PAN Photo / Shape of The Year 2015

You think not much is going on in Armenia? Then you better have a look at PAN Photo’s best captions of the year.

2015 was a significant and tough year for Armenia. It started with a tragic incident: cruel murder of the Avetisyan family shattered the whole world. Another grave issue, the Armenian Genocide and the centennial of the tragedy were much discussed on various platforms: the 1.5 million victims were remembered in Vatican and canonized in Armenia. Guests from all over the globe gathered in Yerevan to express solidarity with Armenia over the tragedy. No other year the country would host several heads of state, Knights Templar, robots, jewelers, clergy members, System of a Down fans, and, of course, Charles Aznavour. This year, Kanye West "walked on the water" in Yerevan, Golden Apricot hosted Ornella Muti, “the local celebrity” – RPA grandma hugged Kim Kardashian, youth came to acknowledge the might of “real police,” at the same time displaying the power of speech.

If after all this, however, you are not satisfied with Armenia's domestic developments, PAN Photo has visited and covered various events in different corners of the world: we have participated in a Westminster Abbey-hosted ceremony organized by Prince Charles to honor the Genocide martyrs; captured people dancing Kochari in Cannes; joined Los Angeles’ biggest march commemorating the Genocide centennial; learnt about the Chinese culture in Beijing and almost reached the moon. And with all this in mind, let's remember that “the camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.”



PAN Photo :

Vahan Stepanyan, Davit Hakobyan, Sedrak Mkrtchyan, Areg Balayan, Tigran Mehrabyan, Ani Tager, Varo Rafayelyan, Hrant Khachatryan, Artashes Stamboltsyan, Karo Sahakyan, Davit Abrahamyan, Aram Kirakosyan

Contributors :

Vahe Sargsyan, Ayarpi Oganisyan, Arnos Martirosyan

Cafesjian Center for the Arts, Yerevan © PAN Photo / DroDrone / Davit Abrahamyan

Protesters clash with police outside Russian consulate demanding the extradition of Valery Permyakov, a Russian conscript soldier suspected of killing six members of a family in Gyumri, Armenia © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Turkey's Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) commemorates Hrant Dink with a rally on the 8th anniversary of his assassination in Istanbul: Hrant Dink was a Turkish-Armenian journalist who was murdered in front of his office after controversial statements were Ayarpi Oganisyan for PAN Photo

Lake Sevan, Gegharkunik Province, Armenia © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Funeral of 6-month-old Seryozha Avetisyan who died in the hospital after being wounded in an attack by Russian serviceman Valery Permyakov in Gyumri © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Prominent actor Vardan Petrosyan during court session: he was charged with the deaths of two children in a road accident on Yeghvard-Yerevan highway that took place on October 20, 2014 © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Opening of Komitas Museum­Institute: Following a concert on July 4, 1911 in Alexandria, Casino El Shatby hosted a farewell dinner in honor of Komitas. The menu is special as the meals names formed an acrostic for Komitas, with each of the dishes chosen fr © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

Festive concert dedicated to Army Day © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

An honor guard soldier in Armenian Genocide memorial Tsitsernakaberd where the Pan-Armenian Declaration on the Armenian Genocide Centennial would be published © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan during the promulgation ceremony of the Pan-Armenian Declaration on the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at Tsitsernakaberd Memorial © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

German-Turkish director Fatih Akin after Yerevan premiere of his film «The Cut» about Armenian Genocide © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Newly elected leader of Prosperous Armenia Party Naira Zohrabyan © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

Pianist, composer Tigran Hamasyan during the shooting for “Luys i Luso” Project in Saghmosavank © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Dvin Hotel being reconstructed: Dvin Hotel was built in 1979 and for a long time it was touted as a fine example of the modern Armenian architecture. In 2003 the hotel was sold to Caucasus Communication Group, which pledged to rebuild it into a 5-star hot © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

Tiarn’ndaraj (Trndez) celebrations in St. Zoravor Church © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

103- year- old Arshaluys Muradyan from Etchmiadzin, who survived the 1915 genocide © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Snowman Festival 2015 in Jermuk © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Armenian girls dance national dances during the concert dedicated to 150th birth anniversary of General Andranik Ozanyan © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Horomayr Monastery, Lori Province, Armenia © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

“What women want” featured story about women prisoners in Abovyan jail © PAN Photo /Ani Tager

French pianist Richard Clayderman during his concert in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

“Red Hail ...because it never ends” Snapshot from video installation which was created to represent Armenia at PQ'15 -The Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Actor Sos Janibekyan bids farewell to his father, People's Artist of Armenia Karen Janibekyan © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s official visit to Beijing © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Candlelight Divine Liturgy at Yerevan’s Saint Sarkis Cathedral © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Smbataberd Fortress and Tsakhats Kar Monastery, Vayots Dzor Province, Armenia © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and baby North during their visit to Geghard Monastery, Armenia © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Kim Kardashian with sisters and husband Kanye West visited Armenian genocide memorial Tsitsernakaberd © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

The skull of Gregory the Illuminator in a gold plated copper bust during the Naples-hosted ceremony of returning St. Gregory's relics (In the 8th century, the Armenian Virgins took the greater part of the relics to Naples in Italy, where the church of San © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Pope Francis held mass for Armenian Genocide centennial in St. Peter's Basilica, Italy © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Rapper Kanye West jumped into Swan lake during his free concert in Yerevan, Armenia © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Concert of Vladimir Spivakov and National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, dedicated to Armenian Genocide Centennial © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

"Saved manuscripts" exhibit opens in Matenadaran, dedicated to Armenian Genocide Centennial © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

Concert of Arto Tunçboyaciyan and "Armenian Navy Band" © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Garni Pagan Temple, Kotayk province, Armenia © PAN Photo / DroDrone / Davit Abrahamyan

Friendly match of USSR and World football teams © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Opening ceremony of the global forum “Against the crime of Genocide” © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

American mixed martial artist, judoka and actress Ronda Rousey in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Canonization of the Armenian Genocide victims at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

SOAD’s Wake up the Souls concert in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

A fan during SOAD’s Wake up the Souls concert in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

160,000 people take part in LA rally commemorating Armenian Genocide centennial Vahe Sargsyan for PAN Photo

President of Russia Vladimir Putin attends Armenian Genocide 100th anniversary ceremony © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan, French President Francois Hollande, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić and wife of Armenia's president Rita Sargsyan attend Armenian Genocide Cent © PAN Photo / Tigran Mehrabyan

Torchlight procession commemorating Armenian Genocide Centennial © PAN Photo / Aram Kirakosyan

French science fiction writer Bernard Werber, who was in Yerevan in the framework of International Festival “Literary Ark: April” © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Serj Tankian, Tigran Mansurian, Tigran Hamasyan after the press conference © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Armenian-American internet entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of social website Reddit, posing for a selfie with students from a school newly renovated by the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) located in Hatsik, Armenia. Ohanian visited the COAF-suppor © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Armenian-Iranian border: Meghri, Syunik province, Armenia © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Opera singer Maria Guleghina after the concert with Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra within the framework of Yerevan Perspectives festival © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

David Harrington (violin) during Kronos Quartet concert rehearsal in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Gnishik gorge (Noravank Gorge), Vayots Dzor Province, Armenia © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Moscow hosts Victory Day Parade on 70th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Anton Belyaev’s photosession after the concert of Therr Maitz band in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Noyemberyan military unit © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky during his concert in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Nairit plant employees stage protest in front of RA government demanding meeting with Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan to discuss payment of the twenty months in back wages owed them © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

Evening of music and poetry with actress Chulpan Khamatova © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Around 30 Templars from 10 countries worldwide visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial and ink a protocol on recognition of the Armenian Genocide on behalf of the Order of Knight Templars. The document is known as the 'Yerevan resolution’ © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

International Dog Show 2015 © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

UEFA president Michel Platini gives interviews after his visit to Football Academy of Armenia © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

EU Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker tried to convince the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to wear a tie during European People’s Party Eastern Partnership Leaders’ Summit in Riga © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Students during the meeting with medical doctor, clown Patch Adams at American University of Armenia (AUA) © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

With You, Armenia Evgeny Kissin at Carnegie Hall in a concert organized in remembrance of the century-old massacres of Armenians © Arnos Martirosyan / Prospects of 21st / PAN Photo

Girls dancing during their school graduation celebration at Ayb High School © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Zorats Karer (Karahunj / Carahunge), Syunik Province, Armenia © PAN Photo / DroDrone / Davit Abrahamyan

Paris hosts concert entitled 'Youth for Peace', dedicated to the 70th anniversary of UNESCO © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Sheep Shearing Festival in Tatev © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Polish composer and conductor Krzysztof Penderecki during the concert of Hover Chamber Choir in the largest Protestant church in Cannes (Midem 2015) © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Charles Aznavour, Alain Terzian аnd Robert Guédiguian during the official opening of Midem 2015 in Cannes © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

24 hours in Beijing, China © PAN Photo / Tigran Mehrabyan

Models waiting for their turn during Oriflame Fashion Night 2015 in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo gestures after scoring the second goal during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Armenia and Portugal in Yerevan, Armenia © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Tigran Tsitoghdzyan - artist, painter. Tsitoghdzyan’s ‘Mirrors’ exhibition opening at Cafesjian Center for the Arts, Yerevan, Armenia © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Armenian police use water cannons to disperse protesters demonstrating an increase in electricity prices in Yerevan, Armenia © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Protest against electricity price rise in Yerevan, Armenia © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Bi-2 rock band’s backstage before their concert in Yerevan, Armenia © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Mount Aragats, Armenia © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Deti Picasso band members Gaya Arutyunyan ( vocals), Karen Arutyunyan (guitars) © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

A protester sleeps as he rests during a protest rally against a hike in electricity prices in Yerevan, Armenia © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Singer Beth Hart during a photoshoot in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Annual music festival Tbilisi Open Air 2015 © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Vladimir Pozner - journalist and television host. Yerevan, Armenia © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Actresses Ornella Muti and Nastassja Kinski are given the "Parajanov Thaler" Awards during the opening ceremony of Golden Apricot 12th International Film Festival in Yerevan, Armenia © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Evening of classical and contemporary ballet 'Spirit of Motion' © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Robert Guédiguian - film director, actor, screenwriter and producer © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

A woman scavenger is collecting recyclable material at Nubarashen Landfill, Armenia © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

A female beach volleyball player gestures during 2015 EEVZA U18 Beach Volleyball Championship in Sevan © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Opening of 6th Pan-Armenian Summer Games © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

A young boy playing chess during 6th Pan-Armenian Summer Games © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, hugs teammate Dani Alves after scoring his side’s first goal during the UEFA Super Cup soccer match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena stadium, in Tbilisi, Georgia © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Yerevan Color Run 2015 © PAN Photo / DroDrone / Davit Abrahamyan

The Bambir: Armenian rock band from Gyumri © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

RA President Serzh Sargsyan shake hands with RPA MP Hayk Babakhanyan during the meeting with "National Unity” party representatives © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Day of Knowledge in Armenian schools © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Conductor Zubin Mehta during the concert by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Shant-2015 military exercise: Shooting phase © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Armenian police during the protest against the increase in electricity prices in Yerevan, Armenia © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

A girl poses during the outdoor fitness, organized within the framework of “Be active, live healthy” program in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Tigran Mehrabyan

Erebuni Fortress (Arin Berd), an Urartian fortified city in Yerevan © PAN Photo / DroDrone / Davit Abrahamyan

Chamber and symphonic music concert by violist Kim Kashkashian and cellist Alexander Chaushian © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Jazz bassist Richard Bona during the concert of Yerevan Jazz Fest 2015 © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Eve Tangian’s 2015-2016 fall winter collection show © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

100 pots of harissa cooks to mark the 100th anniversary of 40 days of Musaler © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

The house of 94-year-old Shushan Asatryan who was killed in Azerbaijan's shelling of Berdavan village in Tavush province © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Blessing of the Holy Chrism (myron) at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, which occurs once every 7 years © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

European Heritage Days 2015: Sergei Parajanov Museum © PAN Photo / Tigran Mehrabyan

Supermoon © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

French Armenian footballer Youri Djorkaeff during Yerevan RUNARM 2015 International Half Marathon © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Karine Petrosyan's family in Artsakh will receive a new home thanks to Hayastan All-Armenian Fund's Telethon 2015 © PAN Photo / Areg Balayan

Opposition MP Zaruhi Postanjyan during the session of Armenian National Assembly © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Generals Seyran Saroyan and Manvel Grigoryan with his son during the festive events dedicated to the 2700th anniversary of Etchmiadzin © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Charles Aznavour during his concert in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates the memory of the Holy Apostle Ananias © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Concert of Danish 'MidtVest' Girls Choir in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

With more than 35 volunteer medical professionals, Armenia Fund and Glendale Adventist Medical Center (GAMC) provide medical aid to the Tavush region's borderline villages © PAN Photo / Areg Balayan

German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Member of European Parliament (MEP) Michel Barnier during second day of EPP European People's Party head of states congress in Madrid, Spain © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Italian former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi during second day of EPP European People's Party head of states congress in Madrid, Spain © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Opening of Yerevan Show 2015 jewelry exhibition: Portraits of Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan on ostrich eggs © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

London hosts ceremony to commemorate holy Armenian Genocide martyrs © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Argentinean director and animator Juan Pablo Zaramella: ReAnimania 7th International Animation Film Festival © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Re-consecration ceremony of Armenian Cathedral of St George in Tbilisi © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

'Big bonfire 2015’ with the motto ‘People of Gavar are Hosting՛ in Gandzak community of Gavar © PAN Photo / Aram Kirakosyan

Yerevan hosts Anonymous Million Mask March headed by Shahen Harutyunyan, son of Tseghakron party leader Shant Harutyunyan © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Arpa-Sevan Tunnel Reconstruction workers: Tunnel was built in 1963-1981 to convey water from Arpa and Yeghegis rivers to Sevan. The total length of the tunnel is 48.3 km. Repairs are intended to restore the deformation of the tunnel or its individual part © PAN Photo / Tigran Mehrabyan

Workers of «International Masis Tabak» LLC © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

Apple Store in the Queens Center Mall, New York © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Armenian chess Grandmaster Levon Aronian during the opening ceremony of IT Chess Cup 2015 © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

A candle-lighting in Yerevan's France Square in memory of Paris attacks victims © PAN Photo / DroDrone / Davit Abrahamyan

First Armenian Front (FAF) holds march in front of Football Federation of Armenia demanding the resignation of FFA President Ruben Hayrapetyan © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Musicians Armen Hyusnunts, Armen Tutunjyan, Yervand Yerznkyan, Martin Vardazaryan, Vahagn Hayrapetyan and Stepan Shakaryan during the photosession for "Armenian Jazz Anthology "project © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Concert of Russian Rap Group Kasta in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

A man holding poster writing ‘NO’ during the rally of ‘No’ front against constitutional amendments in Yerevan's Freedom Square © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Concert of Brazilian metal band Sepultura in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

U.S. President Barack Obama arrives for the COP21, United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Le Bourget, outside Paris © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Leader of opposition Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian and military commander, political activist Jirair Sefilian during “New Armenia” Public Salvation Front's rally against constitutional amendments © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Noragyugh neighborhood of Kentron administrative district of Yerevan © PAN Photo / DroDrone / Davit Abrahamyan

Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan , Russian MP, a triple Olympic champion figure-skater Irina Rodnina and Chief Executive Officer of Monarch Group of Companies and the Armenian businessman Sergey Hambardzumyan during the opening of Yerevan youth sport school © PAN Photo / Hrant Khachatryan

Deputy of the National Assembly Nikol Pashinyan after voting in referendum on constitutional amendments in Armenia © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

After the referendum on constitutional changes President Serzh Sargsyan hosted numerous officials, political and civil figures © PAN Photo / Davit Hakobyan

Robots Inc. and Ameriabank present Ball of Robots in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

Djivan Gasparyan during the unveiling of monument to duduk players Levon Madoyan, Vache Hovsepyan and Djivan Gasparyan © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Deputy Chief of Yerevan Police Valeri Osipyan putting Icon of the Holy Virgin Mary into his pocket during “New Armenia” Public Salvation Front's rally against constitutional amendments © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

Sarik Andreasyan during Yerevan premiere of his film "Mafia: Survival Game" © PAN Photo / Varo Rafayelyan

Consecration of crosses of the newly built church in Arabkir District © PAN Photo / Karo Sahakyan

Serbian director and musician Emir Kusturica in Yerevan © PAN Photo / Vahan Stepanyan

Swan Lake skating - rink in downtown Yerevan © PAN Photo / DroDrone / Davit Abrahamyan

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