Droshak (Troshag, Armenian: Դրօշակ, "Flag") is the official organ of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) published in Tiflis (1890), Balkans (1890s), Geneva (1892-1914), Paris (1925-33), Beirut (1969-85), Athens (1986-96), Yerevan (since 1999). It was first published in 1890 by ARF founder Christapor Mikaelian as a monthly, then as a bi-monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly. Initially published as an illegal newspaper in Tiflis (Tbilisi) in the Russian Empire, it was established as a legal publication in Geneva in 1892, where it continued to be published until 1914, when publication was ended due to the start of the First World War.[1] Its primary subject was the ideological questions of the party and the Armenian national liberation movement. It resumed publication in Paris in 1925 until ending again in 1933.[1] During this period, the paper dealt with political and ideological questions regarding the situation in Soviet Armenia (where the ARF was banned) and debates between communism and socialism.[1] It was reestablished as a weekly in Beirut in 1969 and was moved to Athens in 1986 (where it was published bi-weekly) after the kidnapping of its editor Sarkis Zeitlian.[1] Droshak's editorial board returned to Lebanon in 1996, but publication continued in Athens.[1] After officially registering Droshak in the Republic of Armenia in 1999, the editorial board and publication moved to Yerevan. Since then, it has been released in print on a quarterly basis and makes weekly electronic publications.[1]
Editors:
- Christapor Mikaelian
- Rostom (Stepan Zorian)
- Honan Davtian
- Mikael Varandian
- Simon Vratsian
- Babgen Papazian
- Sarkis Zeitlian
- Nazareth Berberian
- Karen Khanlarian
- Artashes Shahbazian
and others.