armenian pronounced march october armenian military commander politician defence minister armenia served armenia prime minister june assassination october year rose prominence mass movement unification armenia late 1980s led armenian volunteer groups early clashes forces appointed defence minister president soon armenia independence soviet_union late prominent commander armenian forces different positions regulated military operations war area reached ending war facto unification armenia post war years grip establishing virtual strongly supporting retain power forced president office support concessions settlement negotiations helped prime minister elected president relations deteriorated merged influential war veterans group republican_party joined forces armenia communist leader elections reform minded alliance secured comfortable majority prime minister emerging facto decision maker armenia effective control military legislature assassinated armenian parliament shooting october perpetrators sentenced life prison distrust trial process gave birth number conspiracy theories experts politicians argue assassination minister suspected possible involvement foreign powers shooting despite mixed legacy widely recognized national hero political spectrum public given significant contributions establishment armenia independent state ensuring security founder criticized human rights organizations especially role elections awarded highest titles armenia national hero armenia hero early life career born near turkish border march finishing secondary school village attended worked physical education teacher secondary school exempt conscription soviet army leader amateur writer developed literary active social life wrote novel member armenia headed publicity department spring literary monthly book published awarded number works published journals literary career long ended late 1980s conflict early stages independence armenia relative soviet regime policies mid-1980s gave rise nationalism soviet_union armenia movement gained widespread public support demanded soviet authorities unify armenian populated armenia february regional legislature requested transfer region jurisdiction armenian rejected tensions escalated groups clashes frequent especially disputed border areas soviet took command armenian volunteer groups fighting near armenian border far hometown january leadership elected armenian parliament election served head december initiative established september composed total men formal armenian military unit independent moscow main base armenian army following years armenia forced respective countries remaining homes nearly impossible armenia proclaimed independence soviet_union august september month failed august coup moscow overwhelming majority voted independence nationwide referendum leader head elected president armenia october active military involvement fact popular armenian volunteer units army officers appointed defense minister independent armenia president december january armenian government passed historical decree formally created rise hostilities march announced armenia needed strong army maintaining security armenian forces recorded major military success capture significant victory armenian forces recorded weeks later capture connects armenia proper summer situation turned critical armenian forces following launch operation took control northern half august called armenian men gather form volunteer unit fight advancing forces northern parts televised speech stated men district armenia come form battalion battalion fight dangerous areas chance survival fight difficult parts win reality changed enemy enemy escaping lost faith power need attack old guys stimulate army day tomorrow able establish battalion volunteers fight win battalion called named eagles sentenced death formed august command major general defeated forces near monastery village august september respectively according battalion activity stopped advancement forces turned course war favor armenian region armenian military victory october march served presidential adviser defence affairs armenia subsequently appointed state minister defence security positions major role advance armenian army key commanders regulated operations armenian forces particularly active semi independent detachments active war zone political chaos army resulted armenian forces taking control territories outside original soviet drawn borders founded led union war veterans great influence armenia domestic politics post war years main base rise power early april armenian forces captured city outside originally contested areas causing international attention conflict turkey closed border armenia united_nations passed resolution condemning act summer armenian forces gained territories august controlled early countries devastated war protocol signed heads armenia backed armenia established facto control lands known remains internationally facto unified armenia minister defence president change appointed minister defence july restructuring government remained position years armenian army highly regarded experts armenia described soviet state managed build combat capable army scratch comparable efficiency according army powerful institution armenia credited substantially armenian army showed strong confidence army stated strength doubled past years year response president statements ready solve problem force replied let ready term minister defence marked cooperation russia greece close connections russian military elite especially defense minister according pursued military diplomacy greece cyprus syria iran bulgaria pro russian alliance power minister elections key figure post war armenia fact supported army established institution armenia described armenian politics deciding personnel appointments aftermath war accompanied harsh economic crisis armenia president unpopular authoritarian rule banning major opposition party arrest leaders highly dependent power structures included headed interior july helped win parliamentary election pass constitutional referendum gave president powers appointing dismissing key judicial legislative officials marred major electoral violations impact presidency evident presidential election subsequent developments days election stated support stating armenia enter 21st century stable president according turned voters caused people according poll election held september largely criticized observation monitoring organizations found violations election law official results recorded victory round total vote favor denounced opposition candidate officially received vote began demonstrations claiming electoral fraud supporters protests culminated september led thousands supporters parliament building avenue located time later day protesters broke fence surrounding parliament entered building beat parliament speaker vice speaker response stated opposition win percent votes army recognize political leaders later criticized human rights organizations statement state security forces tanks troops deployed restore order enforce ban rallies demonstrations september minister announced respective agencies prevented attempted coup état leadership split resignation chaired russia united_states france pressured armenia agree final status september stated support step step proposal included return territories outside borders argued relations opening border turkey way significantly improve armenia economy plan publicized came strong opposition issue important historical psychological factors having losing territories centuries reluctant lose won war according political scientist calling major concessions forces supported rule army elite time popularity armenian society lowest republic leadership armenian opposition expressed opposition president support proposed settlement plan quickly denounced proposal facto leader opposing group government joined government prime minister interior national security minister politicians referred western media perceived stance argued armenia try improve economic performance insisted armenia achieve marginal improvements insufficient address fear relative decline economic exclusion cabinet leading figure called package deal involving single framework accord contentious issues october members parliament left faction shifted support parliament left majority seats despite great public political opposition voted favor foreign policy meeting january clear support continue reign president january peak crisis declared support blamed trying armenia guaranteed armenian army intervene political struggle announced resignation february according played ultimately principal role president resignation resignation statement referred known body power cited threat country reason resignation resignation followed resignation speaker deputies mayor foreign affairs minister significant change occurred dozens members parliamentary faction called joined making largest parliamentary members compared republic resignation prime minister acting president february denied claims coup état said resignation sad natural claimed president surprised seeking common grounds president past months added step achieved issue suggestion situation frozen year resignation stated republican_party convention respects described wise moral man politician insisted question political responsibility main reason resignation election president interior minister openly supported influence election march called man unity word action stated experience armenia shows capable solving economic problems main opponent leader praised struggle armenian people criticized candidate gained half votes round second round election held march won vote suggests ordinary turned mafia connections politics observation mission described round deeply flawed final report stated mission found flaws election meet standards didn officially dispute election results accepted election suggested appoint prime minister decrease tensions political scene president significant institutional support party control army source money remained fundamental sense outsider tough position settlement issue urged international community recognize armenian genocide predecessor place importance response turkey cooperation armenia regional projects pressure leadership territory supported allowed actively operate resignation month election rise power power throne faction war veterans loyal single largest faction armenian parliament following resignation february merged republican_party armenia minor party ideology similar summer taking party legal status chairman republican_party considered unofficial leader relations deteriorated presidential election casting partners unconnected downright opposed president months officials took place spread rumors armenia relations normal august armenia prosecutor general close friend murdered office circumstances december deputy minister defence murdered equally mysterious motives february deputy minister interior murdered interior minister close ally perceived odds alliance initially announced republican_party parliamentary election seek majority parliament goal electoral process surprisingly march runner presidential election armenia communist leader issued joint announcement forming alliance armenia republican_party came known unity referred claimed genuine alliance parties come lead armenia turning point progress asked reasons joined said way according obviously concluded better popular ally opponent forming unity overcame ideological differences said joined forces overcome difficult problems facing armenia promoting tolerance country political life analyst words odd mix admitted effectively electoral threat parties described unification new old wrote unity aimed appeal electorate things men suggested alliance created electoral purposes strategic political agreement reached overcoming ideological differences parliamentary election campaign pledged spare effort sure elections free fair emphasis campaign economy improvement life ordinary talking politically transformed said confident people gained victory battlefield gain victory economy expressed optimism saying sure jointly change find right course unity called broadly democratic society rule law economic reforms market economy state creating conditions normal functioning state enterprises ensuring decent living standards campaign unity widely considered favorite election opposition newspaper suggested political parties armenia opposite pole minister leadership parliamentary election took place months announcement decision form alliance unity won popular vote took seats alliance established effective majority group independent officially non affiliated members parliament sympathetic coalition electoral process generally showed improvement previous flawed elections said adequate basis comparison final report described election step compliance commitments claimed improvements electoral framework political environment issues remained suggested considerable improvement past elections report critical saying failed meet international standards proved continuation flawed parliamentary elections differing methods types manipulation prime ministry republican_party convention january stated desire remaining position minister defence election wanting combine positions defence minister prime minister impossible according armenian constitution june prime minister armenia unity chairman elected speaker experts suggest prime minister powerful politician armenia suggest armenia strongest politician long according activities began despite formal welcome alliance president effectively weakened sidelined political analysts suggested alliance ultimately bring resignation stated end like queen england despite longer minister defence remained facto leader army close ally replaced according analyst member armenian parliament despite mixed legacy armenia increasingly independent economic policy time armenia recovered economic effects dissolution soviet_union energy crisis armenia major issues faces emigration armenian started period decline soviet regime held international creditors responsible armenia economic hardships leave room manoeuvres armenian government shape policies strongly according economic social needs majority population russian financial crisis worsened situation showed decline human development address parliament prime minister june described armenia economic situation grave budget revenues lower government planned low level tax collection high level corruption armenian economy criticized post soviet government admitted armenia alternative government enormous work speech july described economic situation armenia extremely difficult hopeless according half saw million revenues planned government said tax played role budget deficit despite criticized opposition especially unity voted favor mps measures cabinet august allowing armenia loans loaned billion armenia finance budget cabinet wanted million budget funds order able repay internal debts purpose tax raised cigarettes gasoline seriously hitting middle class described painful right steps getting necessary money foreign pledged tougher crackdown shadow economy efficient governance speaker called greater role state economy ensure stability president developments notable events prime ministry helped organize major events august began armenian athletes countries participated games closing ceremony took place september president attendance games involved thousands armenian youth preparations eighth anniversary armenia independence began september anniversary day voted favor leaving soviet_union referendum military parade held republic square visibly excited government leaders standing specially built pedestal short briefing parade enthusiastically stated touched piece hardware seen continued wanted armenian people days september held conference brought armenian political elite organizations political parties religious leaders writers representatives armenian communities countries unprecedented number opened second day conference speech report economic social situation armenia conference closed assassination shooting funeral october men brother karen uncle armed rifles hidden long coats broke building government holding question answer session shot dead speaker deputy speakers minister urgent affairs parliament members gunmen injured people parliament group claimed carrying coup état described act patriotic needed nation regain senses said wanted punish authorities nation described government drinking blood people claimed armenia catastrophic situation corrupt officials provide way main target group deaths said according reporters witnessed shooting men went said drinking blood responded future children hit times eyewitness journalist stated shots fired directly distance meters words impossible survived body taken parliament building evening october policemen army troops armed surrounding building president gave speech announcing situation control gunmen released hostages overnight negotiations president gave morning october lasted hours october president declared day mourning period state funeral ceremony victims parliament shooting took place october october bodies victims including placed inside number high ranking officials countries including russian prime minister georgian president attended funeral holy gave prayers investigation conspiracy theories men charged terrorism aimed authority october investigation led chief military prosecutor armenia claimed team looking shooting trial begun according investigating team considered dozen theories january investigators considered connection circle parliament shooting figures close arrested including deputy presidential adviser deputy director armenia summer year released eventually failed find evidence linking shooting trial began february eventually main perpetrators shooting younger brother uncle sentenced life prison december possible motives attack gave birth number conspiracy theories son stated authorities prevent crime conversely cover crime march younger brother stated questions governments claimed judicial process october deepened public distrust authorities questions remain unanswered today according disclosure shooting vital armenia conclusion insisted accused authorities responsible october accused fully october event april interview widow suggested shooting ordered outside armenia attempt coup assassination investigation find considerable evidence linking group armenian politicians analysts believe president minister assassination leading politicians stated come conclusion crime aimed making power unlimited physically eliminating organizers wanted create victory future presidential elections accused criminal system real perpetrators parliament shooting leader armed group member according expelled party misconduct association involvement stated worried number party leaders acting interest american foreign policy allegations foreign involvement analysts suggested foreign powers including russia shooting pointed fact armenia close signing kind agreement istanbul summit russia interest russian secret service accused general staff having organised armenian parliament shooting ostensibly peace process resolved conflict offered evidence support accusation russian armenian officials denied claims french based armenian political refugee priest known religious gave interview armenian media network claimed russian secret services october shooting claimed shooting deputy minister defense national security minister insisted shooting assisted russian secret services order bring neo criminal clan power suggested best interest west remove political scene close ties russia leading members minister national security adviser close ally stated october armenian officials warned foreign country declared western special services involved october events words special services france acting destroy armenia context likely involved realization terrorist acts armenia claimed shooting planned order rid major rivals plan involving territorial concessions aftermath shooting interior national security ministers resigned result pressure led ally time early june late october political system armenia based tandem controlled military legislative executive branches disrupted political balance country political arena armenia left disarray months facto dual command transferred president claims called clan kept check military security apparatus parliament shooting came sole influential group able successfully political scene armenia leaders unity assassinated parties alliance republican_party armenia armenia gradually lost edges collaboration late unity collapsed republican_party effectively lost influence personal life brothers married according friend promised december marry march year movement started february claimed popular movement interview revealed favorite historical military figure asked kind armenia like years said independent self sufficient country strong culture school army younger brothers appointed prime minister president november week death largely political gesture admitted armenia concept state security fact led assassination brother served position prime minister months dismissed inability work cabinet television statement claimed relieved end disarray armenian leadership blamed involved political games founded party april influential members mayor defence minister founder stated party bearer political heritage try realize programs aborted october crime consequences party backed presidential elections interview talked past years brother death brother supported presidential election march asked brother political stance responded like ask question don know answered don know answers questions unfortunately friends relatives way want history world examples starting bible legacy tribute awarded hero title highest award december months parliament shooting posthumously given armenia title widely recognized founder armenian army presidential decree issued december named military academy honor named decree numerous streets armenia including district park named statues erected honor locations october declared day remembrance armenian government created medal awarded services military education improvements service life year march birthday october day assassination commemorated armenia comrades high state officials visit cemetery buried armenian military figures museum opened hometown march decision armenian government notable attendees opening ceremony museum included premier minister speaker defence minister high ranking military diplomatic representatives russian minister defence revealed speech ceremony student referred military rank existed ancient kingdom armenia phrase literally meaning commander engraved memorial cemetery song dedicated memory public image recognition armenia lesser extent armenian recognized national hero survey conducted inc revealed topped list national heroes public perception respondents giving left prominent early 20th century military commanders widely considered charismatic leader generally perceived man tremendous power charisma known brutality temper attitude law contributions acknowledged colleagues comrades president stated deserves title added members government worked live perfect state armenia second president said speech funeral history provide assessment politician stood birth armenian state role creation national army life commitment immense contribution establishment powerful country giving speech occasion 15th anniversary defence minister incumbent president noted soldier dedicated cause revered strength armenia strength armenian soldier staunch belief future success leader recognized contributions stating strong individual greatness felt war nation building years war according presence foreign leaders director wrote shortly assassination west generally described strong nationalist british journalist wrote fierce nationalist preferred action force words diplomacy describes armenian nationalist devoted life armenian fight control political scientist expressed opinion significant nationalist politician commitment armenia doubted criticized particularly influence pre determining election results suggested record inspire confidence commitment democracy book religious freedom world described held responsible assaults religious minorities armenia especially discourage military service carried allegedly describes feudal baron claims controlled large areas economy
Vazgen Sargsyan