An event dedicated to the birthday of Haykaz Mkrtchyan, who died in the 44-day Artsakh war, took place on 31 October at Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall.

Haykaz was injured on 29 October, 2020, two days before his birthday, near the Red Market. “I decided to organize this event on Hayk’s birthday, because he was waiting for that day for a very long time. Last year he said he would wait and see who would call to congratulate him at night, but since he was injured two days before his birthday and did not receive those calls, we found him in the hospital just on his birthday,” Haykaz Mkrtchyan’s sister Arevik Mkrtchyan told Iravaban.net and added that she had decided to organize such a bright event like her bright brother was.

After about 2 months of preparations, Haykaz Mkrtchyan’s short but bright and full of craziness life from the first grade to the last Artsakh war, was presented to the crowded hall,

Isabella Khoshbekyan has known Haykaz since she was 14. In a conversation with us she mentioned that they had very happy days with Haykaz.

“Life without Hayk seems empty, because we have passed a long way with him. Even in Yerevan, when I walk somewhere, I remember that Hayk and I were doing something here or there. I always see Hayk in my dreams and he is always in my mind, I always try to keep his presence in my life,” she said.

Haykaz’s childhood friend Karen Hakobyan remembers that during the July battles, Haykaz called him every day, told him that they were under siege, that they had escaped, told about the heroism he and his comrades-in-arms had done there, made jokes and share adventures.

“When the war moved to Artsakh, he did not find his place. Every day he said, ‘I must come and save you. I shall end this war. And I was arguing with him, saying, don’t do that.’ And he rebuked me, saying, ‘Shame on you, for you think so of me. Have you known me like that for all this time, that I should avoid or not come?” Karen Hakobyan told.

His sister Arevik Khachatryan also remembers Hayk’s words, “He said, ‘You see, unless I go to Karabakh and fight, the fight will not end.” With tears in her eyes, her sister stated that it was just like that, and Haykaz, after fighting for his life for 12 days, died on the night of 9 November, in parallel with the end of the war.

Famous singers Sona Rubenyan, Arsen Safaryan, Gor Sujyan, and Hayk Petrosyan were invited to the event. Their choice was not accidental, as Haykaz loved and always listened to their songs.

“I served with Hayk in Mehrab for 6 months. We were always together in the military unit with our other friend Khcho. I was a driver, Hayk was not in my group, but he always wanted to sit next to me, because I drove badly and very fast, and he liked such things, but he could not come because he controlled his own group,” Stepan Stepanyan told, adding that it is very difficult to say something, only with great regret and longing he could say that Hayk was a very good person and friend.

Haykaz’s paintings were also presented on the spot, his belongings, letters of gratitude earned over the years and other awards were exhibited.

Haykaz’s mother, Anna Mkrtchyan, thanked those present and said:

“You know, in the hard days, when your friends and relatives are by your side, it seems like it should be like that, but when strangers appear next to you and empathize with you, it is a completely different feeling. As Hayk used to say, the most important thing is “to be alive” and try to make sure that the blood shed by the boys and the lives they did not live are not in vain, that we do not lose our homeland, to which they gave the most precious thing.”

The event had a symbolic end. Nairi Avanesyan from Shushi took the stage with his daughter Mariam. He mentioned that after the war he returned to Artsakh and hearing about this event, he came to Yerevan so that his 5-year-old daughter could know the name of another hero. “After all, the future of the homeland is this generation, and patriotism must be taught from this age,” he said.

Despite the late hour, most of those present, along with Haykaz’s family, went to the Yerablur plateau to lay flowers and congratulate Haykaz.

The video about Haykaz Mkrtchyan below:

Lusine Hakobyan 

Photo series by Arpi Alaverdyan