More than 20 years later, the Generation born during and after the Karabakh conflict in the ‘90s had to participate in yet another war themselves. It was the four-day April war of 2016, between Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh forces, during which the generation of independence fought in the same trenches with their fathers. This is a photo-story about some of them, who died in that fight.

Vladimir Narinyan, Martuni region

Vladimir was a conscript who had to finish his service after three months. His mother, Nela, mentions that when Vladimir was calling her from the frontline, he would always be interested in the situation of each neighbour of his beloved district, Karvin, besides asking how family members felt. When he managed to take a vacation, he visited and talked to everyone. It seems that Nela is talking not to the picture of her son, put on her knees, but to her son, as if he were alive.

Major Suren Melkumyan, Hadrut Region Toomi village

Suren, a father of four sons, couldn’t spend enough time with his sons because of his work. His wife Arev, says that she herself mostly took care of their children. The question about when he would be like other fathers and take his children to school had just one answer, “When I retire, I will be like other fathers”.

Major Maksim Grigoryan, Hadrut Region Toomi village

Madam Lusik, the mother of Maxim, brought up her children alone. Her husband died in the first Karabakh war in the ‘90s. According to her, the last time she saw Maxim was on her grandchildren’s birthday. Maxim was very happy. His teacher played the guitar that night and he sang a famous song “Flowers, flowers, unfading flowers”.

Aznaur Balayan, Hadrut Region Mokhrenes village

Aznaur’s father died in 1992, during the first Karabakh war. Aznaur died 24 years later, during the April tensions. His mother, Sirun, says that Aznaur loved animals very much, especially the horse that he called Zita. When he was free, he would ride the horse and visit relatives in neighbouring villages. He asked his mother to take care of Zita, when he called from the frontline.

Major Rudik Movsesyan, Stepanakert

Rudik’s wife mentions that Rudik loved to spend his rarely occurring days-off with his daughters. They would put  music and dance together. Most of all, he loved dancing.

Masis Tovmasyan, Stepanakert, volunteer

All the members of the Tovmasyan family are soldiers. Several years ago, Masis left his army life and took up civilian work. In the afternoon of one of the days in the April war, he left his job, sat on the bus of volunteers and went to the positions. The ex-soldier didn’t wait for his shift and directly went to the frontline, where he died.

Hayk Grigoryan, Martuni region, Gishi village

A compeer of independence, Hayk died in the second Karabakh war. He was engaged and wanted to marry in the summer of 2016. A few days ago, on his birthday, he mentioned that until the wedding date, he would manage to renovate his paternal house. He had already bought all the necessary construction materials and during his free days, we would renovate with his father.

Lieutenant Colonel Onik Grigoryan, Askeran region, Khramort village

Onik loved to watch football with his son on the big screen. Every time, when there was a game, they would go to the cafes of Stepanakert to watch football on the big screen. A few days prior to his death, his son Hovhannes asked whether he would come to watch the Champions league together. Father told him that he had to watch this game alone, but still he promised, that the next game they would watch together.

Nver Simonyan, Hadrout region, Taghaser village

Nver was engaged and wanted to marry. His grandmother even presented her house to the grandchild, so that the couple could live separately. Nver got excited by that fact, and started to renovate the house. He was emotionally very much attached to his grandmother.

This material may contain terms, which are not favored by all the parties of the dispute/conflict. Terms used in a material belong to the author and not Chai-Khana.