Armenian Revolutionary Federation
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| Foundation: | 1890 | |
| Founders: | Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, Simon Zavarian | |
| Head: | Hrant Markarian | |
| Ideology: | Socialism[1], Nationalism[2] | |
| International alignment: | Socialist International[1] | |
| Colours: | Red[3] | |
| Seats: |
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| Website: | http://www.arfd.am/eng/index.php?c=14 | |
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), also known as the Dashnaktsutiun (or in Western Armenian, the Tashnagtsutiun), is a Armenian political party with a nationalistic, socialistic, and democratic ideology. It was established in Tbilisi in 1890 as a federation of revolutionary Armenian groups. The party is part of the opposition Hayastan Tashink coalition, with their own Members of Parliament. The party is a full member of the Socialist International. A member of the party is known as a Dashnak/Dashnaktsakan (or in Western Armenian a Tashnag/Tashnagstagan).
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ARF Bureau's new building opens in Yerevan
17.08.2005 11:56 .. YEREVAN (YERKIR) - A new building to house the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau solemnly opened in Yerevan on August 16, ARF Press office reported.
Representatives of Armenian political parties as well as ARF members from around the world were present at the opening ceremony also attended by Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, Armenian president's chief of staff Artashes Tumanian, and Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, representing Catholicos Garegin II.
The ceremony began with the Armenian national anthem and "Mshak Banvor," the official anthem of the ARF -- which was performed the ARF Pasadena, CA "Nigol Touman" Badanegan Chapter -- followed by a speech of ARF Armenia Supreme Body Representative Armen Rustamian.
After welcoming the representatives of the Armenian political parties and ARF members from across the world, Rustamian pointed to the importance of unification to settle the national issues.
In his turn, ARF Bureau Representative Hrant Margarian noted that during its 115-year history, the ARF Bureau had never had a building of its own; it had offices, places to work, but now, it has it has its own building in Armenia allowing to show the party in its entirety.
"Today we are not in a position to chose our tasks because the issues of Armenians are our issues from the strengthening of the Armenian statehood and ensuring its security to the people's prosperity and acquiring our nation's collective rights from Artsakh to Javakhk and the fragments of the Armenians in Western Armenia, fragments of Armenians in the former Soviet Union and more organizing of the Diaspora."
Margarian noted that the new building was acquired due to generous donations from party members and sympathizers, among them Varand and Hury Melkonians from Western United States. He also mentioned Zohrap and Noyemi Tazians whose donation helped to establish a library-museum in the building, adding there are also other donors.
Varand Melkonian said that being a ARF sympathizer he was happy to be given a chance to contribute to the Armenian Cause and serving the Armenian national interest.
Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian bestowed the blessings of Catholicos Garegin II and wished luck for the works to be accomplished.
Hrant Margarian and Varand Melkonian cut the band at the building entrance and then the guests explored the rooms of the 3- story building followed by a treatment.
The building will house several offices of the ARF Bureau, including the Youth office, Hay Dat office, Economic office and others.
Split in ARF organization in Western United States
Beginning in 2018 the Western United States ARF branch began to experience interventions by the head office in Yerevan, which was not permitted based on their own rules and representations made to the United States government that it was not a foreign controlled organization. This led to a split in the ARF there, with the Yerevan branch setting up a copy local organization and taking resources from the local branch. This led to a lawsuit which is ongoing, but a tentative decision by the court on one of the issues favors the original local branch and its independence.
For more details and some court papers, see: ARF Dashnaktsutyun Western U.S.A. v. Armenian Revolutionary Federation WUSA
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