THE HEROES OF BERDAVAN

GRISH

Grisha Azatyan was born and raised in the border village of Berdavan, Tavush region. After graduating from high school he was enrolled in the YSU, Faculty of Radiophysics. In 2019, he was drafted on July 10. He first served in a training military unit, and after completing the training phase, receiving the military rank of junior sergeant, he served in one of the border military units, holding the position of commander of a grenade unit.

– My son’s 2 months of service were not over yet, when the photos of his and five other fellow servicemen were posted on the honor board of the military unit as best athletes. “He was very enthusiastic about his service, he served with love and devotion,” says his father, Gagik.

“Grish was distinguished by his diligence and exceptional love for education. Solving difficult mathematical problems was a real headache for us, and for him it was like drinking a sip of water, he always helped his classmates in that matter. Sometimes we tried to run away from classes, Grish urged us not to take such a step, not to do meaningless things… And we listened to our friend,” remembers his childhood friend and classmate Erik Navasardyan.

“Our Grish was the main organizer of the renovation of the village school. If there was work on anyone’s land, Grish was the first. Before leaving for the service, Grish said: “Our ancestors gave us this sacred land, and it is our duty to preserve and protect it at all costs. Let us go and defend our sacred land. ” When he called, the first question he asked was about the village, he was interested in what was happening in the village, even during the recent battles. “That’s how Grish was,” his friend of childhood, Rzazyan Samvel, continues.

“On September 27, when shots were heard, we thought they were ordinary shots. However, as they grew stronger, we first decided to take refuge, then decided what to do. Grish seemed to read our mind and said: “In 2016, when our village was being shelled, we and our fellow villagers got up like one man. Now we have to fight against the enemy like one man here,” recall his fellow servicemen John Muradyan from Vanadzor and Kolya Ghukasyan from Vardenis.

“On September 30, around noon, he calls his mother and asks if the enemy is firing in the direction of the village. And when the mother answers that everything is peaceful, do not worry, she in turn calms the mother, “Mom, everything is fine here too, do not worry,” the father recalls.

… Recently, today’s hero turned 20 years old.

At the suggestion of the Primate of the Tavush Diocese, Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the House of Culture organized a memorial event dedicated to the modern-day hero. The event began with a visit to the tomb of the hero, where a requiem service was held, flowers were laid and incense was burned.

“They are unique among thousands and hundreds of thousands and will remain the inspiration of generations and people. Grisha and his friends Arman and Mher are the greatest bearers of that honor and dignity. Our homage to the families of today’s heroes,” said the Primate of the Tavush Diocese during the event.

“A Berdavan resident is a warrior by birth, a soldier. I am proud to have been Grisha Azatyan’s teacher, I am proud to be the teacher of our heroic students, because they sacrificed the most precious thing for us, for the Homeland, their lives. They did it so that others could live.

All our heroic soldiers will live forever, because our people will live forever. Eternal glory to our heroes Grisha, to his heroic classmates Arman Atabekyan and Mher Zohrabyan, who held high the honor of the Armenian soldier, the honor of our village, Berdavan, the honor of all of us. The Armenian soldier is invincible, the spirit that sits in them,” said the hero’s teacher, Zhora Niazyan, in a conversation with us.

MHER

Mher Zurabyan was born in 2001. He attended Berdavan secondary school. At first he served in one of the training military units, and after completing the training phase he was transferred to a border military unit. By the way, Mher had a belt from the sport of taekwondo.

“I am very proud to be the father of one of today’s heroes, Mher Zurabyan. I really want my son’s comrades-in-arms to be healthy, strong, to take the half-finished work of our heroes to a victorious destination with dignity,” says Mher’s father, Vladimir.

Erik Navasardyan, childhood friend.

“Mher and I studied in parallel classes of the same school, we were close friends. I can even say that that company was enviable. Mher used to attend cooking classes in Yerevan, every time he came to the village he definitely prepared a new dish at home, and we tasted and appreciated it. It is very difficult to describe his qualities in words …

There is a tradition in our village, which has also become the tradition of our friends. On Vardavar holiday we went to the mountains for a few days to celebrate or relax. We went with 6-7 friends and disconnected from the world, the telephone and the internet. The best memories of our company are in the mountains. At night, when we sat around the fire and started talking, it seemed like we were opening up to each other again. Then we talked about everything: dreams, goals. The physical absence of Mher, Arman and Grisha interrupted the integrity of our company. This world needs people who are friendly and human like him … We can only keep the memory and honor of our fallen friends high throughout our lives.”

Sergey Ghushchyan, childhood friend.

“The proof of Mher’s patriotism and friendliness was his step: to stay in position until the last second, to ensure the retreat of friends…

Mher was a very strong person both mentally and physically. His fellow servicemen, Narek Yenoyan, Yesayan Rafael, Khachatryan Hunan, Tonapetyan Nver (the latter was directly with Mher), say that he was in position during the war, and fought to the death with his comrades-in-arms against a treacherous enemy. They bravely defended their trusted position with their comrades-in-arms. And when they received an order to take back the position of the enemy, to keep it at all costs so that the enemy could not enter Mataghis, occupying the position under the command of Arthur Aghasyan, they kept it for 5 hours. The brave commander Arthur Aghasyan was also killed. Mher Zurabyan fired for hours, ensuring the evacuation of his comrades-in-arms and wounded, ignoring the calls of his friends to leave with them. While ensuring the retreat of the comrades-in-arms, on October 2, my friend Mher Zurabyan died heroically in the Talish position.

The body of the heroic Armenian was handed over to the Armenian side on November 21 through the Red Cross”.

ARMAN

Arman Atabekyan was born on August 28, 2001. In 2019, he was drafted and served in one of the border military units. He was wounded in the leg during the war, but assured his family members that there was nothing serious. He showed the doctors that he could walk and asked to be sent back to the front line.

“My friends are fighting, I can’t leave them alone, lie in the hospital,” Arman told the doctor.

While defending the military position of Mataghis, Arman also died heroically …

Sanasar Atabekyan, father.

“Arman was a very kind, modest, honest, fair boy. He loved life, people…. Everyone loved Arman. And today everyone is in great pain for my son who died for the Homeland …

Naira Gaboyan, mother.

“He stood out with his neatness, modesty and friendliness. Arman did not even try to avoid the service with a broken leg, but on the contrary, expressed a desire to go to the front line to defend the Homeland, to be with his friends.

We read the following post on the Facebook page of the Marzpetaran. “Arman Atabekyan continues to live in each of our hearts. We owe it to you, we bow to you.”

And the principal of the school of Berdavan village Asikyan wrote on his Facebook page. “Whatever happens, we will live on our land … Dear Arman, we will live thanks to your, Mher and Grisha’s self-sacrifice.

Modest, hard-working, taciturn and friendly Arman dear, you joined the heroes who fought selflessly and died for the Motherland, for us. You are immortal, you became a hero, our hero boy…”

Zhora Niazyan, the teacher.

“I want to tell a story from Arman’s life. While serving in the boys, Arman was transferred to another unit. He asks the superior command to transfer him to a unit of friends. The command does not refuse his request, he is transferred to the platoon where Mher and Grisha serve. They were inseparable in life, they were inseparable during the war, they are inseparable today too…

The sister, Zhanna, tells.

“He dreamed of serving in Talish, Mataghis, and so it happened. Everything was fine, Arman was satisfied. January 25 was the military oath ceremony. We went to Artsakh. Good memories remained.

… The war started. On September 28, he called. He was worried about us because we also live near the border. Knowing that everything was fine, he calmed down. When my father asked how the situation was, Arman answered. “Grandpa, how do you know?”

His classmates Mher and Grisha, who had died a few days before, were serving in Mataghis and Talish. “I will take revenge on my friends,” said my brother. I’m sure my brother took revenge on both his classmates and comrades-in-arms, and someone took revenge on my brother. It is said that a man should build a house, plant a tree and have a child. My brother only managed to plant a tree … Arman put his Homeland above everything. On October 30, we watched the BBC film “Everyone’s war has entered the family”, where we saw my brother with his comrades-in-arms. Now they are in “Yerablur” of our village, together, side by side, inseparable…

By GARIK AVETISYAN