Kaits

(Spark), the first legal Bolshevik paper in the Armenian language. Published in Tbilisi from Apr. 1 (14) 1906, to Aug. 6 (19), 1906. In all, 47 issues were published. The newspaper was edited by S. G. Shaumian, S. S. Spandarian, and S. I. Kas’ian. Supporting the Bolshevik tactical line, the newspaper called for the overthrow of tsarism and the establishment of a democratic system; it dealt with the labor movement in Armenia and in Russia and with the response of the Oriental peoples to the first Russian revolution (1905–07). It printed news about the activities of party organizations and acquainted the reader with economic and political developments in the life of the country. Both party activists and rank-and-file workers contributed to Kaits. The newspaper was closed down by the tsarist authorities.