On 2 April, hearing the news on renewal of hostilities, the fallen freedom fighter Sargis Khalafyan, who died during the four day Artsakh war, immediately left to the frontline.
“He was saying that he must go and support our soldiers. He called to his good friend in Stepanakert, who also died with Sargis and asked him to receive a weapon in his name as well, as he was going there. And he left on the same day,” Nune Khachatryan, the freedom fighter’s wife said.
Freedom fighter Sargis Khalafyan, was an active participant of Artsakh war. “He was very patriotic, he had stomach cramps, but always said I shall not die in bed. I shall die in on my land, in my field, in my trench a on my border.” Nune Khachatryan remembered her husband’s words.
During the war 1990s, he has been fighting in various groups. Relatives say that he was going with one group, returning and again going to the front line with another group.
“When he went for the first time, I went to the border with our two children. During those years it was not allowed the volunteer groups to go to the frontline. They gathered with friends and, families and went to the frontline. They said we live here like family and protect our lands,” the freedom fighter’s wife said.
“He was a Peace Dove”
“He was my best friend. He was near me every moment. Anything he said was a lesson. He was good with everyone, there was no one that he had been bad with.” Lazar Khalafyan, his son told. His mother added, “He was a Peace Dove. All our relatives said the Sargis is our Peace Dove.”
Sargis Khalafyan had a dream to see his children happy, married, he has two sons and two daughters. “I am close to realizing father’ dream, now I shall try more to do it,” said Lazr.
The freedom fighter was very fond of three things, fishing, hunting and football. “He was Borussia’s fan and liked to watch the Henrikh Mkhitaryan playing. There was a football game on the next day when he would leave. I asked him how he would watch the game. He answered that he will would watch or shall call after and ask the result. We sat and watched the game so that when he would call we could tel him the result,” his wife said.
In addition Khalafyan lwas fond of reading books on the history, especially the History of Armenia. “My father always used to say that definitely historic Armenia’s lands will be ours one day. He was teacjhing this patriotism to everyone. He urged all to read Kachik Dashtets’ “”Call of Ploughmen”, said his son. The wife said, “Many years ago he had to go to Turkey. He said he could not go as he could not see the historical Armenian lands under the Turkey’s flag.”
The freedom fighters sent the soldiers back and stayed at the frontline
Befor leaving for Arttask, Sargis Khalafyan met his second son, who serves in the Armenian Armed Forces.
On 4 April the battles were renewed. “On 4 april there were major battles, they liberated the occupied lands. I know that a drone had fixed their location and the bomb reached them. The friend are telling only one thing that those 4 days were more severe than the former 4 years (Artsakh war). It was said that this war is not a war of rifles. They sent 48 soldiers back and stayed 42 at the front-line,” Mrs. Nune said.
Sargis Khalafyan proud of our soldiers. “On 3 April, when he called for the last time, he said you should only see how brave are today’s youth. He also said that the Azeri’s regretted that they had started the war. Now it’s our turn to attack,” remembered his son.
Gevorg Tosunyan
