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Anya Sarkisova

Saro Baghdasaryan

A Mother’s Lament: Those Who Sacrifice Themselves for the Homeland Do Not Die

Maro Shahbazyan, mother of fallen contract soldier Artak Soghomonyan, tearfully remembers pestering her son about getting married. 

"We kept saying, 'Get married, start a family.' He told us he’d do so in January, when he turned thirty.”

Artak left behind a brother, Arman, and sister Elen. Arman volunteered for the war as a driver. 

Hearing the news that he planned to get married, Maro and her husband Soghomon purchased a house for the future couple in the same village as theirs.

Artak had only told his mother that the woman was from Stepanakert, Artsakh, describing her as the loveliest and kindest woman in the world. He had sent her some photos. Her name was Ani.

Mrs. Shahbazyan has yet been unable to contact her. She’s not registered in any social network.

The last time the family talked to Artak was on the afternoon of October 29. He said that everything was fine. In the evening, a rumor spread in the village that he had died.

When talking about her son, Mrs. Shahbazyan singles out his human qualities. He was kind, modest, and did not like it when others talked about him.

After Artak died, his war buddies visited the family. They brought everything that Artak had left behind: a backpack, phone, clothes, personal belongings, which he had taken with him while climbing up to the frontline.

"One of the guys said that Artak was very friendly. That he’d divvy up sweets, a rarity in the trenches into fourteen parts, so that all the guys could have some,” says Mrs. Shahbazyan.

There are vines in the garden of the house the parents purchased for Artak.

On his last day at home, October 25, Artak and his family gathered the harvest. Then he called his father and told him to make wine from all the grapes.

Artak was an amateur painter, preferring portraits. Mrs. Shahbazyan takes out two portraits made by her son from the personal belongings placed next to Artak's photo and shows them to us. 

One of them is of Ani, his bride to be.

On his last day at home, October 25, Artak and his family gathered the harvest. Then he called his father and told him to make wine from all the grapes.

Artak was an amateur painter, preferring portraits. Mrs. Shahbazyan takes out two portraits made by her son from the personal belongings placed next to Artak's photo and shows them to us. 

One of them is of Ani, his bride to be.

Mrs. Shahbazyan says Artak was attentive towards everyone, especially his sister Elen, who is 15 years younger than him. 

Ellen is making excellent progress at school. She has written some poems in honor of her brother. Mrs. Shahbazyan reads one of them.

One of the lines says that those who sacrifice themselves for the homeland do not die.

Upon finishing, Mrs. Shahbazyan says: "And in truth, my son did not die, he sacrificed himself. No matter how hard it is to believe, this is the reality."

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