Europe Desk, Delhi Magazine: A big holiday in Armenia is the Day of the First Republic. 105 years ago, on May 28, 1918, the Battle of Sardarapat took place, which became a symbol of the unity of the people who defended the Fatherland from Turkish invaders. After the victory, the First Armenian Republic was created. Russian soldiers and officers also took part in the decisive battle.
The village of Arshaluys is located not far from the places where the Sardarapat battle took place. In honor of the 105th anniversary of the victory in the battle, a commemorative plaque was erected.
Near the church, in a mass grave, two soldiers are buried: a Russian unnamed soldier and an Armenian Stepan Aloyan, who died saving a wounded comrade from the battlefield. In one grave they were buried by the inhabitants of the village.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan along with President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan, the top leadership of RA and heads of accredited diplomatic missions in Armenia visited the Sardarapat Heroic War Memorial on the occasion of the Republic Day.
“The horse on which they rode brought both of them to the courtyard of this temple, and early in the morning they were found dead, lying next to each other. In the hands of the Russian soldier was a red cloth – the prototype of the banner. And they decided to bury them exactly where they lay, they were wrapped in this red cloth, the priest held the service, and as a result, for 105 years, the Russian soldier and the Armenian have been lying side by side,” said Elena Shuvaeva, specialist in historical and memorial projects of the Russian House in Yerevan -Petrosyan.
Fierce fighting here lasted a week. The offensive of the troops of the Ottoman Empire went in three directions. The enemy forces, according to historians, were about five times larger than the Armenian ones, but the people who stood up to defend the Fatherland won. On May 28, the Armenian National Council proclaimed the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia.
Marshal of the Soviet Union Hovhannes Bagramyan also began his military career from the battle of Sardarapat. Then the 20-year-old ensign served in the cavalry, then in intelligence.
After 50 years, thanks in large part to his efforts, the Sardarapat memorial complex was opened. Today, according to tradition, thousands of people come here to honor the memory of the heroes .
Last week, on 26th May a meeting of the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev took place in the Kremlin. Issues related to the unblocking of regional transport and economic infrastructures and Karabakh settlement were discussed.
The meeting of the Armenian Prime Minister @NikolPashinyan , Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev took place in the Kremlin.
Issues related to the unblocking of regional transport and economic infrastructures were discussed. pic.twitter.com/z1x2ndW9hf
— Government of Armenia (@armgov) May 26, 2023