January on View 2026

2026-02-11 - 11:36

Politics Iran’s Domestic Crisis and Implications for Armenia Sossi Tatikyan Nationwide unrest and escalating repression in Iran are reshaping regional security dynamics, with growing risks of external escalation. For Armenia, the crisis heightens exposure to border instability, trade disruption, and diplomatic strain, testing Yerevan’s ability to balance relations amid a shifting deterrence landscape. Opinion Honor Thy Dead Maria Titizian A new national day of remembrance raises difficult questions about memory, truth and accountability, especially after the 2020 Artsakh War. Honoring the dead requires more than ritual, or a date on a calendar, it demands names, transparency and a truthful reckoning with how and why the war was lost. Raw & Unfiltered Cold Waters, Long Nights: Tales of Sevan’s Fishermen Vaghinak GhazaryanandKushane Chobanyan Jan 16, 2026 A portrait of Noratus fishermen on Lake Sevan reveals nights of cold, risk and fragile livelihoods, following Armen and Vardan as they navigate storms, shrinking catches and limited choices, capturing a community bound to the lake for survival and dignity. Read more A Print Shop in Kapan Turns the Page for Former Inmates Lori Youmshajekian Jan 15, 2026 A social enterprise in Kapan is giving former inmates a second chance through steady work in a community print shop, challenging stigma, rebuilding skills and social ties, and offering a rare model for reintegration in a system long shaped by punishment rather than rehabilitation. Read more Environment The Unloved Others: Invertebrate Conservation in Armenia Anahit Ghazakhetsyan Examining how Armenia’s conservation priorities overlook invertebrates, despite their vital ecological roles, Anahit Ghazakhetsyan explores barriers of stigma, weak research and habitat loss, urging narratives that value the “unloved” species sustaining ecosystems. It Has to Be Said It Has to Be Said: Hybrid Warfare Maria Titizian Hybrid warfare isn’t fought with tanks, it’s fought with information. Ahead of Armenia’s parliamentary elections, disinformation, cyber operations and AI-generated fakes are already shaping perceptions and eroding trust. In this episode, Maria Titizian explains how foreign information manipulation targets elections, why emotional content spreads fastest, and how citizens can protect themselves from becoming the final battlefield. Creative Tech When AI Speaks Armenian։ Podcastle’s New Voice for a Nation Elen Tovmasyan Jan 23, 2026 Armenian finally sounds natural in AI. Elen Tovmasyan explores how Podcastle’s new Armenian text-to-speech technology could transform media, education, accessibility and diaspora engagement, while raising important questions about ethics, voice ownership and what it means for a “small” language to enter global AI systems. Read more Why 2025 Mattered for Armenia’s Tech Sector Ani Toroyan Jan 14, 2026 2025 may be remembered as a turning point for Armenia’s tech ecosystem, a year of long-term foundations taking shape. Ani Toroyan writes that while these developments open new opportunities they also raise expectations and if the past year was about setting direction, then 2026 will be about delivery. Read more Law & Society Armenia’s Long Road to Health Equity Hranoush Dermoyan Armenia has launched universal health coverage, replacing out-of-pocket payments with a national insurance system. After years of delay, the reform expands access and reframes healthcare as a social right rather than a privilege. The challenge is effective implementation, writes Hranoush Dermoyan. Columns Make it Major Sheila Paylan Jan 12, 2026 Rejecting quick fixes and perfect starts, Sheila Paylan reframes New Year’s resolutions as bold, life-shaping commitments and encourages readers to stop quitting small promises and start pursuing the "major" goals that truly change a life. Read more Armenian Language Opens Doors Maria Gunko Jan 21, 2026 Reflecting on learning Armenian and the unexpected doors it opened, from a late-night restaurant in Leipzig to a train station in Ghent, Maria Gunko reveals how this “small” language creates instant belonging within a global network shaped by kinship, hospitality and shared identity. Read more The South Caucasus in an America-First World Olesya Vartanyan Jan 19, 2026 One year after Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the United States has turned sharply inward, opening an uneasy chapter with Europe. For the South Caucasus, this shift doesn’t necessarily signal renewed American engagement but rather a region increasingly shaped by decisions made elsewhere. Read more LIFESTYLE Telling Times From the passage of time to escape rooms and ski slopes, this month’s issue of SALT brings together stories that move between reflection and play, the intimate and the unexpected. The eclectic blend on offer explores multiple layers of life and living, from the curious to the unapologetically offbeat. Puzzles, Fear and Play: Armenia’s Quest Room Scene The Last Drive When Bach Meets Narekatsi: The Armenian Viola Tsaghkadzor and Myler: Two Resorts in Conversation Time: Passed