Arayik Harutyunyan Posthumously Awards Rustam Gasparyan the Title of 'Hero of Artsakh'

The Governor of Armavir Province has announced that today, the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, joined by His Grace Bishop Sion Adamyan, the head of the Armavir Diocese, the mayor of Janfida community, Kamsar Gorganyan, high-ranking officials, heads of territorial subdivisions of republican executive bodies, a large number of residents and guests, attended a ceremony dedicated to the memory of the heroes who fell in the war unleashed by the adversary on September 27, 2020, in Janfida community.

The event titled "I Will Break the Silence, I Will Call to the Living" was opened with a prayer and blessing from His Grace Bishop Sion Adamyan, followed by a speech by the President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan. Expressing condolences to the families and relatives of the fallen, he stated: "This is the first event I am participating in after the war. It is symbolic, as I wanted to be personally present to pay my respects to the legendary Rustam Gasparyan and other martyrs' families. It is a rare phenomenon when a father goes to war taking his son with him, being prepared for the child's sacrifice. I bow before the residents of Janfida village who have raised such heroic children, who will serve as examples for future generations. We must not despair nor be disappointed, for we have brave souls like Rustam, as little Rustams are growing up. I bow before all of you."

President Arayik Harutyunyan posthumously awarded the title of 'Hero of Artsakh' to the freedom fighter and commander of the 'Black Panther' detachment, Rustam Gasparyan, for his exceptional service to the fatherland and ensuring security, presenting him with the 'Golden Eagle' medal. Additionally, the commander of the reconnaissance platoon of the Artsakh Defense Army's 33751 unit, Senior Lieutenant Mihran Avdalyan, was posthumously awarded the 'Combat Cross' of the 1st degree for his courage and bravery during the large-scale military operations unleashed by the adversary on September 27, 2020, while defending the state border of Artsakh.

Following this, Governor Hambardzum Matevosyan expressed his condolences to the attendees, particularly saying: "Honorable family of the Gasparyans, members of our brothers' mourning families, esteemed President, honorable father, respected leaders of the communities, parliamentarians, residents of Janfida, we have come with deep sorrow, with great pain, to pay our respects to our fallen heroes, our brothers, for they were Great Children of a Great Nation, brave ones from the village of Bravery, our past, present, and future. In giving their lives, the most precious gift to their homeland, they left behind a large family, friends, and relatives who are bound to continue their unfinished work of serving the homeland selflessly. Rustam Gasparyan was a unique man who regarded every occurrence in the region as personal and was always ready to help first. This was also the case in protecting our homeland’s borders. With feelings of grief, sorrow, and pride, I express my support to the relatives of our heroic compatriots and wish eternal glory to them."

The head of Armavir city, Davit Khudatyan, also read the decision of the council, granting Rustam Gasparyan the title of Honorary Citizen of Armavir.

The event dedicated to our contemporary heroes concluded with a performance by students from the E. Dashtoyan Secondary School of Janfida, reciting poems and sharing exemplary stories about the heroes, after which attendees visited the Janfida community cemetery to lay flowers and honor the memory of the heroes at their graves.

Additionally, Governor Hambardzum Matevosyan, along with President Arayik Harutyunyan, visited the family of Davit Grigoryan, who was killed in the Artsakh war and posthumously awarded the title of 'Hero of Artsakh'. Sadly, Davit's life was cut short in the war, and today, the President personally handed the medal to Davit's parents, who laid flowers and paid homage to the hero's memory.