Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has proposed to posthumously award the title of the National Hero of Armenia to military commander, Colonel Vahagn Asatryan.

"Colonel Asatryan heroically fell two days ago defending the homeland from the Turkish-Azerbaijani terrorist aggression," Pashinyan said Thursday, October 15.

The highest title in Armenia is awarded "for outstanding services of national importance to the Republic of Armenia in defense and strengthening of the state system and creation of important national values."

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and mercenaries deployed by Ankara, launched a large-scale offensive against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27, shelling Armenian positions and civilian settlements with large caliber weapons and rocket systems. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. Foreign and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages. Although a humanitarian ceasefire was supposed to begin on October 10, Azerbaijan has renewed hostilities along the line of contact.