Editor-In-Chief of IANYANMAG, as well as full time editor and part time writer living in Los Angeles. I take my chai without sugar, but my dolma with lots of yogurt.

A Campaign Against Death By Stoning in Iran

More than a year after Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s stoning sentence on account of adultery was suspended, international groups are campaigning to influence the Iranian governments decision to remove the barbaric practice from the country’s penal code. Amnesty International, an organization that draws attention to human rights abuses is urging the signing of a petition that [...]

Last Steps of The Yerevan Street Shoe Project

While most of the world, including the South Caucasus, gets ready to pull out their warm jackets, boots and scarves from the back of their closets, here’s a continuing look at shoes from our series, “The Yerevan Street Shoe Project,” which also traveled to northern Armenia and Tbilisi, Georgia this summer. As the weather got [...]

Hopes High as Armenia Faces Off With Ireland in Euro Qualifier

Fresh off a win against Macedonia last Friday which delighted fans around the globe,  Armenia is preparing for a destiny-deciding game tomorrow, taking on the Republic of Ireland and hoping for the chance to book their place in the European Championship playoff. As supporters get ready to don their colors from both sides, Armenian coach [...]

Think Different: Apple Visionary Steve Jobs Has Died

Apple’s co-founder and widely regarded visionary Steve Jobs, died in Palo Alto, Calif. on Wednesday. The 56-year-old, who had recently resigned as chief executive of Apple Inc, was battling pancreatic cancer and had received a liver transplant in 2009. Jobs is credited with forever transforming the personal computer industry and shaping the digital age for [...]

Wide Angle: An Armenian Summer

Before the chilly winds and snow sets in, here’s a short look back at summer in Armenia via mobile photographer and PicPlz editing software, where the vodka flowed from North to South and thunderstorms in the evenings were a welcome relief from the unforgiving sun. Photos  © ianyanmag.com

Marshutka Fever: Public Transport, Caucasus Style

Deep within the Post-Soviet space, a public transportation system of mythical proportions (and one that virtually breaks any and all safety code violations known to the West) exists on pot-hole riddled, yet beautiful picturesque roads. It glides up and down streets, blasting the most awesomely bad play list of Armenian, Russian and Eastern European songs, [...]

Miss Universe: Glimpses of Eurasia, Balkans and Middle East

Get ready for swimsuits, crowns and tears tonight as the 60th annual Miss Universe Pageant broadcast live from Sao Paulo, Brazil with a record 90contestants participating. Hosted by Bravos’ Andy Cohen and NBC news anchor Natalie Morales and with performances by Bebel Gilberto and Beyonce, the pageant will allow fans in represented countries to vote [...]

Revelations: Wikileaks and Armenia

Wikileaks is at is again. Among more cables released in the last few weeks, 50 or so have come from the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, detailing everything from “who controls what in Armenia” and how Armenian Brandy (Winston Churchill’s favorite) is facing new threats. Don’t have time to wade through it all? We’ve got you [...]

Kurds Stage Worldwide Protest Condemning Turkish Raids

Inspired by an ongoing “Arab Spring” in countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa, Kurds in Turkey, which number around 20 million, have taken to the streets in Istanbul and elsewhere in the country to protest against political repression, cultural suppression, discrimination and a decision by Turkey’s election board to ban prominent Kurdish politicians [...]

Wide Angle: In Gyumri, A Soviet Arcade Remains Untouched

Text by Liana Aghajanian, photos © K. Shamlian In a secluded corner of Gyumri’s Central Park, sits a small room full of enough Soviet-era arcade games to dizzy up visions of Brezhnev, propaganda posters and the KGB keeping tabs on your every move. But while it might appear to be a preserved, colorful museum exhibiting [...]