ABOUT HYESTART

Our History: From Thought to Action

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Hyestart was born in 2016-2017 out of a deep conviction that it was urgent to defend the rule of law, human rights (particularly those of minorities), artistic freedoms, and democracy in Armenia and Turkey. Our initial vision has remained the same: a democratic Turkey that finally recognizes the Armenian Genocide—a prerequisite for a peaceful region that respects human rights.

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2017–2020: Support for artistic freedom and creation

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During its early years, Hyestart supported artistic freedom and contemporary creation in Armenia through the Vartanush Krikorian Fund. At the same time, our bilingual blog established itself as a space for reflection and analysis on democratic and humanitarian issues in the region.

 

2020-2023: The Urgency of Nagorno-Karabakh

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The war of unprecedented violence that Azerbaijan launched in September 2020, with the support of Turkey and Russia, against the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), forced us to adapt quickly. In the face of this predicted tragedy, Hyestart resolutely committed itself to the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination — the only means of preventing ethnic cleansing.

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During this critical period, we temporarily suspended some activities, including the Vartanush Krikorian Fund, to focus on defending Nagorno-Karabakh. Despite our efforts and those of many other civil society actors, the ethnic cleansing occurred tragically in September 2023 after more than nine months of an illegal and inhumane blockade, in the face of the international community's inaction.

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Since 2023, Hyestart pursues a dual commitment to justice and intellectual contribution

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On the one hand, we fight relentlessly to obtain justice for the 120,000 displaced people from Artsakh: justice for the crimes committed, the right to return in dignity and security, unconditional release of Armenian prisoners, and preservation of Armenian cultural heritage, threatened by systematic destruction.

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On the other hand, we are gradually resuming our activities in the cultural and academic fields. Thus, in 2024, the Vartanush Krikorian Fund supported the publication of the book Anahide - Chronicle of a Free Voice (Thaddée publishing), which immerses the reader in the world of free radios in the early 1980s, at the height of the "golden age" of the Armenian Cause. In 2025, we notably co-organized the academic conference "Armenian Diaspora(s) in Motion" which was held at Campus Condorcet (Paris).

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Our approach

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Hyestart combines grassroots action with intellectual reflection. We conduct advocacy with international institutions, organize or participate in awareness-raising events and academic conferences. We denounce the "state policy of systematic Armenophobia" carried out by Azerbaijan, as aptly described by the European Parliament.

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Our bilingual blog, a true think tank, allows us to analyze the geopolitical, historical, and humanitarian issues of the South Caucasus, while documenting human rights violations and the destruction of cultural heritage.

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