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February 10 marks the birth anniversary of Norayr Gasparyan, an Armenian soldier who fell heroically in the four-day war over Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) in April 2016. He would turn 22 years old today. 

Norayr was from Kapan town of Armenia’s Syunik region. In 2007 he joined the Dance Stars Show Studio of Kapan Culture Centre to become a dance troupe choreographer years later.

The hero entered the Dance Department of Armenian State Pedagogical University before beginning his military service. He was posthumously awarded with the “Honored Dancer” title.

Norayr was drafted into the Armenian Army in 2014 serving in a tank battalion. He had two months left to finish his mandatory military service when the hostilities erupted in early April.

On 1 January 2016, Norayr said on his Facebook page that 2016 was the most anticipated year in his life as he was to be demobilized together with many other servicemen. “May this year be full of successes, may all the people be happy, may all your dreams come to life. Love and be loved. And I tell my family that I love you very-very much and soon will be by your side. And at the end, answer my calls sometimes,” his post read. 

Overnight 4 April, as around 4:30 a.m., Norayr spoke to his younger brother, Misha, telling him that a war had broken out, the situation escalated and he was to move to the frontline positions. He also asked his brother not to inform their parents about it.

Tanker Norayr Gasparyan fell in the battlefield when his tank was hit by a drone of the adversary. Servicemen Hayk Grigoryan and Vahe Zakaryan were together with him in the same tank.

The photo was taken on February 20, 2016 when Norayr was celebrating his birthday for the last time

 Norayr with Vahe Zakaryan

The Azerbaijani armed forces unleashed a large-scale offensive along the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact at the night of April 1 to April 2, 2016. The defense installations of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army and civilian settlements came under heavy bombardment by artillery, tanks, armored vehicles, multiple rocket launchers, and air force along the Line of Contact and deep inside the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijani Armed Forces in the course of their military offensive, intentionally targeted civilian settlements and civilian population, including children and the elderly. The Azerbaijani military beheaded three Armenian servicemen in ISIS style.

Those barbaric acts go beyond elementary norms of civilized world, constituting violations of core international conventions.