16:28, 25 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. On the initiative of the Gyumri Municipality, Andranik Ozanyan’s 148 anniversary was celebrated in Gyumri. In memory of the great commander the authorities of the city and representatives of the Gyumri military unit placed wreath near the monument of the general. The brass band of Gyumri performed national songs.

The Deputy Chief of the Gyumri Garrison Sos Begjanyan noted: “Andranik was a revolutionary fighter. Here is the secret of his immense popularity. The people adore only those fighters, who know to fight and to die for the sake of the country’s freedom.” The Head of the Shirak Branch of the Writers’ Union Andranik Karapetyan underlined: “The Armenian people had a lot of heroes, but Andranik’s star is quite different. He was a legend both during his earthly life and after his death. Today all the Armenians must celebrate the anniversary of General Andranik. He was a legend everywhere. And this is the reason why many of us consider him to be a national symbol.”

Andranik was an Armenian military commander,fedayee leader and a key figure of the Armenian national movement in late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He joined the fedayee movement in late 1880s, first fighting against the Turks and Kurds in ranks of Hunchaks, later as a Dashnak. His revolutionary activities lasted until 1904, when he left the Ottoman Empire. In 1907 Andranik left the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. In 1912–1913, together with Garegin Nzhdeh, Andranik led the Armenian volunteer company of the Macedonian-Adrianopolitan Volunteer Corps against the Ottomans during the First Balkan War.