YEREVAN, Armenia — On October 2, American University of Armenia (AUA) history lecturer Dr. Pietro A. Shakarian delivered a special presentation on his recently published book, Anastas Mikoyan: An Armenian Reformer in Khrushchev’s Kremlin.
In March 1954, Soviet Armenian statesman Anastas Mikoyan traveled to Yerevan and delivered a speech calling for a more liberalized Soviet nationality policy and for the rehabilitation of the futurist poet Yeghishe Charents. The address set the stage for both the Khrushchev Thaw in Soviet Armenia and the overall process of de-Stalinization in the Soviet Union, including Nikita Khrushchev’s denunciation of Stalin in 1956.
The result of seven years of devoted research, Dr. Shakarian’s book unpacks this revealing and little-known history of political reform in the Khrushchev-era USSR. Based on new discoveries from the Russian and Armenian archives, the work delves into the hidden story behind Mikoyan’s role in de-Stalinization, both on the Armenian and all-union levels. It also details Mikoyan’s meetings with rehabilitated Old Bolsheviks, his efforts to help Armenian officials save Lake Sevan, his advocacy for the return of deported nationalities, and much more. At the same time, this groundbreaking study uncovers the larger endeavor by Khrushchev and Mikoyan to break from the Stalinist legacy by devolving more political power to national republics and democratizing the Soviet system overall.
In his talk, held in the Akian Art Gallery, Dr. Shakarian underscored the pivotal role that Mikoyan played in these reforms and detailed his enduring legacy not only on Soviet history, but on the history of Soviet Armenia in particular.
Dr. Shakarian’s well-attended presentation was followed by a riveting Q&A session, during which attendees inquired about his work in the archives, his inspiration for studying Mikoyan, the statesman’s relationship to the Armenian Apostolic Church, and more. The discussion also covered Mikoyan’s son, Sergo, and his support for the Karabakh movement of 1988.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
