Istanbul Armenian community mourns the killed soldier

PanARMENIAN.Net - Ethnic Armenian, 25-year-old Sevag Şahin Balıkçı, who was killed in a Turkish military unit on April 24, the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, was buried in Istanbul's Sisli district cemetery on April 27. A service was offered at Surb Vardanants Armenian Church.

According to Radikal newspaper, both Armenians and Turks attended the funeral. Wreaths were sent from the military, local authorities as well as from Istanbul Mayor. Coadjutor of the Constantinople Patriarch, archbishop Aram Ateshyan and Hrant Dink's widow Rakel Dink were also present.

Reports on Sevag's death are contradicting. One report says that he was killed “because of careless use of weapon", another report testifies that the Armenian was shot dead. Investigation into the death is under way.

“I want the truth to come out as soon as possible. I don't think it happened when they were joking around. I knew Sevag really well. He was not someone who would joke around with guns,” his fiancée Melani Kumruyan said.