4,300 People Want Jirair Sefilian to Get Armenian Citizenship, According to Youth Petition

Local group Unity of Hayazn Youth had set up a table in the park across from the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory today, gathering signatures for a petition to grant Armenian citizenship to Jirair Sefilian, who was the commander of the Shushi battalion during the Nagorno-Karabakh War and was awarded the First Degree Order of “Martakan Khach” (Fighting Cross).

Note, Sefilian, a French citizen, currently resides in Yerevan and is better known these days as one of the founders of the Sardarapat civic movement. He moved to Armenia in 1990 specifically to participate in the Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Speaking to Epress.am, Unity of Hayazn Youth member Lilit Petrosyan said they have already gathered 4,300 signatures. Furthermore, she said the petition has been going on for 5 days; however, they hadn’t gathered the sort of numbers they’re getting now.

“Today, from 10 am to 8 pm, we’ve organized a mass [appeal]. We have time till Jul. 10, and on that day we will take the signatures to the presidential residence by a march. That day is Jirair Sefilian’s 44th birthday,” she said.

Note, politicians who have thus signed the petition include MP Viktor Dallakyan, Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian and board member Seda Melikyan, Conservative Party of Armenia leader Mikael Hayrapetyan, and Assembly of Azerbaijani Armenians member Mariam Avagyan.

Recall, previously the youth were gathering signatures through the popular social-networking site Facebook.