Gayane Mkrtchyan

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Gayane is an award-winning freelance journalist from Armenia. She focuses on political, social, health, economic, and human rights issues and believes that human-oriented stories are the most importa

Armenia

Voice | ‘My family urged me to return to Armenia; but I decided to stay in China’

by Gayane Mkrtchyan

•5 min read

Emma Petrosyan, a 28-year-old English teacher from Alaverdi, Armenia, has lived and worked in the Chinese city of Tianjin for a year and a half. When the coronavirus hit China, unlike many others, Emma chose to stay. ‘My mobile phone almost exploded with messages and calls [because of the coronavirus]: my family, friends, and acquaintances urged me to return to Armenia. But I decided to stay.’ ‘This is my home, where I feel safe. I think it’s harder and more dangerous to leave, go to the ai

The smelter plant in Alaverdi. Photo: Gayane Mkrtchyan/OC Media

Armenia

Armenia’s copper capital no longer? The uncertain future of Alaverdi

by Gayane Mkrtchyan

•8 min read

For years the copper smelter was the economic heart of Alaverdi, but its operation came at a price, the plant spewed thousands of tonnes of toxic emissions into the air. Today the smelter’s terrible environmental record finally caught up with it. Karen Petrosyan, one of the few residents of Alaverdi who is still employed at the smelter, told OC Media that he is one of only 230 remaining employees — less than 2% of the city’s population of 13,000. But despite having the title of ‘employee’,

1988 Spitak Earthquake

Voices | Armenia’s devastating earthquake 30 years on

by Gayane Mkrtchyan

•10 min read

Thirty years have passed since the day an earthquake devastated northern Armenia, killing 25,000 people. The town of Spitak, close to the epicentre, was utterly destroyed, and for many of the survivors, life remains a struggle 30 years on. At its epicentre in the village of Nalband, in the Spitak Community, the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale. Spitak was completely levelled; of the town’s population of 18,400, almost 4,000 people remained under the rubble. Today, no

Armenia

Expired and illegal pesticides — a toxic threat to Armenia

by Gayane Mkrtchyan

•5 min read

In many rural communities in Armenia, farmers continue to make use pesticides banned in the country over 30 years ago. Stashed in basements, sheds, and Soviet–era warehouses from before the ban came in, these toxic substances continue to threaten the health and well-being of Armenians. Fifty-two-year-old Narine Sargsyan, a resident of the village of Jrarat in the Armavir Province, recalls her father using dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane — commonly known as DDT — to protect the garden pla

Armenia

Rising prices and changing taxes have sparked unrest in Armenia

by Gayane Mkrtchyan

•6 min read

The beginning of 2018 has come to mean two things for Armenians: rising prices for essential goods, and for many, a new tax burden. The opposition Yelk are now confronting the government, encouraging Armenians to take their anger to the streets. Fifty-two-year-old Yerevan resident Aida Martirosyan complains that her family’s already low earnings have suffered a blow from rising prices. ‘In just a month, the price per kilogramme of butter has gone up from ֏2,800 ($6) to ֏5,000 ($10).

Armenia

Armenia’s Yazidi boys and girls who don’t finish school

by Gayane Mkrtchyan

•7 min read

In the Yazidi villages in the west of Armenia, many girls and boys don’t finish school. For girls, it’s ‘a great tragedy’ to be unwed by 18, while the boys must go to work. But there are some in the community challenging the stereotypes, hoping to build a better world for future generations. Ester Sadoyan and Asya Orujulyan are year nine students. Ester is thinking of becoming a doctor and Asya dreams of working in a beauty salon. But in Ferik, tradition trumps education. ‘Our tradi

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