Gagik Returned to Armenia a Year Ago to Serve in the Military

Yesterday, Gagik Barseghyan, who died in a fire in a military barrack in the Gegharkunik province, had returned to Armenia specifically a year ago to serve in the military. His family had moved to Germany for permanent residence years ago. His teachers had not seen him since then.

“He returned to Armenia, was living at his grandmother's house, and had told his friends that he came to join the army. I regret that I never saw him again, his always smiling face is constantly in front of my eyes,” Gagik's homeroom teacher Hermine Khosrovyan told Sputnik Armenia.

Before moving to Germany, Gagik was studying at the Atom High School No. 2 in Garni. He frequently attended the Tumo Creative Technology Center and dreamed of becoming a programmer. “He was so enthusiastic about going to Tumo that I even let him leave classes a bit early so he wouldn't be late for his sessions,” his teacher recounted.

Gagik also participated in wrestling and achieved numerous successes, earning prize places in competitions. Teachers assure that everyone loved him, and his family was considered exemplary throughout the village. Gagik was the eldest child, with a younger sister and brother.

“He was a very conscientious, disciplined, modest, and balanced boy,” said his Armenian language teacher Naira Khachatryan. Gagik's parents now live in Germany. They have already learned of their son's death but have not yet been able to come to Armenia.