Jirair Sefilian: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 21:59, 2 December 2008 editSerouj (talk \| contribs)Pending changes reviewers6,573 edits →Sources: Quote+← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 05:24, 2 November 2024 edit undoMonkbot (talk \| contribs)Bots3,695,952 editsm Task 20: replace {lang-??} templates with {langx\|??} ‹See Tfd› (Replaced 1);Tag: AWB
(153 intermediate revisions by 94 users not shown)
Line 1:		Line 1:
			{{Short description\|Lebanese-born Armenian military commander and activist}}
	{{Infobox Person \|
			{{Infobox military person
	name = Jirair Sefilian \|
	~~image~~ = ~~Jirayr~~ Sefilian~~.jpg \|~~		\| name = Jirair Sefilian
			\| native_name = Ժիրայր Սէֆիլեան
	caption = Jirair Sefilian in 2008 in Yerevan \|
			\| image = Jirayr Sefilyanaaa.jpg
	birth_date = \|
			\| image_size = 225px
	birth_place = ], ] \|
			\| caption = Sefilian in 2020
	death_date = \|
			\| birth_date = {{Birth date and age\|1967\|07\|10\|df=yes}}
	death_place =
			\| birth_place = ], ]
			\| death_date =
			\| death_place =
			\| placeofburial =
			\| placeofburial_label =
			\| placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord\|LAT\|LONG\|display=inline,title}} -->
			\| nickname =
			\| birth_name =
			\| allegiance = {{flag\|Armenia}}<br />{{flag\|Republic of Artsakh}}
			\| branch = ]
			\| serviceyears = 1983–1998
			\| rank = ]
			\| servicenumber =
			\| unit =
			\| commands = Shushi Military Company<br />NKR Defense Army Brigade
			\| battles =
			{{tree list}}
			* ]
			** ]
			* ]<ref name="Yerevan p. 591">Ղարաբաղյան ազատագրական պատերազմ 1988-1994, encyclopedia, Yerevan, p. 591</ref>
			** ]
			** ]
			** ]
			** ]
			{{tree list/end}}
			\| battles_label =
			\| awards = {{ubl\|] <small>(1st degree)</small>}}
			\| relations =
			\| laterwork =
			\| signature =
	}}		}}

			'''Jirair Simoni Sefilian''' ({{langx\|hy\|Ժիրայր Սիմոնի Սէֆիլեան <small>(])</small>, Ժիրայր Սիմոնի Սեֆիլյան <small>(])</small>}}; born July 10, 1967) is a ]-born ]n military commander and ] activist. During the ], he commanded the ''Shushi'' special military battalion, playing a significant role during the ]. From 1997 to 1998 Sefilian was a Brigade Commander in the ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web\|last=Atanesian\|first=Grigor\|date=September 24, 2018\|title=Armenia's hardliners try going mainstream\|url=https://eurasianet.org/armenias-hardliners-try-going-mainstream\|access-date=May 19, 2021\|website=eurasianet.org\|language=en}}</ref>
	'''Jirair Sefilian''' (]: in ] Ժիրայր Սեֆիլեան, in ] Ժիրայր Սեֆիլյան; born in 1967, in ], ]) is an ]n military commander and ] activist. Alternative spellings of his name include '''Jirayr Sefilyan''' and '''Zhirayr Sefilyan'''.

			He has long campaigned against any territorial concessions to ] in ] and against Russian influence in Armenia. Sefilian is one of the key figures of the ] and the ].
	==Biography==
	Sefilian graduated from the ''Kevork Chatalbashian College'' in ]. During the ], he took part in the defense of the ] of Beirut.

			==Early and personal life==
	In 1990, with the purpose of participating in the ] (Artsakh) movement, Sefilian moved to ] with his family. As a military instructor, he was involved in the formation of ] in Karabakh and ]. In 1991, as a military detachment commander, Sefilian took part in the defense of several districts of ]. In 1992 he became the commander of the ''Shushi'' special military brigade, playing a significant role during the ].
			], 2009]]
			Sefilian graduated from Kevork Chatalbashian College in ] in 1986. During the ], he took part in the defense of the Armenian Quarters of Beirut (mainly ]) from 1983 to 1990.

			In 1990, with the purpose of participating in the ] he was sent to Armenia by the ], Sefilian moved to ] with his family. As a military instructor, he was involved in the formation of ] in Karabakh and ]. In 1991, as a commander of a military detachment, Sefilian took part in the defense of several districts of ]. In 1992 he was chosen by the ARF to be the commander of the ''Shushi'' special military company, playing a significant role during the ]. He also participated in other battles, including the ], the ], and the ].<ref name="Yerevan p. 591">Ղարաբաղյան ազատագրական պատերազմ 1988-1994, encyclopedia, Yerevan, p. 591</ref>
	Following the ], in 1997-1998 he was the ] Defense Army Brigade Commander. Sefilian was awarded with the First Degree Order of “Martakan Khach” (Fighting Cross) military medals, and other government awards. He is an army ] of the Republic of Armenia. Since 2001, Sefilian has been coordinating the activities of the public initiative group, "Liberated territories".

			Following the ], Sefilian returned to Lebanon and was unable to return until 1997 due to the ban on the ARF at the time.<ref name=":0" /> From 1997 to 1998 he was a Brigade Commander in the Artsakh Defense Army.<ref name=":0" /> Sefilian was awarded with the First Degree ] (“Martakan Khach”). He holds the rank of ] in the Armenian Army. In 1999 he left the ARF. Since 2001, Sefilian has been coordinating the activities of the public initiative group, "Liberated Territories Defense Committee".
	Sefilian and Vartan Malkhasian, the leaders of opposition group called the Alliance of Armenian Volunteers, were arrested in 2006. Human rights observers charged the arrest was politically motivated and that authorities used the controversial article of the Criminal Code to intimidate the opposition.<ref></ref> ] of Armenia ] also condemned Sefilian's and his friends' arrest and marked that Sefilian, Vartan Malkhasian, and Vahan Aroyan "didnt break the judicial legislation"<ref></ref>.

			Sefilian and Vartan Malkhasian, the leaders of opposition group called the Alliance of Armenian Volunteers, were arrested in 2006. Human rights observers claimed that the arrest was politically motivated and that authorities used a controversial article of the criminal code to intimidate the opposition.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100546.htm\|title=Armenia\|date=11 March 2008 \|access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref> ] of Armenia ] also condemned Sefilian's and his friends' arrest and noted that Sefilian, Vartan Malkhasian, and Vahan Aroyan "didn't break the judicial legislation".<ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.azg.am/AR/0000000201 \|title=Armen Harutyunyan's interview, ''Azg'' Armenian daily, 2007 \|access-date=2008-08-03 \|archive-date=2008-10-28 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028225551/http://www.azg.am/AR/0000000201 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>
	According to ]n journalist, colonel Svetana Paskaleva, "Jirair is one of the living icons I knew - ], ], ]... Im happy that I know him"!<ref></ref>

			According to Armenian-]n journalist, Colonel ], "Jirair is one of the living icons I knew - ], ], ]… I'm happy that I know him!"<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.azg.am/?lang=AR&num=2007030315\|title=AZG Armenian Daily - WAP-version\|access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref>
	===2007 imprisonment and release===
	On August 6, 2007, Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan of the ] and ] Court of First Instance found Sefilian not guilty of violating Article 301 of the Republic of Armenia Criminal Code (issuing anti-constitutional statements), but found him guilty of violating the first section of Article 235 of the Criminal Code (illegal possession of a weapon) and sentenced him to 1.5 years imprisonment.<ref name="Hetq-Aug-6-07">, ] - Investigative Journalists of Armenia, August 6, 2007.</ref>

			==Imprisonments==
	Sefilian has claimed his innocence and that no crime has been committed on his part: "This is not a court, this is a theater. Even the biggest supporter of the government cannot show evidence of ] in our actions. This is all an order. The ] is working to the gain of two people (] and ]). All those who had something to do with this case will eventually answer for it. The famous pair is foolishly trying to punish me and to scare the people. My dear people, we must not fear this anti-Armenian regime, we must struggle against it. This amoral regime is not powerful, we are powerful."<ref name="Hetq-Aug-6-07"/>
			===First arrest===
			On August 6, 2007, Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan of the ] and ] Court of First Instance found Sefilian not guilty of violating Article 301 of Armenia's Criminal Code (issuing anti-constitutional statements), but found him guilty of violating the first section of Article 235 of the Criminal Code (illegal possession of a weapon) and sentenced him to 1.5 years imprisonment.<ref name="Hetq-Aug-6-07"> {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517015753/http://archive.hetq.am/eng/court/0708-sefilyan.html \|date=2008-05-17 }}, ] - Investigative Journalists of Armenia, August 6, 2007.</ref>

			Sefilian claimed his innocence and that no crime has been committed on his part: "This is not a court, this is a theater. Even the biggest supporter of the government cannot show evidence of ] in our actions. This is all an order. The ] is working for the interests of two people (] and ]). All those who had something to do with this case will eventually answer for it. The famous pair is foolishly trying to punish me and to scare the people. My dear people, we must not fear this anti-Armenian regime, we must struggle against it. This amoral regime is not powerful, we are powerful."<ref name="Hetq-Aug-6-07"/>
	Sefilian completed his 18-month sentence on June 9, 2008 and was subsequently released from prison.<ref></ref> He was greeted by hundreds of Armenians who came "to congratulate the hero on his liberty".<ref></ref> However, Sefilian continues to face the threat of deportation from Armenia since May 2008 and has since begun seeking ] and citizenship in the ]. As of May 2008, Sefilian has been denied Armenian citizenship.<ref name="Hetq-May-12-08">, ] - Investigative Journalists of Armenia, May 12, 2008.</ref>

			In 2012, the ] fined the Armenian authorities for keeping Sefilian under pre-trial arrest without sufficient legal grounds. According to the court, the National Security Service had illegally wiretapped Sefilian's phone conversations.<ref name="azatutyun.am">{{cite news\|url=http://www.azatutyun.am/a/26842754.html\|title=Opposition Group Vows Another Campaign Trip To Karabakh\|newspaper=«Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան \|date=11 February 2015 \|access-date=17 July 2016 \|last1=Harutyunyan \|first1=Sargis }}</ref>
	Since release, Jirair Sefilian has given support to former Armenian president and opposition leader ] despite ideological differences with the latter, who is a vocal advocate of a compromise settlement with Azerbaijan.<ref name="NewArmGroup"></ref> On ], 2008, Sefilian alongside intellectuals and a group of prominent opposition figures founded the Miatsum (Unification) National Initiative which campaigns against Armenian territorial concessions to Azerbaijan over the Karabakh dispute.<ref name="NewArmGroup"/>

			On January 31, 2015 Sefilian and other members of Founding Parliament were forcibly barred from entering the territory of the ]. The Karabakh police attacked the procession of about 30 cars. More than two dozen people, including Sefilian, were injured. As a result, the Karabakh president ordered a police inquiry into the incident.<ref name="azatutyun.am"/>
	== Quotes ==
	{{Quote box
	\| quote = For the first time in history, the Armenian is assimilating .<br/>Հայը առաչին անգամ ըլլալով իր հողի վրայ ձուլուոմ է։
	\| source =
	}}

	==~~Sources~~==		===Second arrest===
			]
	{{reflist}}
			On April 8, 2015 Armenian authorities arrested the leaders of the Founding Parliament opposition group seeking to launch antigovernment protests on April 24. The National Security Service and the Investigative Committee of Armenia announced that “organization of mass disturbances at public places on April 24, 2015 has been thwarted as a result of their joint action". Sefilian and his three associates had their homes searched at the same day.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://massispost.com/2015/04/founding-parliament-opposition-group-leaders-arrested-ahead-of-anti-government-protests/\|title="Founding Parliament" Opposition Group Leaders Arrested Ahead Of Anti-Government Protests – Armenian News By MassisPost\|date=7 April 2015 \|access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref> Several human rights organizations of Armenia recognized them as political prisoners. The head of Armenian Helsinki committee Avetik Ishkhanyan called them prisoners of conscience, "because they did not take any action, they did not incite riots, but had only civil disobedience as their goal".<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.azatutyun.am/a/26945478.html\|title=Իրավապաշտպանները քաղաքական բանտարկյալներ են համարում ՀԽ-ի ձերբակալված անդամներին\|newspaper=«Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան \|date=8 April 2015 \|access-date=17 July 2016 \|last1=Սահակյան \|first1=Նանե }}</ref>

			Sefilian and other leading members of the Founding Parliament were released from custody in May 2015 following a prosecutor's request to change the measure of restraint applied against them to a written affidavit not to leave the country.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.armenianow.com/news/63103/armenia_jirair_sefilian_founding_parliament_released\|title=Sefilian, other Founding Parliament activists released, confined to city limits - News - ArmeniaNow.com\|access-date=17 July 2016\|archive-date=18 November 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118173100/http://www.armenianow.com/news/63103/armenia_jirair_sefilian_founding_parliament_released\|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	==Links==

	*
			On June 30, 2015 the Founding Parliament issued a statement claiming that unidentified individuals were following Sefilian for hours. The political movement demanded Armenian law enforcement to identify the individuals following Sefilian.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://hetq.am/eng/news/61239/founding-parliament-says-unidentified-individuals-following-jirayr-sefilyan.html\|title=Founding Parliament Says Unidentified Individuals Following Jirayr Sefilyan - Hetq - News, Articles, Investigations\|date=30 June 2015 \|access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref>
	*

	*, ], March 22, 2007.
			===Third arrest===
			On June 20, 2016, Jirair Sefilian was arrested again. According to Armenia's Special Investigation Service, Jirair Sefilian and a group of people planned to seize buildings and communication facilities, including the Yerevan TV tower.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/215111/\|title=Opposition activist Jirair Sefilian arrested in Armenia\|access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref>

			Varuzhan Avetisian, a senior New Armenia member, claimed that the opposition leader was arrested because he planned to campaign against Armenian territorial concessions to Azerbaijan.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.azatutyun.am/a/27809198.html\|title=Armenian Oppositionist Arrested Over 'Coup Plot'\|newspaper=«Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան \|date=20 June 2016 \|access-date=17 July 2016 \|last1=Hambardzumian \|first1=Artak }}</ref>

			On July 17, 2016 a group of armed men close to Sefilian ], taking several hostages.<ref name=":0" /> The armed group, calling itself Sasna Tsrer, demanded President Serzh Sargsyan's resignation and tried to negotiate Sefilian's release from prison.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web\|last=Service\|first=RFE/RL's Armenian\|title=One Dead As Armed Men Storm Yerevan Police Station, Take Hostages\|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/armenia-opposition-group-attack-police-station-hostages/27863123.html\|access-date=17 July 2016\|via=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty}}</ref> The hostage crisis resulted in the death of three policemen, although the gunmen admitted to killing only one and claimed the other two were killed by police.<ref name=":0" />

			On August 8, 2016 Sefilian sent a letter from the prison where he demanded Serzh Sargsyan's resignation and snap parliamentary and presidential elections.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=August 6, 2016\|title=Armenia's Founding Parliament leader Sefilian writes another letter, mentioning 4 demands\|url=https://news.am/eng/news/340843.html\|access-date=May 19, 2021\|website=news.am\|language=en}}</ref>

			Sefilian was released from prison on June 13, 2018, shortly after the ].<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Kocharyan\|first=Stepan\|date=June 13, 2018\|title=Jirayr Sefilyan released on signature bond, sentence cut in half\|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/937324.html\|access-date=May 19, 2021\|website=armenpress.am\|language=en}}</ref>

			==Citizenship issue==
			Sefilian completed his 18-month sentence on June 9, 2008, and was subsequently released from prison.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=3108&CID=3008&lng=eng&IID=1190\|title=ArmeniaNow.com - Local news, Global audience\|access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref> Sefilian continued to face the threat of deportation from Armenia and began seeking ] and citizenship in the ]. In 2018 Sefilian was granted Armenian citizenship.<ref name="Hetq-May-12-08"> {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614072518/http://www.hetq.am/eng/politics/8043/ \|date=2008-06-14 }}, ] - Investigative Journalists of Armenia, May 12, 2008.</ref>
			] (December 2015)]]

			==Political views and activities==
			In his letters and announcements made from the prison, Jirair Sefilian supported former Armenian president and opposition leader ] despite ideological differences with the latter,<ref name="NewArmGroup">{{cite news\|url=http://www.azatutyun.am/a/1598077.html\|title=New Armenian Group Demands Hard Line On Karabakh\|newspaper=«Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան \|date=2 April 2009 \|access-date=17 July 2016 \|last1=ռ/կ \|first1=Ազատություն }}</ref> but later (in 2009) he criticized Ter-Petrosyan's views on Armenia-Azerbaijan and Armenia-Turkey relations and suggested that he leave the all-Armenian people's movement.<ref>Interview with Jirair Sefilian// Cdaily.am, 19.11.09</ref> On 30 October 2008, Sefilian alongside intellectuals and a group of prominent activists founded the ] (Unification) National Initiative which campaigns against Armenian territorial concessions to Azerbaijan over the Karabakh dispute.<ref name="NewArmGroup"/>

			In 2009, together with ] and ] he founded the Sardarapat Movement. Sefilian is the leader of Founding Parliament opposition group.

			On 8 May 2013, Sefilian claimed in an interview that ] and ] had a very small role in the ] and accused them of corruption.<ref>{{cite news\|script-title=hy:Սերժ Սարգսյանը և Ռոբերտ Քոչարյանը ոչ մի լուրջ ներդրում չեն ունեցել Արցախյան պատերազմում. Ժիրայր Սեֆիլյան \|url=http://www.tert.am/am/news/2013/05/08/gharabagh-war-sefilyan/%D5%8D%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%AA \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130627101432/http://www.tert.am/am/news/2013/05/08/gharabagh-war-sefilyan/%D5%8D%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%AA \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=27 June 2013 \|access-date=8 May 2013 \|newspaper=Tert.am \|date=8 May 2013 \|language=hy }}</ref> In 2015, along with ], he founded the ] to prevent ]'s constitutional change initiative.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://rus.azatutyun.am/content/article/27302443.html\|title=Раффи Ованнисян и Жирайр Сефилян формируют совместный оппозиционный штаб\|date=12 October 2015 \|access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://armenianow.com/news/constitution/68221/armenia_opposition_new_armenia_sefilian_hovannisian_rally_march\|title=December "Nonstop": Opposition group starts round-the-clock protests in Yerevan - Constitution - ArmeniaNow.com\|access-date=17 July 2016\|archive-date=12 December 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212234605/http://www.armenianow.com/news/constitution/68221/armenia_opposition_new_armenia_sefilian_hovannisian_rally_march\|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was also the leader of the Founding Parliament opposition group.

			Sefilian and his allies frequently speak out against Russian influence in Armenia and Armenia's participation in Russian-led organizations such as the ] and the ].<ref name=":0" /> Instead, he advocates for closer relations with the United States and other Western countries.<ref name=":0" />

			In September 2018, Sefilian participated in the founding of the Sasna Tsrer Pan-Armenian Party together with his political allies, including participants in the ].<ref>{{Cite news\|title=Jirair Sefilyan: "Sasna Dzrer Political Party Will be Cornerstone of the New Armenia" – Hetq – News, Articles, Investigations\|language=en\|url=http://hetq.am/eng/news/93500/jirair-sefilyan-sasna-dzrer-political-party-will-be-cornerstone-of-the-new-armenia.html\|access-date=2018-10-05}}</ref> Although Sefilian initially sought cooperation with Prime Minister ], he and Sasna Tsrer became more critical of Pashinyan's government over time.<ref name=":0" /> In May 2020, Sefilian signed a declaration called for snap elections and the formation of a new government, which was followed by the founding of the ], a political alliance including Sasna Tsrer.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Նախաձեռնում ենք ազգային-ժողովրդավարական բեւեռ կայացնելու գործընթաց. հայտարարություն\|url=https://lurer.com/?p=368482&l=am\|website=lurer.com\| date=26 November 2023 }}</ref> Following the Armenian defeat in the ], Sefilian called for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and participated in protests held by the National Democratic Pole.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Hakobyan\|first=Ashot\|date=May 6, 2021\|title=Ժիրայր Սեֆիլյան. "Ոչ թե պետք է շուտափույթ ընտրություններին պատրաստվել, այլ ճիշտը օր առաջ մեր երկրի գլխին արդեն պատուհաս դարձած Փաշինյան երեւույթից ձերբազատվելն է"\|trans-title=Jirayr Sefilian: 'We don't need to quickly prepare for elections, but rather immediately free ourselves from Pashinyan, who has become a disaster for our country'\|work=Aravot\|url=https://www.aravot.am/2021/05/06/1189242/\|access-date=May 19, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|last=Hakobyan\|first=Ashot\|date=May 6, 2021\|title=Ժիրայր Սեֆիլյան. "Ընտրություններով իշխանափոխություն չի լինելու: Դա կլինի միայն ու միայն հրապարակները լցնելով"\|trans-title=Jirayr Sefilian: 'There will not be a change of government through elections. That will occur only by filling the squares'\|work=Aravot\|url=https://www.aravot.am/2021/05/06/1189260/\|access-date=May 19, 2021}}</ref> He has called for Armenia to prepare for a new war to recover the territories lost to Azerbaijan during the 2020 war and conquer new territories from Azerbaijan.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Babayan\|first=Nelly\|date=May 7, 2021\|title=Ժիրայր Սեֆիլյան․ "Առաջիկա ժամանակներում հետ ենք բերելու Շուշին, Ադրբեջանին պարտադրելու ենք դուրս գալ Գանձակից ու Նախիջեւանից՝ առանց կրակոցի"\|trans-title=Jirayr Sefilian: 'In the future we are going to recover Shushi, and we are going to force Azerbaijan to leave Gandzak and Nakhichevan without firing a shot'\|work=Aravot\|url=https://www.aravot.am/2021/05/07/1189636/\|access-date=May 19, 2021}}</ref>

			==Awards==
			{\| class="wikitable"
			! Country
			! colspan="2" \|Award
			! Date
			\|-
			\| {{flag\|Armenia}}
			\|
			\| ] of the First Degree<ref></ref>
			\|
			\|-
			\|}

			==References==
			{{Reflist\|30em}}

			==External links==
			*
			*
			*, ], March 22, 2007.
	*		*

			{{Armenian nationalism}}
	]
			{{Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict}}
	]

	]
			{{DEFAULTSORT:Sefilian, Jirair}}
	]
	]		]
			]
	]		]
			]
			]
			]
	]		]
			]

			]
	]
			]
	]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 05:24, 2 November 2024

Lebanese-born Armenian military commander and activist

Jirair Sefilian
Sefilian in 2020
Native name	Ժիրայր Սէֆիլեան
Born	(1967-07-10) 10 July 1967 (age 57) Beirut, Lebanon
Allegiance	Armenia Republic of Artsakh
Service / branch	Armed Forces of Armenia
Years of service	1983–1998
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Commands	Shushi Military Company NKR Defense Army Brigade
Battles / wars	Lebanese Civil War Defense of Bourj Hammoud First Nagorno-Karabakh War Capture of Shusha Capture of Aghdam Battle of Kalbajar Mardakert and Martuni Offensives
Awards	Order of the Combat Cross (1st degree)

Jirair Simoni Sefilian (Armenian: Ժիրայր Սիմոնի Սէֆիլեան (classical), Ժիրայր Սիմոնի Սեֆիլյան (reformed); born July 10, 1967) is a Lebanese-born Armenian military commander and political activist. During the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, he commanded the Shushi special military battalion, playing a significant role during the Battle of Shusha. From 1997 to 1998 Sefilian was a Brigade Commander in the Artsakh Defence Army.

He has long campaigned against any territorial concessions to Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh and against Russian influence in Armenia. Sefilian is one of the key figures of the Sasna Tsrer Pan-Armenian Party and the National Democratic Pole.

Early and personal life

Sefilian graduated from Kevork Chatalbashian College in Beirut in 1986. During the Lebanese Civil War, he took part in the defense of the Armenian Quarters of Beirut (mainly Bourj Hammoud) from 1983 to 1990.

In 1990, with the purpose of participating in the Karabakh movement he was sent to Armenia by the ARF (Dashnaktsutyun), Sefilian moved to Armenia with his family. As a military instructor, he was involved in the formation of self-defense units in Karabakh and Syunik. In 1991, as a commander of a military detachment, Sefilian took part in the defense of several districts of Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1992 he was chosen by the ARF to be the commander of the Shushi special military company, playing a significant role during the Battle of Shusha. He also participated in other battles, including the Capture of Aghdam, the Battle of Kalbajar, and the Mardakert and Martuni Offensives.

Following the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, Sefilian returned to Lebanon and was unable to return until 1997 due to the ban on the ARF at the time. From 1997 to 1998 he was a Brigade Commander in the Artsakh Defense Army. Sefilian was awarded with the First Degree Order of the Combat Cross (“Martakan Khach”). He holds the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Armenian Army. In 1999 he left the ARF. Since 2001, Sefilian has been coordinating the activities of the public initiative group, "Liberated Territories Defense Committee".

Sefilian and Vartan Malkhasian, the leaders of opposition group called the Alliance of Armenian Volunteers, were arrested in 2006. Human rights observers claimed that the arrest was politically motivated and that authorities used a controversial article of the criminal code to intimidate the opposition. Ombudsman of Armenia Armen Harutyunyan also condemned Sefilian's and his friends' arrest and noted that Sefilian, Vartan Malkhasian, and Vahan Aroyan "didn't break the judicial legislation".

According to Armenian-Bulgarian journalist, Colonel Tsvetana Paskaleva, "Jirair is one of the living icons I knew - Bekor, Monte, Samvel Babayan… I'm happy that I know him!"

Imprisonments

First arrest

On August 6, 2007, Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan of the Kentron and Nork-Marash Court of First Instance found Sefilian not guilty of violating Article 301 of Armenia's Criminal Code (issuing anti-constitutional statements), but found him guilty of violating the first section of Article 235 of the Criminal Code (illegal possession of a weapon) and sentenced him to 1.5 years imprisonment.

Sefilian claimed his innocence and that no crime has been committed on his part: "This is not a court, this is a theater. Even the biggest supporter of the government cannot show evidence of corpus delicti in our actions. This is all an order. The NSS is working for the interests of two people (Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan). All those who had something to do with this case will eventually answer for it. The famous pair is foolishly trying to punish me and to scare the people. My dear people, we must not fear this anti-Armenian regime, we must struggle against it. This amoral regime is not powerful, we are powerful."

In 2012, the European Court of Human Rights fined the Armenian authorities for keeping Sefilian under pre-trial arrest without sufficient legal grounds. According to the court, the National Security Service had illegally wiretapped Sefilian's phone conversations.

On January 31, 2015 Sefilian and other members of Founding Parliament were forcibly barred from entering the territory of the Republic of Artsakh. The Karabakh police attacked the procession of about 30 cars. More than two dozen people, including Sefilian, were injured. As a result, the Karabakh president ordered a police inquiry into the incident.

Second arrest

On April 8, 2015 Armenian authorities arrested the leaders of the Founding Parliament opposition group seeking to launch antigovernment protests on April 24. The National Security Service and the Investigative Committee of Armenia announced that “organization of mass disturbances at public places on April 24, 2015 has been thwarted as a result of their joint action". Sefilian and his three associates had their homes searched at the same day. Several human rights organizations of Armenia recognized them as political prisoners. The head of Armenian Helsinki committee Avetik Ishkhanyan called them prisoners of conscience, "because they did not take any action, they did not incite riots, but had only civil disobedience as their goal".

Sefilian and other leading members of the Founding Parliament were released from custody in May 2015 following a prosecutor's request to change the measure of restraint applied against them to a written affidavit not to leave the country.

On June 30, 2015 the Founding Parliament issued a statement claiming that unidentified individuals were following Sefilian for hours. The political movement demanded Armenian law enforcement to identify the individuals following Sefilian.

Third arrest

On June 20, 2016, Jirair Sefilian was arrested again. According to Armenia's Special Investigation Service, Jirair Sefilian and a group of people planned to seize buildings and communication facilities, including the Yerevan TV tower.

Varuzhan Avetisian, a senior New Armenia member, claimed that the opposition leader was arrested because he planned to campaign against Armenian territorial concessions to Azerbaijan.

On July 17, 2016 a group of armed men close to Sefilian stormed a district police headquarters in Yerevan, taking several hostages. The armed group, calling itself Sasna Tsrer, demanded President Serzh Sargsyan's resignation and tried to negotiate Sefilian's release from prison. The hostage crisis resulted in the death of three policemen, although the gunmen admitted to killing only one and claimed the other two were killed by police.

On August 8, 2016 Sefilian sent a letter from the prison where he demanded Serzh Sargsyan's resignation and snap parliamentary and presidential elections.

Sefilian was released from prison on June 13, 2018, shortly after the 2018 Armenian revolution.

Citizenship issue

Sefilian completed his 18-month sentence on June 9, 2008, and was subsequently released from prison. Sefilian continued to face the threat of deportation from Armenia and began seeking political asylum and citizenship in the Republic of Artsakh. In 2018 Sefilian was granted Armenian citizenship.

Political views and activities

In his letters and announcements made from the prison, Jirair Sefilian supported former Armenian president and opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan despite ideological differences with the latter, but later (in 2009) he criticized Ter-Petrosyan's views on Armenia-Azerbaijan and Armenia-Turkey relations and suggested that he leave the all-Armenian people's movement. On 30 October 2008, Sefilian alongside intellectuals and a group of prominent activists founded the Miatsum (Unification) National Initiative which campaigns against Armenian territorial concessions to Azerbaijan over the Karabakh dispute.

In 2009, together with Tigran Khzmalyan and Alexander Yenikomshian he founded the Sardarapat Movement. Sefilian is the leader of Founding Parliament opposition group.

On 8 May 2013, Sefilian claimed in an interview that Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan had a very small role in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War and accused them of corruption. In 2015, along with Raffi Hovannisian, he founded the New Armenia Public Salvation Front to prevent Serzh Sargsyan's constitutional change initiative. He was also the leader of the Founding Parliament opposition group.

Sefilian and his allies frequently speak out against Russian influence in Armenia and Armenia's participation in Russian-led organizations such as the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Instead, he advocates for closer relations with the United States and other Western countries.

In September 2018, Sefilian participated in the founding of the Sasna Tsrer Pan-Armenian Party together with his political allies, including participants in the 2016 Yerevan hostage crisis. Although Sefilian initially sought cooperation with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, he and Sasna Tsrer became more critical of Pashinyan's government over time. In May 2020, Sefilian signed a declaration called for snap elections and the formation of a new government, which was followed by the founding of the National Democratic Pole, a political alliance including Sasna Tsrer. Following the Armenian defeat in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Sefilian called for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and participated in protests held by the National Democratic Pole. He has called for Armenia to prepare for a new war to recover the territories lost to Azerbaijan during the 2020 war and conquer new territories from Azerbaijan.

Awards

Country	Award		Date
Armenia		Order of the Combat Cross of the First Degree

References

^ Ղարաբաղյան ազատագրական պատերազմ 1988-1994, encyclopedia, Yerevan, p. 591
^ Atanesian, Grigor (September 24, 2018). "Armenia's hardliners try going mainstream". eurasianet.org. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
"Armenia". 11 March 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
"Armen Harutyunyan's interview, Azg Armenian daily, 2007". Archived from the original on 2008-10-28. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
"AZG Armenian Daily - WAP-version". Retrieved 17 July 2016.
^ "Sefilyan, Malkhasyan and Aroyan convicted" Archived 2008-05-17 at the Wayback Machine, Hetq Online - Investigative Journalists of Armenia, August 6, 2007.
^ Harutyunyan, Sargis (11 February 2015). "Opposition Group Vows Another Campaign Trip To Karabakh". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
""Founding Parliament" Opposition Group Leaders Arrested Ahead Of Anti-Government Protests – Armenian News By MassisPost". 7 April 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
Սահակյան, Նանե (8 April 2015). "Իրավապաշտպանները քաղաքական բանտարկյալներ են համարում ՀԽ-ի ձերբակալված անդամներին". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
"Sefilian, other Founding Parliament activists released, confined to city limits - News - ArmeniaNow.com". Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
"Founding Parliament Says Unidentified Individuals Following Jirayr Sefilyan - Hetq - News, Articles, Investigations". 30 June 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
"Opposition activist Jirair Sefilian arrested in Armenia". Retrieved 17 July 2016.
Hambardzumian, Artak (20 June 2016). "Armenian Oppositionist Arrested Over 'Coup Plot'". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
Service, RFE/RL's Armenian. "One Dead As Armed Men Storm Yerevan Police Station, Take Hostages". Retrieved 17 July 2016 – via Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.
"Armenia's Founding Parliament leader Sefilian writes another letter, mentioning 4 demands". news.am. August 6, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
Kocharyan, Stepan (June 13, 2018). "Jirayr Sefilyan released on signature bond, sentence cut in half". armenpress.am. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
"ArmeniaNow.com - Local news, Global audience". Retrieved 17 July 2016.
"Nanur Sefilyan - 'Armenia is our motherland which no force can snatch from us'" Archived 2008-06-14 at the Wayback Machine, Hetq Online - Investigative Journalists of Armenia, May 12, 2008.
^ ռ/կ, Ազատություն (2 April 2009). "New Armenian Group Demands Hard Line On Karabakh". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
Interview with Jirair Sefilian// Cdaily.am, 19.11.09
Սերժ Սարգսյանը և Ռոբերտ Քոչարյանը ոչ մի լուրջ ներդրում չեն ունեցել Արցախյան պատերազմում. Ժիրայր Սեֆիլյան. Tert.am (in Armenian). 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
"Раффи Ованнисян и Жирайр Сефилян формируют совместный оппозиционный штаб". 12 October 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
"December "Nonstop": Opposition group starts round-the-clock protests in Yerevan - Constitution - ArmeniaNow.com". Archived from the original on 12 December 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
"Jirair Sefilyan: "Sasna Dzrer Political Party Will be Cornerstone of the New Armenia" – Hetq – News, Articles, Investigations". Retrieved 2018-10-05.
"Նախաձեռնում ենք ազգային-ժողովրդավարական բեւեռ կայացնելու գործընթաց. հայտարարություն". lurer.com. 26 November 2023.
Hakobyan, Ashot (May 6, 2021). "Ժիրայր Սեֆիլյան. "Ոչ թե պետք է շուտափույթ ընտրություններին պատրաստվել, այլ ճիշտը օր առաջ մեր երկրի գլխին արդեն պատուհաս դարձած Փաշինյան երեւույթից ձերբազատվելն է"" [Jirayr Sefilian: 'We don't need to quickly prepare for elections, but rather immediately free ourselves from Pashinyan, who has become a disaster for our country']. Aravot. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
Hakobyan, Ashot (May 6, 2021). "Ժիրայր Սեֆիլյան. "Ընտրություններով իշխանափոխություն չի լինելու: Դա կլինի միայն ու միայն հրապարակները լցնելով"" [Jirayr Sefilian: 'There will not be a change of government through elections. That will occur only by filling the squares']. Aravot. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
Babayan, Nelly (May 7, 2021). "Ժիրայր Սեֆիլյան․ "Առաջիկա ժամանակներում հետ ենք բերելու Շուշին, Ադրբեջանին պարտադրելու ենք դուրս գալ Գանձակից ու Նախիջեւանից՝ առանց կրակոցի"" [Jirayr Sefilian: 'In the future we are going to recover Shushi, and we are going to force Azerbaijan to leave Gandzak and Nakhichevan without firing a shot']. Aravot. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
Commander Sefilyan is an “Undesirable” in the Eyes of the Authorities, Vahe Sarukhanyan, HETQ

External links

Biography
Azadakrum (Liberation) movement
"INTERVIEW WITH JIRAYR SEFILYAN", A1+, March 22, 2007.
Zhirayr Sefilian Released

v t e Armenian nationalism
Ideology	United Armenia Tseghakronism Miatsum
Organizations	Active political parties Adequate Party Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar) Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnak) Hosank National Agenda Party National Revival of Artsakh Sasna Tsrer Pan-Armenian Party Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (Hunchak) Defunct parties Armenakan Party National United Party Defunct militant organizations Armenian fedayi Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia Army of Independence New Armenian Resistance Group Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide Armenian Revolutionary Army
People	Thinkers Khachatur Abovian Mikayel Nalbandian Raffi Mkrtich Khrimian Shahan Natalie Garegin Nzhdeh Siamanto Avetis Aharonian Hayk Asatryan Kevork Ajemian Silva Kaputikyan Rafayel Ishkhanian Monte Melkonian Militants and commanders Arabo Aghbiur Serob Kevork Chavush Andranik Aram Manukian Armen Garo Garegin Nzhdeh Hagop Hagopian Movses Gorgisyan Monte Melkonian Vazgen Sargsyan Jirair Sefilian
History	Armenian national awakening Armenian national movement Occupation of the Ottoman Bank Yıldız assassination attempt Battle of Sardarabad February Uprising Karabakh movement First Nagorno-Karabakh War Khojaly massacre Turkish consulate attack in Paris Ankara Esenboğa Airport attack 1983 Orly Airport attack
Political entities	Provisional Republic of Van First Republic of Armenia Republic of Mountainous Armenia Republic of Armenia Republic of Artsakh Western Armenia Government in Exile

v t e Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Background	Nagorno-Karabakh History Armenian–Azerbaijani war (1918–1920) Deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia Dissolution of the Soviet Union Karabakh movement Miatsum Armenians in Azerbaijan Armenians in Baku Azerbaijanis in Armenia Anti-Armenian sentiment in Azerbaijan Armenia–Azerbaijan relations
First war (1988–1994)	Çardaqlı clash Askeran clash Sumgait pogrom Gugark pogrom Zvartnots Airport clash Shusha and Stepanakert pogroms Kirovabad pogrom Il-76 crash near Leninakan (1988) Baku pogrom Bağanis Ayrum 1990 Tbilisi–Agdam bus bombing Operation Ring Voskepar massacre Battle of Togh 1991 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown Law on Abolishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast Siege of Stepanakert Operation Dashalty 1992 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown Capture of Gushchular and Malibeyli Capture of Garadaghly Khojaly massacre Maraga massacre Capture of Shusha Capture of Artsvashen Operation Goranboy Mardakert and Martuni Offensives Operation Həsənqaya Battle of Lachin Operation Qazançı 1993 Azerbaijani coup d'état Battle of Kalbajar Battle of Aghdam 1993 Summer Offensives Operation Geghamasar Operation Horadiz Operation Kalbajar 1994 Baku Metro bombings 1994 Iranian Air Force C-130 shootdown 1994 Bagratashen bombing Refugees in Azerbaijan
Interwar clashes	2008 Mardakert clashes January 2009 Agdam military incident September 2009 Agdam military incident 2010 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes 2010 Mardakert clashes 2012 Armenian–Azerbaijani border clashes 2014 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes 2014 Armenian Mil Mi-24 shootdown 2016 Odundağ clashes 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict 2017 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Shelling of Alxanlı 2018 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes 2019 clash near Chinari July 2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes Incidents Protests in Azerbaijan Reactions
Second war (2020)	Timeline Casualties International reactions Allegations of third-party involvement Madagiz offensive Aras Valley campaign Bombardments (Barda, Ganja, Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, Martuni, Stepanakert, Tartar) Battle of Hadrut Lachin offensive Battle of Shusha Russian Mil Mi-24 shootdown War crimes Treatment of Armenian POWs
Post-ceasefire events	Azerbaijan's construction in gained areas 2020–2021 Armenian protests Chaylaggala and Hin Tagher Border crisis September 2022 escalation Susuzluq Shusha Farukh 2022 Armenian protests Blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh 2023 Azerbaijani offensive Protests in Armenia Flight of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians Berkadzor fuel depot explosion
Main locations	Administrative divisions of the Republic of Artsakh Stepanakert Askeran Province Hadrut Province Kashatagh Province Martakert Province Martuni Province Shahumyan Province Shushi Province Armenian-occupied territories Aghdam District Fuzuli District Jabrayil District Kalbajar District Lachin District Lachin corridor Qubadli District Zangilan District
Political leaders	Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan Robert Kocharyan Serzh Sargsyan Nikol Pashinyan Republic of Artsakh Artur Mkrtchyan Robert Kocharyan Leonard Petrosyan Arkadi Ghukasyan Bako Sahakyan Arayik Harutyunyan Samvel Shahramanyan Azerbaijan Ayaz Mutallibov Abulfaz Elchibey Heydar Aliyev Ilham Aliyev Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh Bayram Safarov Nizami Bahmanov Tural Ganjaliyev Russia Mikhail Gorbachev Boris Yeltsin Vladimir Putin Turkey Turgut Özal Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Military leaders	Armenia Vazgen Sargsyan Gurgen Dalibaltayan Norat Ter-Grigoryants Jirair Sefilian Tiran Khachatryan Seyran Ohanyan Republic of Artsakh Samvel Babayan Kristapor Ivanyan Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan Monte Melkonian Jalal Harutyunyan Mikael Arzumanyan Azerbaijan Isgandar Hamidov Rahim Gaziyev Surat Huseynov Valeh Barshadly Mais Barkhudarov Hikmat Mirzayev Hikmat Hasanov Russia Viktor Polyanichko Pavel Grachev Rustam Muradov Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Shamil Basayev Afghanistan Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
Peace process	Baker rules Bishkek Protocol Tehran Communiqué Zheleznovodsk Communiqué OSCE Minsk Group Prague Process Madrid Principles 2020 ceasefire agreement 2020–2024 monitoring and peacekeeping Russia OSCE EU EUMCAP Oct–Dec 2022 EUPAT Dec 2022–Jan 2023 EUMA Feb 2023–present 2023 ceasefire agreement
International documents	Astrakhan Declaration Nagorno-Karabakh Declaration NATO Lisbon Summit Declaration OIC Resolution 10/11 OIC Resolution 10/37 PACE Resolution 1416 PACE Resolution 2085 UNGA Resolution 48/114 UNGA Resolution 60/285 UNGA Resolution 62/243 UNSC resolutions 822 853 874 884

Categories: