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.