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Revision as of 16:34, 2 May 2008
Jirair Sefilian (Template:Lang-hy, born in 1967, in Beirut, Lebanon) is an Armenian military commander and political activist.
Sefilian graduated from the Gevorg Chatalpashyan National College in Beirut. During the civil war in Lebanon, Jirayr took part in the defense activities of the Armenian quarters in Beirut.
In 1990, with the purpose of participating in the Karabakh (Artsakh) movement, Jirayr 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 military detachment commander, Jirayr Sefilian took part in the defense of several districts of Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1992 he became the commander of Shushi special military brigade, playing significant role during the Battle of Shusha.
After the Karabakh War, in 1997-1998 he was the NKR Defense Army brigade Commander.
Jirayr Sefilian was awarded with the First Degree Order of “Martakan Khach” (Fighting Cross), military medals, and other government awards. He is an Army lieutenant-colonel of the Republic of Armenia.
Since 2001, Jirayr Sefilian has been coordinating the activities of the public initiative group, "Liberated territories".
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.
According to Bulgarian journalist, colonel Svetana Paskaleva, "Jirair is one of the living icons I knew - Bekor, Monte, Samvel Babayan... Im happy that I know him"!
Sources
- Armenia: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2007, Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, March 11, 2008
- Jirair is a real Man, Azg daily, #040, 03/03/2007