The official opening of the exhibition, entitled “Armenian Periodicals of the World,” took place in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Thursday.

At the beginning of the event, “The Armenians of St. Petersburg” regional public organization president Alexander Nazarov read a welcoming letter by Hranush Hakopyan, the Minister of Diaspora of Armenia.

Director of the St. Petersburg House of Nationalities congratulated the audience on the occasion of the press.

Oleg Davtyan, the chief editor of The Consul, thanked the organizers of the event and highly appreciated the presented collection of one hundred Armenian publications from fourteen countries.

Tatiana Bogoslovskaya, a spokesperson for the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences, conveyed greetings by director Valery Leonov of the library.

Antuan Arakelyan, a St. Petersburg journalist and social activist, also shared his impressions.

Silva Lazarian, a scientist in the field of ethnology, spoke about the exhibition. According to Lazarian, this event will contribute to the preservation of the Armenian national identity.

Subsequently, Alexander Nazarov briefed the guests of the evening on every publication displayed at the exhibition.

In conclusion of the evening, the leading speaker delivered a presentation on the history of the Armenian press.

The event, which was devoted to the 220th anniversary of the publication of Aztarar, the first Armenian periodical magazine, was organized by “The Armenians of St. Petersburg” regional public organization, with the support of the Committee on International Relations and Realization of Migration Policy in St. Petersburg.