The monument of Armenian national hero, recipient of Knight of the French Legion of Honour, renowned chansonnier, poet, and public figure Charles Aznavour, titled “La Bohème”, was unveiled today in Yerevan's Charles Aznavour Square.

RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, Mayor of Yerevan Tigran Avinyan, Deputy Minister Daniel Danielyan, Charles Aznavour's family members, ambassadors accredited to Armenia, delegates from the City of Paris and the Regional Council of Ile-de-France, representatives of government agencies, artists, intellectuals, fans of Aznavour's art, guests of Yerevan attended the event.

Welcoming speeches were delivered by RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, Mayor of Yerevan, Tigran Avinyan, French Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia, Olivier Decottignies, Charles Aznavour's son, co-founder of “Aznavour” Foundation Nicolas Aznavour, and author of the “La Bohème” statue, David Minasyan.

Welcoming the attendees, ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized that love is the defining emotion of Aznavour's life and art.

“Love is there in every episode, situation, piece of work, music, and line. We have another opportunity to express and embody this love here, in Aznavour Square, which is primarily a cultural square surrounded by the buildings of the cinema, theatre and the Artists’ Union. Naturally, it is quite harmonious to name this place after Aznavour and to have his statue here. Just as culture brings people together, Aznavour continues to unite us through his work — and that may be the highest form of appreciation.

Our attitude towards Aznavour is very unique in one sense: each of us holds a special place in our hearts for him. It is rare for millions of people to feel a sense of kinship with someone they may never have met. A sense of kinship shapes a special attitude towards both Aznavour and his statue. Each of us has our own idea of Aznavour, because we fell in love, rejoiced and grieved to the sounds of his songs, living through different situations of our lives. I am sure that the monument will spark interesting discussions from this perspective: Aznavour could have been portrayed in different ways, but this is exactly how he was depicted. Therefore, it is essential that a discussion takes place in the cultural sector, professional observations are made, and an opportunity is created to talk about art.

To mark Aznavour's centenary, the Government formed a jubilee commission, organizing a number of events in collaboration with his family. I hope that the unveiling of the monument will also serve as an expression of our gratitude, devotion and love for this great artist and great man,” Minister Zhanna Andreasyan noted and thanked Yerevan Municipality for carrying out the significant initiative.

As stated by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan, the monument in Aznavour Square symbolizes not only the memory of the great artist but also the contribution of the Armenian people to international cultural life.

“Born in Paris to a family of Armenian refugees, Charles Aznavour became one of the most renowned names in world music. Over a thousand songs, films and concerts — in more than 90 countries. He was the man whose art was and still remains recognized without translation or explanation,” Tigran Avinyan stated, adding that Yerevan Municipality funded the opening of the statue.

“When my father arrived in Yerevan, he used to stay at this hotel. He liked to look from the balcony at this vibrant and historic square. It is truly very exciting that from this day on, once and for all, Aznavour will be here, in this square,” welcoming the audience, said Nicolas Aznavour - Charles Aznavour's son and co-founder of the “Aznavour” Foundation.

He claimed that Aznavour was in love with Armenia; he loved Armenia passionately, and this was expressed not only in words but also in deeds.

“He carried Armenia in his heart and represented it on every global platform. My father believed in the strength, power, culture, and future of this country. That's why he greatly encouraged his family to arrive and settle here, bringing his ideas to life and making them a reality,” Nicolas Aznavour noted and added that the statue belongs to the entire Armenian people and all those people around the world who love Aznavour's art.

Welcoming the attendees, the Ambassador of France to Armenia Olivier Decottignies noted that Charles Aznavour’s statue, installed in the heart of Yerevan, merges the identities of the great artist: France and Armenia.

“Charles Aznavour always liked to remind people that he was 100% Armenian and 100% French. We pay tribute to him and honour him in the capitals of both France and Armenia. In Yerevan, where Aznavour's songs are often heard, his lasting presence will now be felt even more deeply — embodied in a statue,” the Ambassador noted and thanked for the commitment to Charles Aznavour phenomenon.

David Minasyan, the author of the “La Bohème” statue, shared the story behind its year-and-a-half-long creation, expressing gratitude to everyone who supported the project. “I am deeply grateful to Charles Aznavour for the privilege of sharing a year and a half of friendship with him,” said David Minasyan, reflecting on the creative concept.

The “La Bohème” statue captures the image of Aznavour performing his beloved song, surrounded by the applauses of his audience.

The statue is made of bronze, but other materials were also used: marble, red enamel. The statue dimensions are 3350x2500x1820 mm, weight: 1850 kg. Created in 2025.