Abstract
<jats:p>The purpose of the article is to present the content priorities of Armenian press publications during the final years of the Soviet era, the specific characteristics of journalistic work and the role of the press in uniting readers and shaping the ideological sphere in the framework of the Karabakh Movement. The current situation of Karabakh make it more imperative to examine the origins of the problem and to study the Armenian press of that period as national issues were voiced not only on the squares and halls but also in the press. During the Soviet years, the Armenian press was unable to fully and objectively present the reality due to strict censorship. To achieve the research objective, we have set forth the following tasks: to examine and reinterpret, based on press publications, the Karabakh Movement, the national struggle for survival and the preconditions for the establishment of the Nagorno- Karabakh Republic (NKR), coverage features as well as the emergence of an independent press. Several publications are being incorporated into scientific discourse for the first time. The research is conducted using analytical, historical-critical, and historical- comparative methods, alongside the principles of journalistic analysis. The main conclusion is that the Karabakh Movement, the declarations of independence by Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the war did not create favorable conditions for the Armenian media. Nevertheless, despite the prevailing challenges, the Armenian press – seeking to overcome multiple professional obstacles – remained focused on the Karabakh movement and played a crucial role in uniting the public and shaping the value-based sphere.</jats:p>