YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — The father of Albert Hovhannisyan, an Armenian serviceman killed in the 2020 Artsakh war, said on September 29 that authorities should notify the families of fallen soldiers before making any changes to memorials honoring them.
Artak Hovhannisyan was speaking to reporters at Yerablur Military Pantheon after a large portrait of his son was removed from a wall near the main entrance to Victory Park in Yerevan.
Hovhannisyan said he understood that renovation work was underway in the area but said he could not accept the removal of his son’s portrait without prior notice.
“If there is a decision to carry out renovation work, the issue of the portrait should have been discussed beforehand – whether it would be repainted or covered,” he said.
Hovhannisyan said he learned about the portrait’s removal from media reports. He later spoke with Yerevan Municipality spokesperson Julieta Azaryan, saying officials are now discussing how to honor his son at the site, possibly with a sculpture or another large-scale portrait.
“The location will definitely be Victory Park,” Hovhannisyan said, adding that he would approve the final proposal after discussions.
