Chakatamart” was a daily newspaper published in Constantinople from 1918 to 1924. It succeeded the “Azatamart” daily newspaper, the official organ of the ARF Western Bureau, published in Constantinople from 1909–1915. The periodical addressed the situation and problems of Western Armenian immigrants until its final edition. It also discussed the challenges faced by exiles who sought refuge in Soviet Armenia, their efforts to adapt to the new political system, and the repressions they faced due to their faith and political views. Materials about immigrants were included in the “Haykakan Kyanq”, “Hayastan”, and “Lurer Hayastanen” sections. From 1923 to 1924, "Chakatamart" mainly published articles and news on these topics from Soviet-Armenian periodicals, as it did not have its correspondents in Soviet Armenia. In addition, it printed letters and complaints sent to the editorial office from Soviet Armenia without mentioning the sources of the information. Summarizing our study, we can state that particularly in 1920–1923, in its articles as well as editorials, “Chakatamart” emphasized that Armenia was Sovietized by force, and the people, including Western Armenian immigrants, were mostly against the abolition of the First Republic of Armenia, and the Bolsheviks becoming the ruling power. Regarding the emigration of Western Armenian exiles from Soviet Armenia, the newspaper attributed this phenomenon primarily to their poor socio-economic status and the political persecutions initiated against them by state bodies. In 1923, after the Lausanne Conference, the editorial staff of “Chakatamart” wrote that the Armenian question seemed to have reached a dead end, and Soviet Armenia was viewed as a manifestation of statehood uniting all Armenians (albeit not completely). The structures of the Armenian diaspora should try to be useful to Soviet Armenia, and the newspaper called for cooperation with the Soviet authorities. In its final year of publication, “Chakatamart” presented the daily life of emigrants in Soviet Armenia, and the work carried out for them through the relevant government agencies, as well as the success and achievements of Armenian emigrants.

Keywords“Chakatamart” daily newspaper the Armenian Question Western Armenia Soviet Armenia Treaty of Sevres Treaty of Lausanne Armenian immigrants

The Armistice of Mudros, signed on October 30, 1918, provided an opportunity for Armenian intellectuals who had survived the Genocide to publish periodicals in Constantinople. Among these publications was the highly regarded daily newspaper “Chakatamart”. The newspaper addressed various issues concerning the Armenian people, including the internal and external political challenges faced by the First Republic of Armenia. One of its key areas of focus was the fundamental problems in the educational and cultural sectors. “Chakatamart” covered these topics through news reports prepared by its own correspondents, interviews, and reprints from newspapers published in Armenia. The articles were objective and impartial, while its analytical pieces stood out for their optimism and offered solutions to the problems in the fields of education and culture. The newspaper presented these issues in a positive light and generally approached the shortcomings and deficiencies in the government's work with leniency, attributing them to the evolving circumstances of the Armenian Question. Almost every issue of the “Chakatamart” periodical included publications related to the restoration and reopening of Armenian educational institutions and cultural centers.

KeywordsMudros Armistice Armenian Question Armenian Periodicals in Constantinople First Republic of Armenia “Chakatamart” Daily Newspaper Educational and Cultural Issues “Life in Armenia” Section.

The Russo-Turkish Agreement signed on January 26, 1914, did not resolve the Armenian Question. The Ottoman authorities invalidated it, thereby preventing the European inspectors N. Hoff and L. Westenenk from commencing the activities stipulated by the document. This course of action was officially justified by the fact that World War I had begun on July 19, 1914, and under wartime conditions, there was no longer a need to implement the agreement. These realities were reflected in the Armenian press published in Constantinople. In particular, the widely circulated daily newspapers Azatamart and Zhamanak actively covered this issue. They also presented to their readers the expectations and hopes of Armenians regarding the agreement. Opinions varied. Many believed that under the general supervision of the Russian Empire, the agreement would finally safeguard the long-violated rights of Armenians. A significant segment of Armenian society, however, remained skeptical, recalling a number of previously adopted decisions and documents that had in no way contributed to a pro-Armenian resolution of the Armenian Question. Azatamart called upon everyone to remain realistic, while Zhamanak urged patience and waiting for further developments. Alongside expressing their own positions, these periodicals also addressed the viewpoints of pro-European and pro-Russian groups. Analytical articles conclued that, overall, Western Armenians aspired to live a peaceful and secure life in their ancestral homeland. It was noted that although the agreement envisaged reforms in Armenian-populated provinces, the Ottoman government had for decades merely spoken of implementing reforms across the empire, in practice leaving such programs confined to paper.

KeywordsRusso-Turkish Agreement of January 26 1914 Azatamart daily Zhamanak daily Armenian reform program Armenian Question Nikolai Hoff Louis Westenenk