The two minors of the late contract serviceman Hayk Tevoyan, 40, killed as a result of the Azerbaijani firing on 3 September 2015, still believe in Santa Clause.

Hayk’s children, 6-year-old Anahit and 5-year-old Aram, didn’t ask the Santa Clause to bring them toys, like other children do; their only request was to return their father killed on the border.  

Little Anahit says she also wants a singing doll, but didn’t write about her wish in the letter to Santa Clause. “Mum said to write a letter to Santa Clause, asking to bring back Dad,” Anahit says uneasily. The letter with the same wish was written by Hayk’s son Aram with his mother’s help.

Aram, the youngest in the family and Hayk’s favorite, misses his Dad but puts up with this, thinking he is still in Karabakh. He is sure Dad will come soon and bring him a weapon or take him to Karabakh. “Aram only speaks about his father: he asks all the time when Dad will return,” Hayk’s widow, Javakhir Tevoyan, says.

Hayk’s 13-year old son, Karlen, neither believes in Santa Clause nor dreams. He looks at his father’s portrait for a long time, tears appear in his eyes, but he chokes them back like a real man. “I’ll serve. I must serve my homeland and take a revenge for my father,” the boy says firmly.  

Hayk Tevoyan died as a result of firing from the Azerbaijani side in the night of September 3. The soldier left behind five children, 3 of whom are minors. The family lives in harsh social conditions, receiving welfare.   Hayk Tevoyan was posthumously awarded with Combat Service Medal for courage and heroism displayed during the protection of homeland borders.