19-Year-Old Tigran Babikyan Killed in Jermuk Refused Captivity, Detonated Grenade

Tigran Babikyan, a 19-year-old conscript, was killed during an Azerbaijani attack on the night of September 12-13. The young soldier hailed from Karbi village in the Ararat Province and was drafted into the army in the summer of 2021. He initially served in Vanadzor and later transferred to Jermuk.

According to Roland Hakobyan, the head of the Karbi community, Tigran spoke to his cousin at midnight, saying he was turning off his phone, after which they lost contact. They learned from an observer in a neighboring position that Azerbaijani forces had entered their position. He further speculated that Tigran might have detonated a grenade to avoid capture. Reports indicate that he was killed early on September 13.

Hakobyan vividly remembers Tigran as kind, smiling, and well-mannered. He practiced boxing at an amateur level and was the only son in the family, having three sisters.

Tigran was among the 95 fallen soldiers handed over to Armenia by Azerbaijan on September 20.

It is important to note that starting from 00:05 on September 13, Azerbaijani military units launched intensive fire towards Armenian positions along the entire border using artillery and heavy-caliber firearms, as well as drones, targeting both military and civilian objects.