan, Anri Grigoryan, Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan, Aram Pachyan, Narine Kroyan, Hovhannes Aznauryan, Narek Topuzyan, and Asya Darbinyan reflect on the postwar state of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. These articles do not hold back in questioning the current political and psychological climate of Armenia, as these writers, with candid force, aim to inspire hope and strength for the future. In her article, “We Have to Find Ways to Straighten Our Back,” Petrossian asserts, “Armenia is on its knees now. They can’t respect you if you are on your knees. We have to find ways and straighten our back.”

“PEN Armenia and the Independent Armenia are not only coevals—both “born” in 1991— but also fellow sufferers and survivors. The 30th Anniversary is a good point for both to look back and celebrate what is there to be celebrated, and commemorate what deserves not to be forgotten, to rethink the past and avoid the same mistakes in the future,” says Ohanyan.

You can visit penarmenia.org here.