March 5th marks the birthday of Sparapet (Commander-in-Chief), National Hero of Armenia and Artsakh Vazgen Sargsyan
Today his friends-in-combat, public and political figures and average citizens are respecting his memory at Yerablour Military Pantheon.
Among those attending the event were Armenia’s President Armen Sargsyan; His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan; Deputy Premier Tigran Avinyan; President of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan; Secretary of the National Security Council Armen Grigoryan; former Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan; Sparapet Vazgen Sargsyan’s brother Armen Sargsyan; MPs and others.
On October 27, 1999, Premier Vazgen Sargsyan, Speaker of the National Assembly Karen Demirtchyan, six MPs and one minister were killed by a group of armed persons who had entered the building of the parliament.
The perpetrators were sentenced to life in prison.
Between 1990 and 1991, Vazgen Sargsyan united the voluntary detachments of land defenders under his command and served as a Deputy of the Supreme Council of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and later as chairman of the standing committee on defense and internal affairs.
Sargsyan made great efforts to keep the homeland and its borders away from the enemy’s encroachments and to achieve victory. In 1991, he was appointed Armenia’s Minister of Defense and made great contributions to nation-building and the formation of the national army in Armenia.
He founded the “Yerkrapah” Union of Voluntary Land Defenders and was elected President of the Union. He has received the title of National Hero and the Golden Eagle Order. In December 1999, he was posthumously awarded the title of “National Hero” and “Homeland” Order of Armenia.
He began his political career in 1999 as a leader of the Republican Party and later as co-chairman of the “Unity” alliance of political parties. In June 1999, he became Armenia’s Premier, and a couple of months later, on 27 October, he was killed during the terrorist act that took place in the sessions hall of the National Assembly.
Upon the decision of the Premier of the Republic of Armenia, an anniversary commission, led by Nikol Pashinyan, has been set up to mark the 60th birthday of National Hero of the Republic of Armenia, hero of Artsakh Vazgen Sargsyan.
To solemnly mark the 60th birthday of Sparapet Vazgen Sargsyan, the government has allocated about AMD 13 million from the reserve fund to the Ministry of Defense.