April war hero Suren Melkumyan would turn 40 today

October 10 marks the birthday anniversary of Major Suren Melkumyan who fell heroically during the 2016 April war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, He would turn 40 today.

Suren was born in the village of Tumi in Artsakh’s Hadrut region. In 1987-1997 he studied at the Tumi village school and in 1997-2001 – at Vazgen Sargsyan Military Institute of the Armenian Defense Ministry. He was a career officer in the Artsakh Armed Forces, known for his neatness, strictness and devotion to the military service.

He had about a year and a half left until retirement from military service before being killed on 2 April Jabrayil while repelling the Azerbaijani attack together with his fellow servicemen Lt. Col. Aleksan Arakelyan, Roman Poghosyan, Onik Grigoryan, Sen. Lt. Maksim Grigoryan. Sgt. Adam Sahakyan, Karen Nersisyan, Jun. Sgt. Sasha Galstyan, Pvt. Jora Yesayan, Bagrat Aleksanyan, Tigran Berakchyan, Baris Ozmanyan and Andranik Grigoryan.

The officer was married and had four sons.