Harutyun Ashot Avetisyan was born on August 7, 2000, in Vardenik village of Gegharkunik region.
His mother, Armenuhi Postoyan, told Iravaban.net within the series “Immortal Victims of the Artsakh War” that her son was born on her birthday and it was the best gift ever.
His father, Ashot Avetisyan, says that he was a hunter, and his son started shooting from an early age.
“He would always follow me, saying ‘Dad, take me hunting.’ He would put on winter clothes, attach the cartridge belt and say ‘Dad, take my picture.’ He always came with me to Lake Sevan for fishing. He loved nature and was very energetic. He was quick to orient himself and think,” said the father.
After completing 9th grade, Harutyun went to college, choosing auto-electrician as his profession. From age 13-14, he also attended the Young Defenders Club.
“He loved the military uniform, was a defender for 5 years. He was ready for anything, was a good marksman. He went to the Armenian army as a prepared soldier, but alas…” noted the father.
Harutyun was drafted into the army on January 17, 2019. He served in Ejmiatsin for 6 months. Then he was transferred to Jrakan as a sapper. His mother says that her son never complained about the service. During his service, Harutyun even managed to create, writing poems. A friend told that Harutyun wrote about his fellow servicemen but wouldn’t let them read, saying ‘When we’re discharged, I’ll give them to all of you.’ After his death, his father found the poems in his pocket.
Harutyun, who never lied, lied to his mother for the first time on September 27, 2020, assuring her that he wasn’t on the battlefield.
“He distributed wooden crosses to the guys so God would protect them. Throughout the war, he had wine in his backpack, saying ‘guys, when we celebrate our victory, we’ll open this wine.’ The last call was on October 10. Whenever we talked, he would always end by saying ‘mom, I’ll definitely call,’ but the last time he didn’t say that ‘definitely’,” the mother recounted.
Even on the battlefield, Harutyun tried to keep spirits high. He encouraged his friends, reminded them of his hunting stories and added: “The game is running from you, shoot!”
