On September 29, Yerevan State University welcomed Katya Krmoyan-Khotanyan, who came to Armenia from the United States.
Krmoyan-Khotanyan was born on September 21, 1961, in Beirut, Lebanon, to Arsen and Antoinette Krmoyan. She attended Armenian schools in Beirut before earning a bachelor's degree in computer science from Haigazian University. She later continued her studies in the United States, obtaining a master's degree in information systems from California State University.
During her visit to Armenia, Krmoyan-Khotanyan brought a recorded interview with her aunt, Areknaz Kedataryan, along with archival materials. Areknaz was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide who lost her home, parents and other family members during the tragic events of 1915. Orphaned, she also cared for her younger stepbrother, Arsen Krmoyan. After changing her surname, she raised Arsen as her own son. Areknaz's story reflects not only the fate of one family but also the losses and human suffering endured by the Armenian people during the Armenian Genocide.
To preserve, document and eventually publish Areknaz's recollections, Krmoyan-Khotanyan met with Professor Ashot Hayruni, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Head of the Department of Genocide Studies at the YSU Institute for Armenian Studies, and his team. They expressed their willingness to edit the memoirs to preserve the survivor's firsthand testimony and pass it on to future generations.
Lilit Martirosyan, a staff member of the Department of Genocide Studies at the YSU Institute for Armenian Studies, a lecturer in the "Genocide Studies" master's program and President of the Center for Human Rights and Genocide Studies, also highlighted the importance of the initiative, emphasizing the value of scholarly research into the personal stories of Armenian Genocide survivors and the need to pass them on to younger generations. In her view, such testimonies help preserve historical memory, serve as reminders of the past and safeguard historical truth.
Accompanied by Papin Muradyan, a correspondent for the Massis weekly newspaper, Krmoyan-Khotanyan also met with Vahram Petrosyan, Director of the YSU Institute for Armenian Studies. She visited the university's library and museum, learning about the university's history and the heritage preserved there.
The initiative to preserve Areknaz Kedataryan's recollections marks another step toward making the personal testimonies of Armenian Genocide survivors part of collective historical memory and ensuring that their voices reach future generations.
Students enrolled in YSU's "Genocide Studies" master's program will also participate in the initiative. It will help them develop their research skills, provide an opportunity to work with primary historical sources and archival materials, and gain experience in examining and analyzing oral history testimonies.
Studying survivors' personal recollections will also help students develop their academic thinking, strengthen their ability to critically evaluate historical facts and refine their research skills. At the same time, it will engage them in the important work of preserving the historical memory of the Armenian Genocide and passing it on to future generations.
