On August 11, a memorial was opened in Noyemberyan, dedicated to the memory of Senior Lieutenant Hayk Gharsyan, who died in the 44-day war.

Hayk’s relatives, friends, and fellow soldiers were present at the opening ceremony of the memorial dedicated to Hayk’s memory and consecrating the khachkar. Khachkar was consecrated by Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the Diocese of Tavush.

During the event, Hayk Gharsyan’s biography and his military path were presented. “Hayk is described as a smiling, respectful and patriotic person.” the attendees share their memories.

Hayk Gharsyan also participated in the 4-day April war, and during the 44-day war, he was on the heaviest fronts, fighting the enemy for 30 days.

Senior Lieutenant Hayk Gharsyan was posthumously awarded the military rank of Captain for his services to the Homeland by command of the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia.

Hayk was born on December 26, 1995, in Noyemberyan, Tavush. He studied at Monte Melkonyan Military College from 2009-2013. and, in 2013-2017 at Vazgen Sargsyan Military University.

Before graduation, he participated in the April war fighting in Jrakan. Hayk graduated from university with the military rank of Lieutenant and started his service in the Ivanyan settlement (Khojalu) of Askeram region. Two years later, he was awarded the military rank of Senior Lieutenant for his excellent service. Hayk Gharsyan died heroically in Varanada after being hit by a drone.



“About two years have passed since the war, and new children are born in my heroes’ families, many girls are trying to form new families, and many mothers are trying to live in these difficult times, and that is the best example of a rebirth for me.” Mery Chibukhchyan’s new performance is named “The Rebirth of 44.”

This is the second performance by Mery and M Dance Studio, which is staged in Ijevan Culture House. Last year the dance performance entitled “The delayed morning of hope” was staged in the same place.

Mary says that there are feelings that can only be expressed in the language of art, and the two performances were born from the parts of the story made up of those feelings. Seeing Manvel’s (immortalized in the war) newborn brother Emanuel and his living family again, Mary came to the image of the rebirth, to which the new performance is dedicated.

“The most important advice for me is that the Heroes live in each of us; as long as we live, as long as we remember and talk about them, their stories are not left unfinished,” says Mary.

Ուղիղ եթերով հեռարձակված ներկայացումը՝ այստեղ։

The words “Prefect Exempla” are repeated in the words of the narrators about our today’s hero of the program “The Heroes,” captain Armen Sahakyan.

“When he was injured on October 16 and came, I told Armen to stay and get better at least for a couple of days, but he said no, and he said that there was nobody next to the soldiers, he couldn’t leave them, and went back, he stayed only one day.”

Armen Sahakyan was born on March 31, 1994, in Ijevan, Tavush region. He studied at Ijevan Secondary School N 3. Since 2002 he attended sports school for sambo courses.

In 2010 he was admitted to the Faculty of Science of the Ijevan branch of Yerevan State University free of charge. However, Armen decided to become an officer. In 2010 he got admitted to Vazgen Sargsyan Military University.
The education made him even more patriotic. After graduating from the university, he decided to serve in Jrakan. He served here for five years.

He participated in the 4-day April war and did not let his troops retreat from their positions.
In September 2019, he moved to Ijevan Military Unit N to be next to his family. Since September 30, he took part in Artsakh 44-day war.

Without hesitating, he left for Artsakh to protect the northern positions of Mataghis. For about a month, he protected the position with a strength worthy of a commander. On October 16, he received shrapnel injuries, but after the shrapnel was removed at the hospital, he returned to his position with his soldiers.

Armen Sahakyan was killed while protecting Drmbon, when he was hit by a drone on October 28.



“I have always said that every girl like me should have a brother like Ashot,” says Ani Vardapetyan, his sister.

“The Heroes” program tells about Ashot Vardapetyan from Tavush, who was immortalized in the 44-day war.

Before the difficult battle, his senior friends, knowing what was waiting for them, told him to avoid and not to go, but he did not hesitate, “Where my comrades-in-arms are, there I shall be.”

Ashot Vardapetyan was born in 2000, in Achajur village, Tavush. He studied at Secondary School after Hrant Tamrazyan in 2006-2018.

During his school years, he attended Chess and Football class for 8 years. He participated in matches in different regions of the Republic of Armenia, as well as in the Republic of Georgia. After finishing school, he left for military service.

He served in “Martuni-2” in Artsakh. During the war, he was transferred to the southern border of Artsakh.

He spoke with his relatives for the last time on October 25; he fell a day later for the Homeland.

Ashot Vardapetyan was posthumously awarded “Combat Service,” “Military Cross,” and “Mother of Charity” medals.



“He never said what was happening with them; he was only saying that there was nothing and they were just drinking coffee. “ (Garnik Hovakimyan’s mother tells)

The hero of our new edition of “The Heroes” TV program is Garnik Hovakimyan. A responsible student, a reliable friend, who reaches out and helps and takes care of his family and relatives, this is how we will stay in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to know him.

Garnik Hovakimyan was born on March 15, 2001. He got admitted to Hovk Secondary School and graduated in 2019. The same year, he entered YSU IB, Department of Design and Applied Arts.

He was drafted into the army on June 26, 2019. He served in the “Martuni-2” defense military unit in the Republic of Artsakh. During the service, he was awarded a certificate of appreciation and a watch for high responsibility.

He was in the military position on September 27, 2020. He died on November 4 as a result of the explosion of a tank shell while stopping the enemy’s attack.

For the courage shown on the battlefield, he was posthumously awarded “For Courage” and “Mother of Charity” medals.

“Undefeated, scornful of pain, nimble, physically strong, resourceful, from an early age he learned to self-orient in the terrain, to master weapon, material arts. It can be said Hayk was a ready soldier with his whole being.” (Hayk Papyan’s uncle tells)

The hero of this edition of “The heroes” program is Hayk Papyan from the Berd community of Tavush region. As in life, so in the field, he chose not to surrender until the end, putting honor and his love towards his Homeland above anything else. There are many witnesses to his actions on the battlefield from his commanders and friends and comrades-in-arms saved by him.

“On October 5, when the commander was injured, Hayk and his friends took over, and they stayed in their positions and fought till the end.”

Hayk Papyan was born in Berd, Tavush region, on January 20, 2001. He studied at Berd Basic School N 4. From the age of 10, he participated in the Armenian freestyle wrestling championships as well as international tournaments and won honorable positions.

In 2015, he entered Yerevan State Sports college of Olympic Shift, where he continued his sports career and received a qualification as a coach. Then, he entered the second year of the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture, Department of Freestyle Wrestling. In 2019 he was drafted into the army on July 5. After serving for six months in Hoktemberyan military unit; then, he was transferred to Goris and received the rank of sergeant.

On September 27, after the explosion of his equipment, he was injured, but he didn’t stay in the hospital and moved up to his friends.

Hayk brought out the bodies of his many friends during the enemy shelling. Placing all the soldiers on IFV entrusted to him, he moved them to a safe place. Then, in order to confuse the enemy, he took the soldiers to a safe place, returned with the enemy’s damaged equipment, left the equipment in the pit, and then returned to the troops on foot.

On October 15, during the occupation of Havsli position of Jabrail by the enemy, 18 soldiers remained under bombardment and were considered missing until December 18.

Hayk Papyan was posthumously awarded “Combat Service” and “Courage” medals.

Hayk wanted to return to his village to open a sports school and work as a coach. Now his younger brother, Gevorg, wants to make his brother’s dream come true, and he wants to become a champion in wrestling.

“If Hakob devoted himself to something, he devoted himself completely …”

His friends say that in the hottest moments of the battle when the position already had no commander, he took upon himself the responsibility of coordinating the actions, showing the greatest courage.
The hero of this edition of “The heroes” program is Hakob Meliksetyan.

Hakob Meliksetyan was born on October 16, 2000 in Getahovit village, Tavush region.

 

In 2018, after graduating from Getahovit Secondary School, he got admitted to the department of Applied arts at YSU Ijevan Branch. He was extremely kind, smiling, and funny.

On January 11, 2019, leaving his education halfway, he was drafted into the army. He served in the “Martuni-2” military unit of the Artsakh Armed Forces. He was an air defense specialist. In 2020, from the first day of the war, Hakob fought with his friends against the enemy’s large forces. He shot down several drones and a fighter plane. On October 7, he died in Martuni.

Hakob Meliksetyan was awarded medals for “Courage,” “Brave Warrior,” and “Mother of Charity”.

“During the war, he said that he drank coffee with the Turks every morning; he said they were a few meters away from us. We wake up every morning and drink coffee together, and sometimes, we also have dinner together. He made everything a joke. ”

The hero of our regular edition of “The Heroes” TV program is Yura Harutyunyan. During the 44-day war, he destroyed 2 enemy tanks, 5 infantry military vehicles, 3 “Urals,” 2 “Kamaz” cars, and 2 tractors, showing amazing courage and strength of spirit.

Yura was born on April 15, 2001, in Berd, Tavush region. In 2007 he attended Berd Basic School number 4. He studied very well and loved all the subjects, especially mathematics.

In 2019, after graduating from school, he got admitted to the Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at YSU IB. On July 5, he was sent to the army. After serving 6 months in the specialized military unit of Gyumri, he received the rank of junior sergeant and 2 badges and left for Artsakh to continue service.

 

After serving 3 months in Artsakh, he received the rank of sergeant and two more badges. Yura learned the dialect of Artsakh.

From September 27 to October 30, 2020, he actively participated in combat operations. He fought in Fizuli, Jabrayil, Hadrut, and Martuni. He was very enthusiastic during the war; he destroyed 2 enemy tanks, 5 infantry military vehicles, 3 “Urals,” 2 “Kamaz” cars, and 2 tractors. On October 30, on the way from the village of Kert, he received a fatal shrapnel wound from an enemy drone strike.

Yura Harutyunyan was posthumously awarded “Combat Cross” 1st degree, “Combat Service,” and “Mother of Charity” medals.

Yura’s comrades-in-arms testify “Yura inspired all of us.” they speak with admiration about his devotion and cheerfulness.

“If you ask me to describe Samvel in one word, I will say light….”

There is no greater love than sacrificing one’s life for others. There is no greater love than sacrificing one’s life for the Homeland. The Heroes program today tells about the hero Samvel Matinyan.
Samvel Matinyan was born on February 24, 1996, in Aygehovit, Tavush region. He was the third and most expected child of the family.

In 2002 he got admitted to Aygehovit Secondary School, named after Artashes Vasilyan. In 2013, he graduated from school with excellence, then he got admitted to two higher educational institutions: Yerevan State University, the Department of Physics and Mathematics, and Military University, named after Vazgen Sargsyan.
The choice wasn’t hard; the military profession was closer to his heart. He was an artilleryman. He studied at the university for 4years, and after receiving the rank of lieutenant, he went to Jrakan as a squad commander. The choice was not accidental, as he had passed a professional trial period in Jrakan, took part in the April war, and fell in love with the region.

Samvel was a brilliant artilleryman with high professional and human qualities. Already in the third year, he was the Commander of a Motor-Rifle company, with the rank of Captain. He loved his work and cared about every soldier, and it is not accidental that none of the soldiers of his company died in the war. He was truly devoted to his work to be called an officer.

 

During the 44-day war, Samvel fought against the enemy for 35 days and then was surrounded and led his army out of the blockade. His earthly life ended at the age of 24 on the battlefield.

Samvel Matinyan was posthumously awarded “Zoravar Andranik,” “Courage,” and “Military Service” medals.