HAYAZN COLLECTS SIGNATURES TO BACK UP ZHIRAYR SEFILYAN'S BID FOR ARMENIAN CITIZENSHIP
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 15, 2011 - 10:57 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Hayazn youth organization launched collection of
signatures in support of granting Armenian citizenship to ex-commander
of Shushi battalion, hero of Karabakh war, citizen of Lebanon Zhirayr
Sefilyan.
Hayazn representative Armen Lazarian told journalists on June 15 that
Zirayr Sefilyan repeatedly appealed to the authorities of Armenia and
Artsakh to grant him citizenship, however they refused. Lazarian also
said that on June 10 Zhirayr Sefilyan turned 44, and Hayazn movement
activists are going to hold a procession to the President's residence
and hand over the appeal with signatures. He added that they have
already collected 4000 signatures.
Lazarian reminded that their organization, which is not affiliated
to any political force, was set up in 2009 with a purpose to bring
up patriotic young generation.
Zhirayr Sefilyan is an Armenian military man and a politician. Colonel
lieutenant Sefilyan is the ex-commander of Shushi battalion, hero of
Karabakh war, holder of the order "Fighting Cross of the 1st degree".
He also coordinates a public initiative called "In protection of
liberated territories" and Armenian Volunteers Union NGO.
Zhirayr Sefilyan was born to an Armenian family in Beirut. During the
civil war in Lebanon, he partook in defense of the Armenian community,
was an activist of the Lebanese office of Dashnaktsutyun Party. In
1990, the Party commissioned him to Armenia as a military instructor
to train volunteers. In 1991, it was the first time he arrived in
Nagorno Karabakh and joined the liberation war. In 1992, he headed
a numerous detachment which had a great contribution to liberation
of Shushi and which fought till the end of Karabakh war on the most
vital segments of the front.
After the war, he left to Lebanon for two years, and then returned
to take leading positions in Defense Army of Nagorno Karabakh. He
demobilized in the position of commander of the sixth defense segment.
Since 2000, he has been engaged in political activity in Armenia as
an oppositionist. On December 10, 2006, he was arrested along with
his companion-in-arms Vardan Malkhasyan on accusation of public calls
to forced change of the Constitutional Order, and was sentenced to a
year and a half in prison for illegal possession of weapon. In June
2008, after serving his term and being set free, he announced plans
to continue his political struggle.
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 15, 2011 - 10:57 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Hayazn youth organization launched collection of
signatures in support of granting Armenian citizenship to ex-commander
of Shushi battalion, hero of Karabakh war, citizen of Lebanon Zhirayr
Sefilyan.
Hayazn representative Armen Lazarian told journalists on June 15 that
Zirayr Sefilyan repeatedly appealed to the authorities of Armenia and
Artsakh to grant him citizenship, however they refused. Lazarian also
said that on June 10 Zhirayr Sefilyan turned 44, and Hayazn movement
activists are going to hold a procession to the President's residence
and hand over the appeal with signatures. He added that they have
already collected 4000 signatures.
Lazarian reminded that their organization, which is not affiliated
to any political force, was set up in 2009 with a purpose to bring
up patriotic young generation.
Zhirayr Sefilyan is an Armenian military man and a politician. Colonel
lieutenant Sefilyan is the ex-commander of Shushi battalion, hero of
Karabakh war, holder of the order "Fighting Cross of the 1st degree".
He also coordinates a public initiative called "In protection of
liberated territories" and Armenian Volunteers Union NGO.
Zhirayr Sefilyan was born to an Armenian family in Beirut. During the
civil war in Lebanon, he partook in defense of the Armenian community,
was an activist of the Lebanese office of Dashnaktsutyun Party. In
1990, the Party commissioned him to Armenia as a military instructor
to train volunteers. In 1991, it was the first time he arrived in
Nagorno Karabakh and joined the liberation war. In 1992, he headed
a numerous detachment which had a great contribution to liberation
of Shushi and which fought till the end of Karabakh war on the most
vital segments of the front.
After the war, he left to Lebanon for two years, and then returned
to take leading positions in Defense Army of Nagorno Karabakh. He
demobilized in the position of commander of the sixth defense segment.
Since 2000, he has been engaged in political activity in Armenia as
an oppositionist. On December 10, 2006, he was arrested along with
his companion-in-arms Vardan Malkhasyan on accusation of public calls
to forced change of the Constitutional Order, and was sentenced to a
year and a half in prison for illegal possession of weapon. In June
2008, after serving his term and being set free, he announced plans
to continue his political struggle.