October 27 hard lesson that demonstrated statehood ensured by  responsibility, not words - Arman Tatoyan

ArmInfo.  October 27 is a hard lesson that demonstrated that statehood is ensured by responsibility, not words. This statement was made by the political initiative "Wings of Unity" of former Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan on the 26th anniversary of the terrorist attack committed in the Armenian  parliament on October 27, 1999.

As the initiative recalled, the gunshots fired in the Armenian  parliament on October 27, 1999, not only killed people who had become  symbols of statehood but also undermined the state's confidence in  its own powers. "October 27th marked the day of a terrorist attack  against statehood. It was a blow to our unity, state institutions,  and people's faith in a dignified future. People who dedicated their  lives to the development of Armenia, the progress of our society, and  the world were murdered that day. Today, twenty-six years later, we  must not only remember but also speak about the terrible consequences  of this crime, for it must never be forgotten," the statement reads.

The political initiative "Wings of Unity" emphasized in this regard  that no society can be strong if justice is violated and  responsibility for it remains unfulfilled. "October 27th reminds us  that statehood is ensured by responsibility, not words, that serving  the people comes before power, and that politics should never  degenerate into personal vendettas or create an atmosphere of fear,"  the statement continued. The initiative recalled that today, the  entire Armenian people commemorate the Speaker of the Armenian  Parliament, Karen Demirchyan; Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan; Vice  Speakers Yuri Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan; Minister of Operational  Affairs Leonard Petrosyan; and MPs Armenak Armenakyan, Henrik  Abrahamyan, and Mikael Kotanyan-individuals with a sense of  statesmanship, dignity, and responsibility. "Their memory still  compels us to restore faith in statehood and to work together to  create a free and just Armenia, where government is accountable and  human dignity is indisputable. Eternal memory to all the martyrs,"  the political initiative concluded.

On October 27, 1999, a group of terrorists stormed the parliament  building and shot dead Armenian Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan,  National Assembly Speaker Karen Demirchyan, Vice Speakers Yuri  Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan, Minister of Operations Leonard  Petrosyan, and MPs Armenak Armenakyan, Mikael Kotanyan, and Henrik  Abrahamyan. The terrorist group included former journalist Nairi  Hunanyan, who had worked for a time at Armenian Television, his  brother Karen Hunanyan, their uncle Vram Galstyan, as well as Derenik  Bejanyan and Ashot Knyazyan. Their trial began on February 15, 2001.  On December 2, 2003, the Center-Nork-Marash Court of First Instance  sentenced the brothers Nairi and Karen Hunanyan, Edik Grigoryan, Vram  Galstyan (who died in prison in 2004, officially committing suicide),  Derenik Bejanyan, and Ashot Knyazyan to life imprisonment. Hamlet  Stepanyan was sentenced to 14 years in prison (in May 2010, his body  was discovered in his bed at the Nubarashen Penitentiary). All seven  were found guilty of treason and terrorism. The Armenian Court of  Cassation upheld the sentence.