Armenian artillerist from iconic photo killed in Karabakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian soldier Albert Hovhannisyan whose photo from the battlefield in the Nagorno-Karabakh war has spread all over the world has died, his father confirmed on Facebook Thursday, October 8.

The photo in which Albert is seen firing from a D-30 howitzer, was featured in articles by most media outlets of the world covering the conflict in Karabakh, and was extensively disseminated all over social media.

"Through tears choking my throat, I want to ask you to always remember Albert as young, infinitely optimistic, extremely patriotic, who had great dreams and many things to do, whose greatest love was the Homeland," his father Artak Hovhannisyan said.

"My grief is great, but I am proud to be the father of a patriot Armenian, a real Hero of our days. I understand that Albert is not just my Hero, but the Hero of all of us, he is the example of an Armenian Hero of present and future generations, who followed the path of his ancestors and became immortal."

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey, launched a large-scale offensive against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27, shelling Armenian positions and civilian settlements with large caliber weapons and rocket systems. Armenia and Karabakh have introduced martial law and total mobilization. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. International and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages.

Donations can be made to Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, which has launched a fundraising campaign to support Karabakh amid Azerbaijan's aggression.