Renowned composer and conductor Loris Tjeknavorian has received Armenian citizenship, Armenian News-NEWS.am was informed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia.

For decades, he belonged to Armenia, and he considered Armenia his own. Here he carried out his activities, created about his country and for his country. But there was a contradiction: despite being so closely connected to Armenia, his legal status did not reflect this connection for many years: he was not a citizen of the Republic of Armenia. And this contradiction is one of the noteworthy episodes in the life of Loris Tjeknavorian.

Born in Borujerd, Iran, educated in Vienna, Salzburg, and the US state of Michigan, and performing in London and New York, the musician could have built his career on the most prestigious stages in the world, but since 1989, the path has brought him back to Armenia.

“My father raised me in a patriotic spirit and my dream was to come to Armenia. Although I had a great career abroad, when the [1988] earthquake happened [in Armenia], I forgot everything, came to the homeland. I started my activity on the path of ‘Yes to Independence.’ The [national] anthem, the tricolor, and the coat of arms of our republic were sacred to me,” recalls Tjeknavorian.

For the maestro, Armenian citizenship and identity were two different dimensions. Armenian citizenship was a matter of a stable legal connection with the state, while being Armenian was a matter of identity.

“Although the people accept me, it would be better if I also had the passport of my homeland. I applied, and thank God that my dream came true. It was very moving for me, because when the [Armenian national] anthem sounded, I saw the [Armenian national] flag and the coat of arms, I remembered that I had once fought for those very symbols in the National Assembly, presenting and defending them to the people. And today, under those very symbols, I myself swore an oath to my homeland to remain loyal to it,” he notes.

Years later, the maestro is a citizen of the Republic of Armenia. The connection that existed for years in his work, activity, and identity is now enshrined at the legal level, too. And if for years he had considered Armenia his own, today that belonging is also legally confirmed.

“I grew up an orphan. It’s amazing, I never had a country. I was an Armenian in Persia, a Persian in Armenia, a foreigner in foreign countries. I never understood what it meant to have a country. I didn’t have a country. I felt like a person from Armenia. And when I left here, it was a great loss for me. I truly felt orphaned. It’s been a week since I felt like I had a country. And thanks!" Loris Tjeknavorian said.