Levon Sargsyan served in the Armenian army for 18 years. He was on military duty in Jabrayil for 8 years. On September 21, the heroic officer’s wife, Mariam Hakobyan, was silently crying during Prime Minister Pashinyan’s visit while hugging her husband’s tombstone. “All his potential was directed to the homeland. Without hesitation, without even looking back, he gave his life for the sake of the homeland. But to this day, I have not received the reward he deserves from his years of contribution. Instead of receiving it without applying anywhere, I have repeatedly sent applications to the government and the National Assembly to receive the award he deserves. This reward will not change anything in my or my children’s lives, but I will at least have something to say to my children,” Mariam told Aravot Daily, adding, “The commander nominated Levon Sargsyan for the Medal of Courage.
Levon had already received the Medal of Courage during his lifetime. I am even more surprised and disappointed when the officers from Armenia who, as the Prime Minister says, gave their lives not for the sake of the homeland, but for the sake of Artsakh, have not received their worthy awards. How is it that in the Republic of Artsakh, officers have received the Combat Crosses and the Hero of Artsakh title, whereas no one in Armenia has received them yet? Not to mention the Combat Cross. Our officers have never been appreciated, and today, they have proven once again that our officers will not be appreciated again. I want to know whom they kept those high-ranking awards for because we have the ranks of the Battle Cross, we have National Hero and Hero of Artsakh. Whom did they keep these for? I have even received information that medals have been turned into a market; they are being traded in. I do not ask for mercy from anyone. My husband deserves a first-class Battle Cross medal.
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Aravot Daily asked if she tried to meet with the Prime Minister when visited Yerablur. Mariam Hakobyan answered, “I have not met with the Prime Minister, but I really want to meet with him because I have something to say to him. It will be a year soon. It has been a year since he died. I understand that it is a difficult situation for our country. No one gets back on their feet so soon after the war, but there are many issues that have not been raised yet. One is that the officers’ families do not have apartments. You can not imagine how long I have been applying, and I have not received answers to my questions anywhere. They tell me to send letters to different places. Every time we addressed the Ministry of Defense, I did not receive an answer. When will we get answers? Where will the families live? How will they be paid, because it is already difficult to live today? For a year now, these issues have not been raised. What is independence about? Yes, our boys are gone, they died for the sake of independence, but at least after that they are not valued. Nobody pays attention to us. I have been going after the National Assembly, government, and the Ministry of Defense with letters while they should have been interested in what I need and how my children will grow up at the moment. Do they have a roof over their heads?”
Referring to the concert dedicated to Independence Day, Mariam Hakobyan said, “The whole internet is buzzing with how people are happy. I understand that life goes on, and I try my best to live for my children, but it can be done a little more restrained. Rejoice within yourself, do not show it, because 90% of the Internet are mourning families who do not even imagine whether they can feel like a human being or not. They have cut us all in half and left us without a homeland.” She said that it is difficult to explain to the children why their father died. If at least there was a victory… Alas, she has nothing to say today and is afraid of her children’s questions. “My husband served with honor and demanded honor in all his military units. I am the bearer of that honor. I will not complain to the media or initiate a criminal case, but I want to receive what my husband deserves with honor. Only with honor, because I am the greatest bearer of that honor today. I will not spare anything. I just want to get what this officer deserves. He gave his life for everyone.”
Hripsime Jebejyan
