Aravot

Vano Siradeghyan founded the "Aravot" daily newspaper, which published its inaugural issue on August 2, 1994. Limited information exists online regarding the publication's establishment, though sources indicate that during its early years, the newspaper received financial backing from the Sukiasyan family, who were associates of Siradeghyan.

Vano Siradeghyan (1946-2021) was a pivotal founder of the Third Republic of Armenia. Born in 1946 in the village of Koti, Tavush Province, he was also a renowned writer and publicist.

He played an active role in the establishment of the "Karabakh" Committee and the Armenian Pan-National Movement (ANM), serving as a leading member of both and a close associate of First President Levon Ter-Petrosyan. During Armenia's first decade of independence, Siradeghyan held several key positions, including Minister of Internal Affairs (1992-1996), Mayor of Yerevan (1996-1998), and Chairman of the ANM Board.

Months after the change of power in February-April 1998—following First President Levon Ter-Petrosyan's resignation and Robert Kocharyan's ascent to power—criminal proceedings were initiated against Siradeghyan. He was charged with several articles of the Criminal Code, including complicity in premeditated murder, banditry, and bribery. He was arrested in May 1999 but was later released from custody on personal guarantees. In April 2000, the National Assembly approved the Prosecutor's Office's motion to strip Vano Siradeghyan of his parliamentary immunity and detain him. After this, he fled and remained a fugitive until his death, which was officially announced in October 2021. The circumstances surrounding his death remain fully unclarified to this day.

Garik Melkonyan has served as the director of the national daily newspaper "Aravot" since April 1, 2014. Despite his prominent position in Armenian media, publicly available information about his professional and educational background remains extremely limited beyond his current role.

No credible Armenian sources provide details about his previous employment, education, or professional affiliations prior to joining Aravot.

Aram Abrahamyan has been the editor-in-chief of "Aravot" daily newspaper since 1994. He was born on February 17, 1960, in Yerevan. Before entering journalism, from 1978-1983, he studied in the music department of the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory. From 1983-1986, he taught singing in Ddmashen village of Gegharkunik region. From 1986-1991, he worked at the NAS RA Institute of Arts as a researcher and scientific secretary. From 1991-1992, he was the editor-in-chief of "A1+" studio, and from 1992-1994, he served as the press secretary for Armenia's first president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan. His works have been published in "Aravot," "Republic of Armenia," "Республика Армения" (Respublika Armenia), and other periodicals. From 2011-2021, he hosted the "Horizon" news program on "Shant" TV station and worked as a political commentator. From 2014-2016, he hosted the "Artkanon" program series on Armenian Public Television. Since September 2021, he has been working at Factor TV as the host of the "A-politic" program series.