Categories: History

The First Victim of the Artsakh Movement in 1988

Journalist Khachik Zakaryan, who was shot by a Soviet officer at the Zvartnots airport in Yerevan, was the first victim of the Artsakh movement.

On July 5, 1988, Soviet troops under the command of criminal general Makashov seized the Zvartnots airport. The purpose of the seizure was to suppress the strike of the airport workers and to commence the punitive operation against the propagating Artsakh movement.

Having received information about the seizure of the airport, several thousand protesters from the Freedom Square headed towards it. Soviet troops began beating the rally participants at the airport.

Hundreds of people were injured, and Khachik Zakaryan, who was reporting from the rally, was shot in the face by an officer of Soviet troops.

David Fidanyan

Vigen Avetisyan

Recent Posts

A Hand Reaching Through Three Millennia: The Bronze Pendant from Yeghvard

Pendant (Amulet) in the Shape of a Human Hand | 7th–6th centuries BC | Yeghvard…

5 days ago

Duduk (Tsiranapogh): The Ancient Voice of Armenia from the Bronze Age to UNESCO Heritage

Introduction The duduk (Armenian: դուդուկ)—traditionally known as tsiranapogh (ծիրանափող, “apricot-wood pipe”)—is one of the most…

1 week ago

The Earliest Known Mention of Yerevan in Armenian Epigraphy: The 874 Inscription of Sevanavank

Perched on the rocky peninsula of Lake Sevan, the medieval monastery of Sevanavank preserves one…

3 weeks ago

The Land of Kajants: Language, Kings, and Gods

Reconsidering the Language and Sacred Heritage of Urartu in Armenian Historical Thought For more than…

4 weeks ago

Hayasa-Azzi: A Powerful Armenian Kingdom of the Armenian Highlands

Among the earliest known states of the Armenian Highlands, few are as historically important as…

1 month ago

The Frescoes of Dadivank Monastery and the Misinterpretation of Heritage

The medieval monastery of Dadivank is one of the most important spiritual and artistic centers…

1 month ago