Istanbul Armenian community mourns the killed soldierApril 28, 2011 - 10:43 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Ethnic Armenian, 25-year-old Sevag Şahin Balıkçı, who was killed in a Turkish military unit on April 24, the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, was buried in Istanbul's Sisli district cemetery on April 27. A service was offered at Surb Vardanants Armenian Church. According to Radikal newspaper, both Armenians and Turks attended the funeral. Wreaths were sent from the military, local authorities as well as from Istanbul Mayor. Coadjutor of the Constantinople Patriarch, archbishop Aram Ateshyan and Hrant Dink's widow Rakel Dink were also present. Reports on Sevag's death are contradicting. One report says that he was killed “because of careless use of weapon", another report testifies that the Armenian was shot dead. Investigation into the death is under way. “I want the truth to come out as soon as possible. I don't think it happened when they were joking around. I knew Sevag really well. He was not someone who would joke around with guns,” his fiancée Melani Kumruyan said. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |