Artur Mkrtchyan, the First Chairman of Supreme Council of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was murdered on April 14.

Mkrtchyan was the first Artsakh leader to challenge the forces that initiated a geopolitical catastrophe.

It was under his guidance that a political decision to start a war was taken.

Artur Mkrtchyan was elected as the Chairman of Supreme Council on January 7, 1992. 98 days into assuming post, he made an important contribution to reinforcing defensive capability of Artsakh. Mkrtchyan was fatally shot under unclear circumstances in April 1992.