VAZGEN  MANUKYAN

In the 1960-s a movement began in Armenia under which secret national organizations were formed, raising the issue of Armenian Genocide and other national issues. In 1967-68 Vazgen Manukyan and his friends founded the Armenian Culture Club at Moscow University, which, however, was not only cultural, but also carried out national activities under the name of culture.Later they set up a similar organization at Yerevan State University, again raising issues of independence, Artsakh, democracy and others under the name of Armenian culture.

In 1974 Vazgen Manukyan and his supporters created an initiative called “Feasts of the Translators” (Armeniantransliterated: Tarkmanchats Toner), which united the entire Armenian intelligentsia.The goal was to create a national club that would allow people to get to know each other, to communicate, to discuss issues in an informal atmosphere, to gain the like-minded and supporters in discussing these issues, so that the most influential intelligentsia could unite around the same ideas.

For example, the issue of schools (Armenian or non-Armenian), Armenia-Russia relations, issues related to the Genocide, and sometimes even issues of freedom, independence, liberation from the communist regime were discussed.

“When the movement of 88 started, we realized how important those round-ups were and how significant they were. The intelligentsia immediately united, because people already knew each other, approached the matters in the same way, shared the same ideas. That was the greatest achievement of the “Feasts of the Translators”.-Vazgen Manukyan