"ARMENIAN YOUTH UNION (“THE CASE OF THE SEVEN PATRIOTS”)": THE FIRST DISSIDENT ORGANIZATION IN SOVIET ARMENIA

Abstract

The article is devoted to the first organized dissident structure in Soviet Armenia — the Armenian Youth Union (AYU), also known in history as “The Case of the Seven Patriots.” The study analyzes the historical, ideological, and political foundations of the AYU’s formation, viewing it as the starting point of structured dissident struggle in Soviet Armenia. The article presents the process of the Union’s establishment, its goals, and the main directions of its activity. The AYU’s work is assessed as a turning point in the history of Armenia’s dissident movement. Through its organizational structure and activities, the Union not only shaped a new format of political resistance but also stimulated the revival of national self-consciousness, playing a significant role in the institutionalization of dissident movements in Soviet Armenia. The purpose of the article is to examine the first organized manifestation of the Armenian dissident movement — the establishment and organizational formation of the Armenian Youth Union. The study was conducted through the application of historical and comparative-historical methods, combining documentary, archival, and oral sources. The analysis is based on a comprehensive content analysis of materials from state and personal archives, as well as memoirs and interviews of participants.