Currently 40-70 thousand Armenians live in Turkey. It is one of the largest national minorities. Before 1915 they were much bigger in number. In the following decades, targeted taxes and obstacles to advancement in public sector jobs led Armenians to become increasingly discreet as a community, Euronews reports.

But the situation is changing. Turkey’s governing Justice and Development Party (AKP)  party made changes in the law on ownership,  by allowing to recover more than 300 religious properties confiscated from the minorities.

More recently, Armenian journalist Markar Esayan, who supports Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has become AKP candidate for parliamentary elections.

“I don’t think I got on the candidate list because I’m Armenian, although it is an important part of my identity. I’m happy to be Armenian. I think my candidacy is an important proof of Turkey’s democratic development. An Armenian becoming a ruling party candidate means he will be part of the executive,” he said.  

The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) also has an Armenian candidate. Selina Özuzun Doğan heads the list and is determined to enter the parliament: “I want to deal with all kinds of discrimination, fight hate crimes, defend basic human rights, freedom of expression. Of course, Armenians’ visibility will increase. We will have a say on issues. Armenian self confidence will increase. We will no longer be ignored.”

Armenian Garo Paylan is second on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) list. The HDP proposes opening up the Turkish-Armenian border.

In the 92 years of modern Turkey’s existence only five Armenians have taken a seat in parliament, the last one in 1964.