VIDEO: Eyes Closed but Breathing, Artem Died in His Uncle's Arms

Artem Aloyan, a soldier of the police forces, was born in 1996 in Yerevan. He was studying at the State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports of Armenia. He served in the army from 2015 to 2017 and had been part of the police system since 2017.

“Artem was an example for all of us. He was a very bright personality. We will always remember him; he was one of our best friends,” said his fellow soldiers.

Artem was also a skilled athlete, earning prizes at various judo tournaments. He completed his mandatory military service in Hadrut and participated in the April War.

Since 2017, following the example of his grandfather, father, and uncle, he wore the uniform. His grandfather, Harazat Aloyan, served in the accompanying unit of the police, his father, Karen Aloyan, served in an aviation military unit, and his uncle, Araik Aloyan, is the chief of staff of one of the police units.

Artem Aloyan also carried out combat duty in Tavush as part of the police forces. He consistently demonstrated high responsibility and great dedication.

“When the war had just started, we gathered at the military unit. Artem wanted to go to the front line. He was not afraid; he said, ‘As soon as there’s an opportunity, I will go,’” recalls his comrade Ara Gevorgyan.

The first opportunity for Artem came in November. He left for Artsakh with his police comrades on November 2, under the command of his uncle, Araik Aloyan. From November 4, they participated in the defense of Karintak and then Shushi. The battles were particularly fierce along the road leading to Shushi.

“Realizing the seriousness of the situation, I said, ‘If there’s a retreat order, don’t look at me, just retreat.’ He didn’t leave; he stayed with me,” recounts the deputy chief of the unit, Araik Aloyan.

The fighting continued. Police force servicemen and conscripts from Hadrut engaged in fierce battles against the enemy. Interestingly, at that moment, Artem unexpectedly encountered his friend, soldier Gor Sarkisyan. With friends and colleagues, they fought for their homeland and the ancient fortress city of the Armenians.

On November 7, this fighting group fell into enemy encirclement. “We fell into encirclement. They started firing at us. We took up defensive positions. At that time, Artem was with me. We were fighting together. Suddenly, I felt he was no longer beside me. I saw he was lying on the ground. I approached him; he had received a gunshot wound to the head. His eyes were closed, but he was breathing. I called out to him—there was no response. The whole crew was engaged in combat. At that moment, I wanted to pull Artem closer to me to give him aid. I reached out to pull him from where he was lying. During that time, the enemy probably spotted us, and a sniper shot,” recounted Araik Aloyan.

The sniper's bullet hit Artem while passing through Araik Aloyan's hand. He died in his uncle's arms, while the lieutenant colonel uncle was wounded. Almost all commanders of the unit and around forty servicemen perished. At that time, under Lieutenant Colonel Araik Aloyan’s command, about 20 police officers and conscripts, including wounded ones, managed to retreat without losses from the encirclement.

Unfortunately, among those who retreated was not Artem's friend, conscript soldier Gor. Artem Aloyan, a champion in various judo tournaments, a participant in the April Four-Day War and the Second Artsakh War, who carried out combat duty in Tavush, was only 24 years old. Artem, his friend Gor, and all our boys who fell for the homeland will always be with us. They are immortal.