Karateka Arthur had knocked out his Azerbaijani opponent at the age of 15; years later, the fight was already on the battlefield. Arthur won his fight, waging heavy battles against the enemy for about 30 days.
September was the 7th month of compulsory military service for 19-year-old Arthur. During the heaviest days, he was wounded in Jabrayil and, not yet fully recovered, had returned to the battlefield.
“He had told his father, ‘Dear grandfather, God is with me, my wound is nothing in the midst of all this disaster… The day before he left for service, he had said, ‘If necessary, I will defend my homeland at the cost of my life; I will not allow the Turk to reach our families.’ Arthur was very patriotic, inspired by Monte’s ideals, he fought against injustices, and was concerned about the country’s problems. Half-jokingly, half-seriously, he would say, ‘The Artsakh issue will be resolved by war; they are just waiting for my conscription to start it,'” recounted Arthur’s friend, Samuel Hagopyan.
Arthur was one of the best students of the “Kyokushin Karate Federation of Armenia,” held a black belt in karate, and had won numerous victories in Caucasian and European tournaments.
Arthur Sukiasyan was studying in two departments at Yerevan State University: International Relations and Armenian Philology. He was thinking of occupying leadership positions, even becoming president.
“He would say, ‘I am going to become president and finally put our country back on its feet.’ There is no doubt he would have become one and would have built up our country… Arthur was very mature; although he was 7 years younger than me, his way of thinking, worldview, and intelligence did not allow one to remember the age difference,” recounted one of Arthur’s friends, Lala Vardanyan.
Arthur was the long-awaited son of the family. His two sisters are 11 and 12 years older than him.
Arthur was killed on 30 October by a shrapnel wound in Martuni. He was buried on 14 November at Yerablur.
