This Year's True Heroes Are Our Soldiers and Doctors: Pashinyan to the 'Heroes of Our Time' Awardees

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, accompanied by his wife Anna Hakobyan, attended the 'Heroes of Our Time' award ceremony at the Zvartnots Cathedral today, which is held as part of the celebrations dedicated to the 29th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia.

The event was also attended by Armenian President Armen Sarkissian, Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, National Assembly President Ararat Mirzoyan, government officials, MPs, regional governors, and diplomatic representatives of foreign states accredited in Armenia.

The awards were presented to 13 participants in the 'Heroes of Our Time' program, prepared by the Information and Public Relations Center of the Prime Minister's Office. The recipients included Arpine Agajanyan, founder of the 'Mosh' studio; veterinarian Suren Vardanyan; silversmiths Ani Sargsyan and Narine Yegoyan; founders of 'Lusia Food' Lusine Baratyana and Rafael Martirosyan; 'Asp' equestrian club founder Tigran Bagishjanyan; Arthur Khojabaghyan, founder of a 3D printer manufacturing company; designer and shoemaker Hayk Ananyan; Babken and David Khachatryan, founders of 'Twinz' eyewear; Vahé Hakobyan, a snail farmer; beekeeper Karlen Jagharyan; confectioners Yolanta Hattat and Raffi Rshtuni; and engineer Karen Khachikyan, co-author of the Robbin robot.

One participant received the 13th main award statuette presented by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

This year, two special awards were also designated. Symbolic awards for combating the coronavirus pandemic were granted to medical professionals, while military personnel were recognized for their heroic battles in July. The awards were presented to Dr. Sargis Ghazaryan and conscript soldier Narek Hakobyan.

In his speech, Prime Minister Pashinyan welcomed the attendees and noted, 'Indeed, it turned out to be a wonderful evening. Last year, the first Heroes of Our Time award ceremony took place in Gyumri, and it was truly an impressive event. This year's event is even better. And it is evident that a very important event has emerged in the form of the Heroes of Our Time award ceremony. And now I am already confident that we all will look forward to this day every year to glorify the 'Heroes of Our Time.' Our event today began by emphasizing that the true heroes of this year are our soldiers and doctors.'

He continued, 'It is very symbolic that this year, at my suggestion and by the decree of the President of the Republic, Captain Ruben Sanamyan of the Armed Forces and renowned doctor Hrayr Hovakimyan were awarded the title of National Hero of the Republic of Armenia. And this already completes the meaning of this year. But it is also important that we glorify the 'Heroes of Our Time,' as by doing so, we glorify the creative potential of a person, a citizen.'

Many heroes expressed their gratitude to the government upon receiving their awards. In reality, it is the government that is grateful to these individuals because they, through their existence and their activities, prove that what we talk about is possible, it is real. We speak about the crucial and transformative significance of individual effort. We are talking about the fact that every person can shape their environment, can create their well-being, and, of course, the role of the government here is crucial—encouraging our heroes of our time.

Regarding the main awardee, Pashinyan stated, 'Of course, all our program heroes deserve the main award, but we thought about what characteristics should the main awardee possess. And I believe that the following characteristic is crucial: our main hero has shown remarkable perseverance in changing his own life. Moreover, he had no apparent reason to change his life. He had a job, having worked quite a long time in the banking system, then in the public administration system. But ultimately, he decided to not follow the usual path of a bureaucrat, but rather to pursue creative pleasure, creative enjoyment, and the happiness of creation, and he decided to create toys for children. He pursued the goal of creating toys that would teach them how to build, create, and create something.' Thus, the name of our main awardee is Sevak Markosyan.

The Prime Minister presented the 13th main award to Sevak Markosyan, founder of 'Markos Toys.'