President of the NKR Bako Sahakyan congratulated the participants of the ceremony on the occasion of this glorious date and on receiving high state awards, and expressed confidence that the awards of the motherland will give a new impetus to serve for the benefit of our country and people. Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, NKR NA Speaker Ashot Ghulyan, Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan and other officials were present at the ceremony.

According to the signed decrees, a number of soldiers were awarded the “Combat Cross” 1st degree order, “Battle Cross” 2nd degree medal, medal “For Courage” and medal “For Service in Battle”. NKR President highly appreciated the activities of a number of political, social, scientific, cultural and art figures from Artsakh, Armenia and abroad, as well as participants of the Artsakh national-liberation struggle, freedom fighters, politicians and philanthropists.

YSU Rector Aram Simonyan was awarded “Vachagan the Pious” medal by the decree of the President of Artsakh for the creative achievements in the field of science and activities carried out for the welfare of Nagorno-Karabakh.