DEAD SOLDIER'S PARENTS DON'T KNOW THEIR SON DIED
epress.am
09.07.2011 17:07
Amberd Mayor Manvel Babayan only told the parents and family members of
Hayk Lazarian, the 19 year-old soldier who died earlier today at his
outpost in Nagorno-Karabakh, that the boy had been seriously wounded,
reports Hetq Online.
Only Hayk's brother Ruben knows that the boy will not be returning
home. His mother still clings to the hope that her son will recover
and be united with them in the Armenian village of Amberd.
The boy's father, Vasil, who has been working in Russia for the past
year, only knows that his son was severely wounded. He plans to fly
back to Armenia tonight.
Neighbours, who know the truth of the matter, told Hetq that they just
cannot bring themselves to tell the mother and sisters what actually
has happened.
No one from the Etchmiadzin army commissariat, where Hayk was
conscripted, has seen fit to make the trip to Amberd and break the
news to the soldier's family.
One Amberd resident said it was a shame the way the army has failed
to take responsibility for the soldier's death and is calling on local
residents to protest in front of the Government Building in Yerevan.
Local residents as well don't want to break the news to Hayk's mother
Yeranuhi.
We spoke to Ruben at a neighbour's house, so that Yeranuhi and other
family members would not overhear the truth.
Ruben kept his emotions in check, hitting the door with his clenched
fist.
The brother told us that no one had yet paid the family a visit from
either the army commissariat of the Ministry of Defense.
Colonel Hakob Azatyan, from the Etchmiadzin Commissariat, told us
that he had personally informed family members about Hayk's death.
"The relatives know that their boy is dead. I told them personally.
As to whom I told specifically, let's not discuss such details on
the telephone," Colonel Azatyan said.
Local residents told us that earlier today one of the relatives called
up the commissariat to verify that an accident had taken place. This
was the extent of Colonel Azatyan's "message".
Ruben told us that he had gone to Nagorno-Karabakh to see his brother
on Aug. 14 and that Hayk had told him that everything was fine.
Hayk was supposed to have been drafted in Nov. 2010. The first medical
examination uncovered a head scar and doctors suspected that the boy
might suffer from psychological problems.
Hayk was examined a second time and eventually drafted a month later.
Ruben told us his brother wanted to serve in the army and would go
to plead his case personally to the commissariat if he was rejected.
"Hayk decided to go to Russia after being discharged from service.
He wanted to work and save enough to buy a car, Ruben said.
Rumours are spreading in Amberd that Hayk was killed by another
conscript by Gyumri.
Given that no official information has been forthcoming from the
defense ministry such hearsay is bound to spread even further.
Photo: Hetq Online
epress.am
09.07.2011 17:07
Amberd Mayor Manvel Babayan only told the parents and family members of
Hayk Lazarian, the 19 year-old soldier who died earlier today at his
outpost in Nagorno-Karabakh, that the boy had been seriously wounded,
reports Hetq Online.
Only Hayk's brother Ruben knows that the boy will not be returning
home. His mother still clings to the hope that her son will recover
and be united with them in the Armenian village of Amberd.
The boy's father, Vasil, who has been working in Russia for the past
year, only knows that his son was severely wounded. He plans to fly
back to Armenia tonight.
Neighbours, who know the truth of the matter, told Hetq that they just
cannot bring themselves to tell the mother and sisters what actually
has happened.
No one from the Etchmiadzin army commissariat, where Hayk was
conscripted, has seen fit to make the trip to Amberd and break the
news to the soldier's family.
One Amberd resident said it was a shame the way the army has failed
to take responsibility for the soldier's death and is calling on local
residents to protest in front of the Government Building in Yerevan.
Local residents as well don't want to break the news to Hayk's mother
Yeranuhi.
We spoke to Ruben at a neighbour's house, so that Yeranuhi and other
family members would not overhear the truth.
Ruben kept his emotions in check, hitting the door with his clenched
fist.
The brother told us that no one had yet paid the family a visit from
either the army commissariat of the Ministry of Defense.
Colonel Hakob Azatyan, from the Etchmiadzin Commissariat, told us
that he had personally informed family members about Hayk's death.
"The relatives know that their boy is dead. I told them personally.
As to whom I told specifically, let's not discuss such details on
the telephone," Colonel Azatyan said.
Local residents told us that earlier today one of the relatives called
up the commissariat to verify that an accident had taken place. This
was the extent of Colonel Azatyan's "message".
Ruben told us that he had gone to Nagorno-Karabakh to see his brother
on Aug. 14 and that Hayk had told him that everything was fine.
Hayk was supposed to have been drafted in Nov. 2010. The first medical
examination uncovered a head scar and doctors suspected that the boy
might suffer from psychological problems.
Hayk was examined a second time and eventually drafted a month later.
Ruben told us his brother wanted to serve in the army and would go
to plead his case personally to the commissariat if he was rejected.
"Hayk decided to go to Russia after being discharged from service.
He wanted to work and save enough to buy a car, Ruben said.
Rumours are spreading in Amberd that Hayk was killed by another
conscript by Gyumri.
Given that no official information has been forthcoming from the
defense ministry such hearsay is bound to spread even further.
Photo: Hetq Online