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DEAD SOLDIER'S MOTHER HASN'T BEEN TOLD THE TRUTH
Grisha Balasanyan
http://hetq.am/eng/articles/4151/
14:46, September 7, 2011
It turns out that 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 Artsakh, that the boy had been
seriously wounded.
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 Amberd, their village in Armenia's Amberd Marz.
The boy's father, Vasil, who has been working in Russia for the past
year, only knows that his son has been 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 telling 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.
[Haykenc_tan_mot.jpg] Local residents as well don't want to break
the news to Hayk's mother Yeranouhie.
We spoke to Ruben at a neighbour's house, so that Yeranouhie 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 Artsakh to see his brother on August
14 and that Hayk had told him that everything was fine.
Hayk was supposed to have been drafted in November of 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.
Grisha Balasanyan
http://hetq.am/eng/articles/4151/
14:46, September 7, 2011
It turns out that 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 Artsakh, that the boy had been
seriously wounded.
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 Amberd, their village in Armenia's Amberd Marz.
The boy's father, Vasil, who has been working in Russia for the past
year, only knows that his son has been 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 telling 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.
[Haykenc_tan_mot.jpg] Local residents as well don't want to break
the news to Hayk's mother Yeranouhie.
We spoke to Ruben at a neighbour's house, so that Yeranouhie 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 Artsakh to see his brother on August
14 and that Hayk had told him that everything was fine.
Hayk was supposed to have been drafted in November of 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.