Fallen female soldier's sister accuses Armenian government of downplaying border losses

The sister of a female Armenian soldier killed in clashes with Azerbaijan in 2022 on Tuesday accused the government of downplaying border developments and failing to support troops guarding the country’s frontier.

Lala Abgaryan, a member of the Wings of Unity initiative, made the remarks while presenting claims to Armenia’s Defense Ministry about Azerbaijani incursions into Armenia’s sovereign territory in 2025.

Abgaryan criticised Defense Minister Suren Papikyan for previously dismissing such reports as false.

“At one of the recent parliament sessions, which I can only describe as kolkhoz-style gatherings, Mr. Papikyan said that we were lying,” she said.

She added that Armenia recorded 207 military fatalities in 2023 and said none of the fallen had been mentioned during parliament sessions.

“My sister was killed on September 13, 2022. Being a woman, she did not retreat and did not abandon her position,” Abgaryan said. “Why should Azerbaijan today be able to advance without firing a single bullet?”

Addressing Papikyan, she urged the defense minister not to accuse activists of lying but instead to explain the concealment of territorial losses.

“Soldiers standing at the positions and their families know very well what is happening,” she said, asking the authorities why they were “breaking the backs of border guards” instead of standing behind them to help keep the border secure.

“If you think it is nothing because this mountain peak is covered in snow for much of the year, it may be snow for you, but for us it is our homeland,” Abgaryan said. “If a city looks dull to you, for us it is still our homeland.”

“I hope you will leave soon and allow the people to live,” she added.