Defense Army Denies Claims About Medal Handed Over by Taxi Driver of Fallen Soldier

Facebook user Hasmik Martirosyan reported on her page that a medal awarded to her sister's son, who died in Hadrut, was handed over by a taxi driver to the fallen soldier's father. She emphasized that such a gesture resembles throwing charity in the family's face rather than expressing gratitude.

“It’s Robert, my sister's son. He was awarded the posthumous 'Courage' medal, which was handed over by a taxi driver to his father. They agreed somewhere in the city to give it in a bag and left. I repeat, the 'Courage' medal of the 18-year-old boy who died in Hadrut was handed over by a taxi driver. WHAT FOR? In what capacity? I’ve been trying to swallow this for several days, but it’s stuck in my throat and is slowly choking me, very slowly. Do you understand that such a gesture is more like throwing charity in the family's face than showing gratitude? Do you realize that it insults the grief of these people rather than honoring the memory of their child? I’m not sure you understand. Please do us a favor and don’t reward anyone like this anymore. Thank you, but keep that award,” the aunt of Robert stated.

However, the Defense Army has refuted this information. They clarify that Robert Karapetyan was awarded the 'Combat Service' medal, not the 'Courage' medal, and that it was handed over by Lieutenant Edgar Apresyan, not a taxi driver. “What has been stated has no relation to reality. Secondly, Robert Karapetyan’s 'Combat Service' medal was handed over to his relatives not by a taxi driver, but by Lieutenant Edgar Apresyan, who was the commander of the support squadron associated with the unit during combat operations, where Robert Karapetyan was a member. Initially, Lt. Apresyan wanted to hand over the medal to the relatives of the fallen soldier at their residence, but after being declined by the parents, it was handed over to the soldier's father at the soldier's gravestone,” the Defense Army's statement read.

The process of awarding fallen soldiers' medals is ongoing and is carried out not only by the command of the unit and higher-ups but also with the participation of immediate commanders and comrades-in-arms. We call on media representatives and social media users to refrain from sensationalizing topics of immense significance to our people and to avoid publishing unverified information,” the statement concluded.