Armenians publish Rostov-on-Don’s earliest papers

Rostov-on-Don’s history of papers and publishing business is directly related to Armenians who came from Nakhichevan.

Here is the history of papers and their editors and publishers as followed. Since 1891 S.Arutyunov (Arutyunyan) purchased a paper, reedited it, renamed Priazovky kray, and published making it Russian South’s most popular paper. Among its columnists was Anton P. Chekhov. The well-known bibliophile O.Ter-Abrahamyan was editor-in-chief of Donskaya Pchela paper and since late 19th century he also has published Russian version of Russian-Armenian Don-Azov calendar which involved annual directory and life histories of Armenian communities. The equally popular in Rostov, Speech of Don Paper’s editor-in-chief was M.Berberyan, a very respectable individual.

Meanwhile Armenians here dreamed to publish the own papers. So, a well-known public figure, R. Patkanyan applied to St. Petersburg’s Press General Directorate but was refused. Officials said cannot allow publishing Armenian paper without censorship.

Eve so, Armenian papers were published. Early in 20th Century these were Golub (Armenian Dashak Party’s paper), Novaya Zhizn (New Life), Nash Golos (Our voice), Nashe Slovo (our Word), Pero (Feather), Colonia, Armanskaya Obshina (Armenian Community). Later at soviet times some other papers were published such as Bednota (The poor), Putyem Lenina (Through Lelin’s Way), Serp I Mopot (Sickle and Hammer), Shturm (Storm), Bolshevik.

These papers’ files are displayed in Surb Khach (St. Cross) Found of Armenian-Russian Friendship, and now are exhibited in museums. The great contribution to saving of this Armenian and Armenians’ press history belongs to honored teacher of Russia, well-known historian A.G. Malkhasyan. Malkhasyan has also published a unique Armenian-Russian phrasebook which involves dialect of Don’s Armenians.