Gagik Stepanyan Armenian Fedayeen Date of Birth: 13.02.1965 Country: Armenia

1. Armenian Fedayi
2. Military Service and Karabakh War Involvement
3. Combat and Operations
4. Death and Legacy

Armenian Fedayi

Gagik Stepanian was born into a family with a rich military history. His paternal grandfather fought in the Bash-Aparan battle, while his maternal grandfather reached Berlin during the Great Patriotic War. In his youth, Gagik excelled in boxing, earning the title of Master of Sport and winning several tournaments. His interest in the ancient, pre-Christian religion of Armenia earned him the nickname "Pagan Gaga."

Military Service and Karabakh War Involvement

After serving in the Soviet Army, Gagik joined his brothers, Bagrat and Araik, who were active in the Karabakh movement. In 1990, he played a crucial role in rescuing his brother Araik and his comrades after they seized weapons from a Soviet military unit in Kapan. The brothers then joined Armenian volunteer forces in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Combat and Operations

Gagik fought in several key battles during the Karabakh conflict, including Lachin, Qubatly, Fizuli, and Kelbajar. He commanded an Armenian post at Omar Pass, which was attacked by Azerbaijani forces in March 1994. Despite being wounded, Gagik and his unit launched a fierce counterattack, repelling the enemy and regaining their lost positions.

Death and Legacy

On March 16, 1994, Azerbaijani forces launched another attack on Gagik's post. Outnumbered and under heavy fire, Gagik sacrificed himself to protect his comrades by detonating a grenade, killing both himself and the enemy soldiers.

Gagik Stepanian was posthumously awarded the Order of the Combat Cross, First Class, of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The Yerevan Secondary School No. 135, which he attended, was renamed in his honor. A monument was also erected in his memory in Yerevan in 2009. Gagik Stepanian remains a highly respected and admired figure in Armenia, remembered for his bravery and unwavering commitment to his homeland.