Epress.am News from Armenia
Armen Farmanyan died on Mar. 1, 2008, in Yerevan, Armenia. His sister, Varduhi Farmanyan, told Epress.am a little about her brother’s life.
“Armen Farmanyan was born on Nov. 25, 1975. He studied at no. 116 secondary school. During his school years, he was involved in wrestling, participating in numerous competitions and receiving awards. Then he served in the Armenian army. After returning from the army, he worked in retail trade. He was very honest, friendly, loved by all. He wasn’t interested in politics, but he always wanted to see that right was done and so, he went to the Myasnikyan statue. He left work and went to the area of the rally. We found out about his death only on Mar. 2, at 5:30 pm. I think, innocent blood will never stay on the ground [i.e. the guilty won’t go unpunished].
“It was painful for me to hear that in the beginning, some people were saying that the 10 victims were looters. We all well know who the looters were. They had gone there for the people. As for who killed the 10 victims, he won’t get off just with death, there’s God above; whoever comes with a sword, leaves with a sword [a saying meaning the guilty will be punished]. My older brother fought for the liberation of Arsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh]. Now, if, God forbid, there’s a war, he again will be one of those who goes first, but I would be opposed to him going. He goes to protect his homeland, while they killed his brother in an independent country.”
Today is the third anniversary of Mar. 1, 2008, when mass protests against alleged electoral fraud, organized by supporters of unsuccessful presidential candidate, first president of the Republic of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossian, followed the presidential election of Feb. 19, 2008, in Armenia. On Mar. 1, 2008, national police and military forces, called in to disperse the crowds, used “excessive force and violence” which left 10 people dead and many more wounded.