During the 44-day Artsakh War, numerous devoted and selfless soldiers and officers inscribed their names in the military chronicles in golden letters. Among them were National Hero, Colonel Tatul Ghazaryan, and Lieutenant Colonel Armen Ohanyan. October 19 is the day of remembrance for these commanders.

At one of the northeastern military units, soldiers and officers paid tribute to the memory of the defenders of the homeland.

At the “Mother Armenia” Memorial Complex in Ijevan, state officials, family members of fallen servicemen, and community residents laid flowers in memory of all our compatriots who fell throughout history. Walking past the names of the fallen heroes brings back memories, moments, and a deep sense of gratitude directed toward the devoted defenders of the homeland.

During the 44-day Artsakh War, forty brave servicemen from the Ijevan military unit heroically fell on the battlefield. Among them were the commanders—Colonel Tatul Ghazaryan and Lieutenant Colonel Armen Ohanyan.

National Hero Colonel Ghazaryan led the battle not from a command post but on the front line, alongside his soldiers. He took the fire upon himself and gave his life defending the section of Artsakh entrusted to him. Lieutenant Colonel Armen Ohanyan’s example inspired many to continue his mission with determination—standing at the border, where, as he used to say, “our common homeland begins.”

A great patriot, caring, devoted, and selfless—this is how these servicemen, who gave their lives to their country, are remembered five years later. They knowingly chose death and became immortal.
Let us remember them today, tomorrow, and always.

On October 4, representatives of state and local self-government bodies, along with police officers, laid flowers at the memorial dedicated to the police officers from Tavush who sacrificed their lives during the 44-day war.

The 44-day war began on September 27, 2020. From the early morning hours, the entire territory of Artsakh came under heavy bombardment and artillery fire. Many Armenians took up the defense of their homeland, standing shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers and officers of the Armenian army to prevent the enemy forces from advancing into the country.

On September 27, police officers also rushed to their workplaces in a state of emergency. The first police units were formed to fight alongside the regular army and volunteer forces on the frontlines. Their training exercises ended on October 3, and on the same day, the officers departed for Artsakh.

On October 4, during a consultation, an enemy missile exploded in the auditorium of the Shushi Cultural Center, killing officers from the Tavush, Lori, and Shirak regional police departments. They became the first police casualties of the 44-day war.

Among the fallen heroes of the Tavush Regional Police Department were
Tatul Otaryan, Vahe Ghazaryan, Vazgen Grigoryan, Artush Zohrabyan, Lentush Gyozalyan, Seryozha Virabyan, Suren Khachatryan, and Karen Badoyan.

They chose a conscious path of sacrifice and achieved immortality through their heroism.

Let us remember them — today, tomorrow, and always.

On September 27, 2020, the 44-day war began. From the early morning hours, the entire territory of Artsakh came under heavy bombardment and artillery fire. Many Armenians rose to defend the homeland, standing shoulder to shoulder with soldiers and officers to prevent enemy forces from entering the country.

On that same day, police officers also reported to their workplaces under alarm. The first police units were formed to fight alongside the regular army and volunteer forces on the frontlines. Their training concluded on October 3, and that very day, the officers departed for Artsakh.

But on October 4, during a consultation meeting, an enemy missile exploded in the hall of Shushi’s House of Culture. Police officers from the Tavush, Lori, and Shirak regional departments were killed. They became the first police casualties of the 44-day Artsakh war.

The fallen officers from Tavush Regional Department were:
Tatul Otaryan, Vahe Ghazaryan, Vazgen Grigoryan, Artush Zohrabyan, Lentush Gyozalyan, Seryozha Virabyan, Suren Khachatryan, and Karen Badoyan.

They consciously chose the path of sacrifice and became immortal.
Let us remember them — today, tomorrow, always.

On the evening of September 27, a march and candlelight vigil took place in Ijevan in memory of our compatriots—servicemen, police officers, and volunteers—who fell during the 44-day Artsakh War.

The participants of the march walked from the YSU Ijevan Branch to the St. Nerses Shnorhali Church, where, with prayers and candlelight, they paid tribute to the eternal memory of the martyrs of the 44-day war.

“From a young age, Arayik was very playful, caring, warm and humane. Arayik was special…”

“The Heroes” program tells the story of Arayik Edilyan, a Tavush resident who died in the 44-day war.
His dedication to life and resilience were also transmitted during his service. Arayik performed his duties excellently in the artillery division.

——
BIOGRAPHY
Arayik Ararat Edilyan was born in 1995 in the city of Ijevan, Tavush region. Since childhood, he has stood out for his versatile abilities. He studied at Ijevan Primary School No. 1, then high school. His love of music led him to a music school, where he played various musical instruments. However, Arayik was not only an art lover, he also loved sports: wrestling and kickboxing.

This dedication to life and resilience were also transferred during his service. Arayik performed his duties in the artillery division excellently.

On October 2, 2020, when the war was already underway, Arayik, without hesitation, left for Artsakh to join the defense of Mataghis. On the battlefield, he quickly mastered the skills of an artilleryman, fought equally, doing not only his own job, but also the work of the officers. Eyewitnesses remember him as a warrior who not only fought, but also sang, maintaining the fighting spirit of the army.

On October 13, Arayik Edilyan became immortal, forever becoming one of the heroic sons of our people. Private Edilyan was posthumously awarded the  “Combat Service” Medal.

Lively and at the same time calm, respective, ready to help everyone this is how Karen remained and will remain in the hearts of his loved ones as a devotee who gave his life for the sake of the Motherland and the lives of many.

Today’s edition of “The Heroes” TV program tells about Karen Meliksetyan from Tavush.

BIOGRAPHY

Karen Armen Meliksetyan was born on March 5, 2001, in Dilijan. Karen was the youngest child of the family, they say he as a lively and playful child.

In 2007 he got admitted to Dilijan Secondary School N 4 and actively participated in sports clubs.

In 2016, he got admitted to the Cooking Department at Dilijan State College. He graduated from the college with excellence and was drafted to the Armenian Army and started serving in Hadrut.

Two months later, he continued his military service in Hoktemberyan for training purposes, then, he moved to Hadrut where he received the rank of a sergeant.

From the first day of the war, he was on the front line, defending the positions of Varanda. Breaking through the blockade, they reached Martuni 2, but on October 31, while performing a combat mission, he was killed by an aerial bomb explosion. Relatives say with nostalgia that Karen had a big dream of becoming a professional cook.

“Forever Soldier,” this is the name of the collection of poems by Levon Mantashyan from Dilijan, martyred in the 44-day war.

Levon Mantashyan started writing at the age of 15. He wrote a number of original songs and poems which were collected and published in the book “Forever Soldier”.

Below you can see one of his poems named “Another World.”

Ուրիշ Աշխարհ

Այսօր իմ սենյակում աստղեր չկան,
Իմ սենյակում այսօր վարագույրները փակ են,
Եվ իմ կյանքի բեմում կեղծանուններ չկան,
Որովհետև բեմի հետևում ես մենակ եմ։
Եվ ուրեմն…
Ես գնում եմ ուրիշ աշխարհ,
Որտեղ չկա, չկա քո պատկերը,
Գնում եմ ուրիշ մի աշխարհ,
Որտեղ չկան ձևական քո խոսքերը,
Քո սերը,
Տանում եմ ինձ հետ իմ արևը,աստղերը,
Քո սերը,ժպիտները, ամպերը…
Այն ամենը ինչ քեզ է նվիրված,
Ես տանում եմ ուրիշ աշխարհ։
Առանց աստղերի ես աշխարհում անհնար եմ,
Ինչպես առանց սիրո պոետի կյանքը դժվար է,
Երգս քեզ համար սիրելիս իսկզբանե բացասական է,
Դա երևի նրանից է որ ալկոհոլի չափը, մի քիչ շատ է.
Բայց միևնույն է…
Ես գնում եմ ուրիշ աշխարհ,
Որտեղ չկա, չկա քո պատկերը,
Գնում եմ ուրիշ մի աշխարհ,
Որտեղ չկան ձևական քո խոսքերը,
Քո սերը,
Տանում եմ ինձ հետ իմ արևը,աստղերը ու սերը ժպիտները, ամպերը…
Այն ամենը ինչ քեզ է նվիրված,
Ես տանում եմ ուրիշ աշխարհ։
Ուրիշ աշխարհ,Ուրիշ աշխարհ…

Levon was born on April3, 2001, in the city of Perm in the Russian Federation. In 2007, he moved to Dilijan and was admitted to Basic School No 4, then continued his education at Dilijan High School. In 2019, he was drafted into the army, serving in the first defense district of the Republic of Artsakh. Levon fought with his fellow soldiers and died on the battlefield on October 10, 2020.

May 25 is Tatul Ghazaryan’s birthday, the national hero of the RA, martyred in the 44-day war. The colonel would turn 45 years old. On the initiative of the Ghazaryan family, a memorial spring was built in the memory of Tatul Ghazaryan on the top of Getahovit village. The purpose of the memorial spring, which was opened on the commander’s birthday, is to appreciate the feats of the soldiers who were martyred for the sake of the Motherland.

Today’s edition of the “Heroes” program is about Davit Shahnazaryan.

BIOGRAPHY

Davit Shahnazaryan was born on April 1, 2020, he studied at Acharkut primary school, then continued his education at Nerkin Tsaghkavan secondary school. Along with his studies, he also practiced sambo. Davit was the vice-champion of Armenia in sambo. participated in CSTO and CIS competitions.

David was also in the ranks of the young earth guards.

In 2019, he was conscripted into the army, and served in Hadrut; he was a sergeant. He was a detective. when they did not have a commander during the hot battles, he also assumed the duty of the commander.

Davit Shahnazaryan bravely fell on November 7, in Shushi’s battlements, keeping the rear of the army.

He was posthumously awarded with medals of “Combat Service” and various patriotic funds.

Shirak Gasparyan’s parents, are building a church in the heart of their village, Achajur, to commemorate their son and all the heroes of the 44-day Artsakh war,

The bell of the church was donated by Gevorg Sayadyan, who, two years ago, together with his friends, upon hearing the news about the construction of the church, immediately undertook to donate the cross of the dome.
_____

Shirak Gasparyan was born in 1998, in the village of Achajur, in Tavush region. Shirak was the youngest son of the family, whose birth was long awaited.

In 2005, he was admitted to Achajur Secondary School named after H. Tamrazyan. In 2015, he graduated from school and was admitted to Ijevan Branch of Yerevan State University. In 2020 he graduated from the university with excellence. After successfully passing the exams, he received invitations from more than 15 universities, but he chose Karlov University in the Czech Republic.
Շիրակը նախընտրեց ծառայել բանակում՝ իր պարտքը հանձնել Հայրենքին, այնուհետև միայն մեկնել Չեխիա։

He left for service on July 29, 2020, he started the military service in Jrakan, Mekhakavan.He received the rank of sergeant in a few months. He participated in the war from the very first day. Shirak was martyred by enemy fire. He was buried in military order in his native village, Achajur.

“The heroes” – Shirak Gasparyan