Soldier A. Hovhannisian’s funeral held at Yerablur military cemetery

The funeral ceremony of Junior Sergeant Armen Hovhannisian, who died heroically while repelling an attack of Azerbaijani subversive groups on January 20, was held today. He was laid to rest in Yerablur military cemetery where heroes of the Karabakh war were buried.

In his speech, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian said that whatever words of sympathy and condolence are said to the family and friends of the killed soldier, they will not ease the pain and bitterness of this loss.

“We can only appreciate Armen’s heroism and courage, appreciate what he together with other fellow soldiers did on their combat positions. It is difficult to describe now, but what Armen did was heroism in the name of our country’s security, “ S. Ohanian said.

In the words of the defense minister, instead of making efforts on a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict and implementing a constructive policy, Azerbaijan once again launched provocations and attacks.

Seyran Ohanian stressed that the attack of several armed-to-the teeth subversive groups of Azerbaijani armed forces and their infiltration into Armenian frontline positions were replied by Armen Hovhannisian and the unit in which he was doing military service. Moreover, the enemy suffered considerable losses –several people were killed, 25 others wounded.

“The special units of the enemy were thrown back as a result of actions taken by soldiers who underwent ordinary military training,“ the minister underlined. In his words, it is no accident that Armen Hovhannisian’s body was consigned to the earth in Yerablur Pantheon where Karabakh war participants who gave their lives for the homeland were buried.

Seyran Ohanian promised that the enemy will be repeatedly punished. “Everything will be done by our soldiers who have ordinary military training, but are devoted to the homeland, from whom trained askyars of the enemy flee. Farewell, Armen,” Seyran Ohanian said.

On the night of January 20 Azerbaijani subversive groups made attempts to infiltrate in the northeastern (Jraberd) and southeastern (Korgan) directions of the Line of Contact between the armed forces of the NKR and Azerbaijan. The frontline units of the NKR armed forces launched an organized defense. The Azerbaijani subversive groups were thrown back, suffering considerable human and material losses. Junior Sergeant Armen Hovhannisian was killed in the shooting.

On January 20 NKR President Bako Sahakian signed a decree, awarding posthumously the Medal for Courage to Junior Sergeant Armen Hovhannisian for courage displayed during the defense of the state border of the NKR. An investigation is being conducted to reveal details of the incident.