"To Preserve, Read, Understand" - Interview with Amatuni Virabyan

The article is an interview with the Director of the National Archives of Armenia (NAA), Doctor of Historical Sciences Amatuni Virabyan, devoted to the history, current state, and practical significance of archival work in Armenia. The conversation covers both a historical overview and current problems in the archive's operations, including international cooperation and socially significant citizen appeals.

Introduction and Methodology

The material is structured as an extended dialogue in which the NAA director consistently reveals the stages in the formation of the Armenian archival fund, and at the concluding stage, Deputy Director Sonya Mirzoyan joins the conversation, answering questions about the archive's practical activities.

History of Archival Work in Armenia

It is noted that the Armenian archival tradition dates back to medieval church documents, the oldest of which is the kondak of the Catholicos from 1440. The role of Catholicos Simeon Yerevantsi, who first systematized documents in the 18th century, is highlighted. The tragic losses of archives during the following periods are described in detail:

• the annexation of Eastern Armenia to the Russian Empire, when no separate archive existed;
• World War I and document evacuations, many of which were irretrievably lost;
• the First Republic (1918–1920), when documentation was lost during Turkish invasions and the evacuation of the "Committee for the Salvation of the Homeland."

It is emphasized that systematic archival construction began only under Soviet rule, with the establishment in 1924 of the Central State Archive, which united documents from various regions and institutions.

Diaspora (Spyurk) Archives

The article examines the process of returning to Armenia the archives of foreign party and state figures (Ramkavar-Azatakan, the personal fund of Ruben Ter-Minasyan), as well as the ongoing problem of locating the large Dashnaktsutyun archive in Boston. Concern is expressed over the loss, among the diaspora, of Armenian-speaking specialists capable of assessing the significance of documents.

International Cooperation

The article covers the active engagement of Armenian archivists within the "Euraseka" association, as well as ties with the archives of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Iran, and Turkey. Practical difficulties in cooperation with Turkish archives are noted — a shortage of specialists in the Ottoman language and differences in regulations governing access to documents.

Publishing Activities

The article lists the NAA's key publication projects: collections on the history of the Armenian Genocide, church documents, protocols of the parliament and government of the First Republic, and materials on the history of settlements and railways.

Practical Significance of Archives

Special attention is given to the NAA's participation in international lawsuits against insurance companies (New York Life Insurance, AXA), in which the archive provided documentary evidence confirming the inheritance rights of descendants of policyholders who were victims of the Genocide. The article also addresses the problem of lost employment records following the collapse of Soviet enterprises, which complicates citizens' ability to confirm their work history.

Conclusion

The key conclusion of the interview is that the preservation, study, and interpretation of archival documents carry not only historical and scholarly significance but also direct political and social importance: knowledge of documented history is necessary both for shaping state policy and for protecting citizens' rights in contemporary legal and property disputes.