The presentation of the Armenian translation of the book by former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili “Awakening of Forces” finally took place in Yerevan on February 7 after two unsuccessful attempts. The space for the event, which was attended by numerous civic activists, reporters, politicians and even lawmakers, was provided to translator Mikael Nahapetyan by the Yankee pub.
“I did not translate the book for Saakashvili; I did not translate it because I have some special personal feelings toward him. I translated the book because I found it thought-provoking and controversial. It’s a story of state-building told from Saakashvili’s perspective. There’s a widespread opinion that everything written in the book is a lie, which, I think, should be discussed,” Nahapetyan said when presenting the translation.
Recall, the book’s presentation was twice canceled in Yerevan over the past month, after the Yeghishe Charents House-Museum and the Noyan Tapan bookstore both refused to provide a venue at the last minute.