Epress.am News from Armenia
The number of signatures gathered by Unity of Hayazn Youth to grant Republic of Armenia citizenship to Jirair Sefilian, commander of the Shushi battalion during the Nagorno-Karabakh War and awarded the First Degree Order of “Martakan Khach” (Fighting Cross), has reached 7,000, say organizers.
As reported previously, apart from ordinary citizens, organizations and politicians have also signed the petition, some of whom include MP Viktor Dallakyan (no party affiliation), 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.
Organizations that have signed the petition include Adana Patriotic Union and United Homeland NGO (note: English translations of original names have not been confirmed).
The second stage of gathering signatures will begin on Jun. 20, say organizers. On Jul. 10, the day of Sefilian’s 44th birthday, Unity of Hayazn Youth will march to the presidential residence with the collected signatures.