Ruben Abajyan, elder brother of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) hero Robert Abajyan, who had fallen during the four-day war which Azerbaijan had unleashed against Artsakh in April, found it difficult to explain in words what he felt when 2016 Summer Olympics champion, Greco-Roman wrestler Artur Aleksanyan from Gyumri, Armenia, was wearing a T-shirt with a photo of Robert during the medal ceremony. 

Ruben told Armenian News-NEWS.am that they had not noticed this T-shirt right away while watching the ceremony, and that he had seen it later, when he watched the medal ceremony a second time on YouTube.

“It was much unexpected for me, for my family members,” added Ruben. “I can’t explain what emotions I had. I was touched, I felt pride; it’s hard to explain. We [i.e. Armenia] won, and, also, he [i.e. Aleksanyan] received the gold medal wearing a shirt with the photo of my brother.”

Artur Aleksanyan on Tuesday became the 14th Olympic champion in the history of Armenia.