Armenian government officials visit Yerablur on remembrance day for fallen soldiers

Armenia marks the first Day of Remembrance for Those Who Fell Defending the Homeland on January 27.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and senior government officials visited the Yerablur military Pantheon in Yerevan to pay tribute to fallen soldiers. There was a heavy police presence in and around the side in the morning and access to Yerablur was temporarily restricted during the visit, including for journalists, who were barred from covering the official ceremony.

The new remembrance day was established through amendments to Armenia’s law on public holidays and memorial days, sponsored by ruling Civil Contract MP and parliament vice speaker Ruben Rubinyan and independent MP Gegham Nazaryan.

Presenting the bill, Rubinyan said January 27 was chosen because it is not tied to any specific military event but precedes Army Day on January 28. He said the sequence was intended to honor the fallen first, followed by celebrating the army as a symbol of resilience and continuity.

Rubinyan emphasized that the day is not one of mourning, but of remembrance and homage, and does not replace other historically significant dates.