Hamlet Davtyan: A Brother and a Soldier Who Lost His Life in a Tragic Fire

The remains of conscript soldier Hamlet Spartaki Davtyan, who tragically lost his life in a fire on January 19, 2023, in a military barrack, have been laid to rest in his native Martuni city cemetery with military honors. According to the Martuni community administration, family, fellow citizens, and friends bid their final farewell at the Holy Mother of God Church.

A prayer service was conducted by the clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Gegharkunik Diocese. The farewell ceremony saw the attendance of various officials, including Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan, Gegharkunik Province Governor Karen Sargsyan, Martuni community leader Hovhannes Hoveyan, and the commander of the RA Armed Forces's second corps, Garegin Poghosyan, along with leaders and staff from law enforcement and educational-cultural institutions in the province.

Hamlet Davtyan was born in 2002 in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. He attended the Martuni M. Meliq-Shahumyan Secondary School No. 1 from 2009 to 2018 and later continued his education in the Gegharkunik Regional State College in the field of “Calculation Technology and Automated Systems Programming.” After studying for three and a half years, he left his studies to be drafted into the army in early February 2022. He participated in combat operations resulting from Azerbaijan's aggression in September 2022.

“Hamlet was a very modest, intelligent boy who was loved and respected by his teachers and friends. We mourn his loss deeply, an indescribable pain. However, he has joined the ranks of our school’s immortal heroes who dedicated their lives to defending the homeland, proving their patriotism through self-sacrifice. We bow before their sacred memory,” said Angela Poghosyan, the principal of Martuni School No. 1, in a conversation with Armenpress.

Yura Sukiasyan, the principal of the Gegharkunik Regional State College, noted that Hamlet was one of their active, smart students: “He had just a few months left to finish his studies and receive his diploma, but he left for military service. He had many noble goals and dreams that, sadly, he didn’t get to realize. The entire staff bows to the sacred memory of our Hamlet.”

Hamlet's relative, Samvel Davtyan, shared that before going to military service, Hamlet had lost his mother. “He was the only brother of two sisters and the sole male heir of the family. In a way, having survived the deadly claws of the September 2022 war, Hamlet fell victim to a tragic incident, alongside his 14 fellow soldiers. The entire Martuni mourns; all of Armenia grieves,” he said.