South Caucasus

Discussing Russian Colonialism regarding Armenia in Germany

How Russia continues its colonial policy in Armenia? What narratives it uses? How does Armenia teach its Soviet past in the schools? In order to answer these and other connected questions, FNF supported Edgar Vardanyan and Mikayel Zolyan, as well as Narek Manukyan from Paradigma Educational Foundation to visit Berlin, Potsdam and Frankfurt-Oder in May 2025. The researchers were accompanied by Katrin Bannach, head of FNF South Caucasus office. FNF Armenia has been cooperating with Edgar and Mikayel, and Paradigma Educational Foundation for several years. Edgar Vardanyan and Mikayel Zolyan, two experts working on the topics of democracy, nationalism, propaganda and colonialism, authored several publications in cooperation FNF Armenia. In partnership with Paradigma Educational Foundation FNF Armenia implemented several projects focusing on alternative methods of history education.

FNF Armenia developed in cooperation with Edgar Vardanyan and Mikayel Zolyan, and Paradigma Educational Foundation, provide answers to these questions. The first study, Discourse of Russian Colonialism regarding Armenia talks about the complex relationship between Russia and Armenia with the focus on domination policy of the former, when it comes how that latter should act. The study was done by Edgar Vardanyan and Mikayel Zolyan. The next study entitled Teaching Soviet Russia by Paradigma Educational Foundation focuses on the nature of teaching Armenia’s Soviet past in high school history textbooks. This study shows both the various paths fourteen post-Soviet republics went through on teaching the soviet past, as well as the dynamics of teaching during thirty years in Armenia.

An expert roundtable took place in Berlin on May 19. During the roundtable Edgar, Mikayel and Narek talked about Russian colonial policy, Armenian history education policy since independence when teaching about the Soviet past and so on. This was a good opportunity to reflect on Russia’s role on the post-soviet space, what discursive policies there are. Around fifteen experts attended the roundtable and participated in the discussion. Additionally, the Armenian experts had meetings and presented their studies at the University of Potsdam, European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder). Moreover, they separately met and discussed the topics with various civil society organizations and think tanks.

The study visit showed the similarities of the Armenian case concerning the Russian colonial policies with other post-soviet countries, for instance with Ukraine, Georgia, etc. This means that the Russian policies are identical on post-soviet space and it is worth discussing their manifestations, but also the ways to fight these propaganda narratives.