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Robert Abajyan – hero of Artsakh would have turned 22 on November 16. Born to bring peace and love Robert immortalized leaving all his dreams and goals unfulfilled. Yet he realized the greatest heroic deed, showed exclusive bravery and courage, sacrificing his life to the motherland.

Abajyan fought for several hours against special forces groups of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces during the April Four-Day war in 2016. After finding himself alone and against larger enemy numbers, he showed as if he was giving up, however when Azeri groups were approaching he pulled out a grenade and blew up the approaching Azeri soldiers with himself.

Abajyan was posthumously awarded with "Hero of Artsakh" which is the highest honorary title of the Artsakh Republic. Abajyan is the youngest person to be awarded the title at 19 years old.

In 2016, Panorama.am reporter had a chance to talk with the hero’s parents.

“When my elder son was born, I was quite young – 21 years old. When Robert was born, I realized that I became a mother. He had an angel beauty,” The hero’s mother said, adding: “He was a special child”. “He was an angel – a real angel. He never hurt anyone, and quite the opposite, was ready to help everyone in need”.

The parents remembered how Robert used to get along with everyone and sometimes people around needed 15-20 minutes of communication with him to start friendship with the bor. “His list of friends included from 5-year-old children to 80-year old people,” Alexander, Robert’s father, recalled. Robert loved when we marked his birthday, the mother recalled her fifth anniversary.

“He invited his father’s friends saying November 16 was his birthday and he was going to celebrate it. All of them came. We laid a table and celebrated. A gold bracelet was presented to him with a marking “Kyaj” (blond). Once he asked where the bracelet was I told I would give that when he had a son. He didn’t’ objected,” the mother recalled.

Robert used to celebrate his birthday in the army as well with his service fellowmen. The boy used to be in the center of attention during any gathering and surrounding - in kindergarten, college or university, where he was taking courses dentistry. During the April war days, when the parents learnt about the situation on the frontline, they had an internal confidence Robert would survive, yet …

Robert’s parents were telling stories of their son interrupting each other, adding and remembering details from his childhood, adolescence and military service. One would think you were listening to a story of a long and rich life experience, however Robert was just 19 years old.