Details on the Death of a Father and Son in Azatan

Today, in one of the houses on the first street of Azatan village in Shirak province, a father and his son who committed suicide by hanging were found dead. The 80-year-old Albert and 46-year-old Karen had been living together alone for four years, as the family’s mother passed away in 2015.

Vardan Ikilikyan, the mayor of Azatan, stated in an interview with HJ that they believe Karen took his own life after seeing his father dead. The son had been suffering from mental health issues and was registered at the Mental Health Center. “It’s true that he had such issues, but he was very calm, never aggressive, a polite and well-mannered young man, and recently he had been feeling very well. He took care of his father, he was a very caring and honest person. That illness struck him, he never got married, and after our woman died, he just remained like that,” Ikilikyan recounted.

The mayor was uncertain when 80-year-old Albert had died but suggested it might have been last night. Neighbors last saw Karen around 10:30 PM entering the house. Today, after not seeing any movement for a while, they became concerned and called the mayor. “When the police arrived, we saw the father lying motionless from the window, but Karen was not visible. We opened the window, the rescuers entered, and found him hanging in a corner of the bathroom. Now, whether he saw that his father was dead or not, we don’t know, or maybe he saw that his father was asleep, went to sleep himself, and in the morning realized. It remains unclear because in the morning the brothers called, he talked, asked how his father was, and was told he was fine. Now, if he saw, during that time he could have been affected, seeing the situation himself or not knowing the reality, and after hanging up he might have realized, and that’s when he resorted to this action, I can’t say for sure,” said Vardan Ikilikyan, the mayor of Azatan.

Karen also had one sister and two brothers. The sister is married and lives in the Republic of Georgia, while the brothers, former military personnel, live in the Russian Federation. The mother was a teacher, and the father, according to the mayor, was previously the secretary of the railroad party committee. The family did not face financial difficulties. Karen’s brothers had consistently supported them. They also had a plot of land, which they had been renting out in recent years.

Shirak province prosecutor Karen Gabrielian stated in our conversation that materials are being prepared regarding the incident. A forensic medical examination has been appointed to clarify the circumstances and causes of death. “Once we receive the conclusions of the examinations, the question of initiating a criminal case will be decided,” said the Shirak province prosecutor.