STEPANAKERT. – President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan on Friday visited Tonashen village of the Martakert region and participated in a solemn ceremony of opening the memorial to prominent Artsakh political and military figure Shahen Meghryan.

The President granted posthumously the highest Honorary Title of the “Hero of Artsakh” to Shahen Meghryan for his courage shown during the organization of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic’s defense and handed over a Golden Eagle Order to Shahen Meghryan’s son.

President Sahakyan appreciated Shahen Meghryan’s role in the Artsakh national-liberation struggle, the state building process in Artsakh, underlining that his life and activity were among the finest examples of faithful devotion and service to the Motherland.

President Sahakyan also awarded a group of freedom-fighters of the Shahoumyan self-defense detachment for courage and personal bravery shown in the course of the combat activities. Two servicemen were awarded “For Courage” medal, six servicemen “For Service in Battle” medal, three of them posthumously.

Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, defense minister Movses Hakobyan, representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsoutyun) Party Bureau Hrant Margaryan, other officials, guests from Armenia and abroad participated in the event.