On December 18, 1992, Arkady Gevorgi Semerjian, a hero whose mortar battery helped define key moments in the war for Artsakh, gave the ultimate sacrifice on the Berdzor’s Gyulliberd Heights. He was only 35 years old. Semerjian was laid to rest at the Yerablur Pantheon. He left behind a legacy of bravery and a family that will never be the same.

He left behind his wife and daughter, Elena, who now lives in the United States, carrying the weight of his absence across continents and keeping fighting for justice.

Semerjian was born on June 14, 1957, in Yerevan. He was a man of many talents, having both technical training and military service from a young age. His journey began at the Voroshilovgrad Mining and Metallurgical Institute, which is now part of Luhansk. He graduated in 1981 with an engineering degree from the Faculty of Architecture and Construction. But Semerjian wanted more than just to be a professor. He also took studies in the military department of the institute, where he learned how to be a mortar technician and a platoon commander. His commitment to both fields would later be very helpful in war. Semerjian, a candidate in technical sciences, brought a new scientific field to geophysics by publishing research that led to his precise method for ballistics and positioning. His coworkers remember him as a meticulous researcher who always tried to mix scientific methods with the need to improvise in conflict. This unique combination of skills would set him apart on the battlefield and earn him the respect of his colleagues. Semerjian had a strong feeling of responsibility and patriotism as he got involved in the national movements of the late 1980s. He worked very hard to protect Armenia’s independence throughout the growing conflict over Artsakh that began in 1988. He felt like he had to do something after seeing his people suffer with his own eyes. By the early 1990s, Semerjian had used his technical skills and leadership to train and build artillery units for the Armenian army. From 1990 to 1992, he fought on the front lines of several fights and never backed down from the brutal reality of war. In January 1990 Semerjian took part in battles in Yeraskhavan where he quickly became respected as a reliable commander in the most dangerous parts of the Artsakh front. His tactical skill and bravery inspired the people around him, and his fellow soldiers respected and admired him for it. By May 1992, he had been promoted to major and was in charge of a mortar battery during the important battle for Shushi, a strategic town whose liberation helped the Armenian forces turn the tide. Reports said that Semerjian’s battery caused a lot of damage to enemy forces by destroying armored vehicles and supply transports. These accomplishments were often mentioned by comrades and later memorials. According to reports, Semerjian killed over 1000 Azerbaijanis. After Shushi, Semerjian joined the defenses of Martakert and in August 1992 became part of the special forces battalion known as the “Արծիվ մահապարտներ” “Eagles of Death” (Eagle-5). As commander of heavy weapons and a mortar battery, he personally selected and trained the artillery crews who would become the core of the unit’s most dangerous missions. From Sept. 1–28, 1992, his battery participated in fierce fighting for the Gandzasar Monastery complex and the surrounding Martakert villages, operations that helped secure key positions and enabled later advances toward Vaghuhas, Harutyunagomer, and Drumbon. His actions, together with those of other volunteer “death squads,” were credited with inflicting substantial losses on enemy personnel and equipment and with preserving vital terrain for Armenian defense. Semerjians’s leadership and bravery were legendary among the soldiers. Vardan, one of his fellow soldiers, remembers Semerjian’s leadership throughout the battle for Shushi with great respect. “He didn’t show any fear,” Vardan remembers. He climbed to the highest points, putting himself in danger of enemy fire, to get a better view of the battlefield and coordinate our artillery. His bravery spread to all of us and made us all work harder. In October 1992, Semerjian and his team were deployed on a special mission to the Berdzor corridor, which was an important supply and communication route between Armenia and Artsakh. He and his soldiers continued to defend and attack in the Kornidzor–Gyulliberd–Kushchular area, putting their lives in danger because they were determined to safe their homeland. The Armenian forces depended on the Berdzor corridor, and he knew how important it was to keep it open and safe

Semerjian died on December 18, 1992, because of the mine during a fierce battle on the Berdzor’s Gyulliberd Heights. His passing was felt by everyone in the town, both friends and community. His family felt like a part of their soul had been ripped out, and they will never forget his sacrifice. Semerjian’s awards and honors reflect his profound impact on the conflict, as he was later named honorary member of the Union of Eagles of Death, an organization of veterans formed from the ranks of the volunteer battalions, a testament to his enduring legacy. He received the Republic of Armenia’s Military Cross, 2nd degree, in 1996 and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic of Artsakh’s Medal for Courage in 2012; the Ministry of Defense commemorated him with the “Eagles of Death” heart badge in 1997 and later honors connected to volunteer battalions and commemorative jubilees. Over time, Semerjian was remembered not only as a battlefield leader but also as a demanding and creative teacher whose training and technical acumen strengthened the artillery capabilities of the Armenian forces. His legacy lives on through the people he helped and the wars he won. Semerjian is recognized as an engineer and researcher who combined scientific approach with innovation in war.
He maintained residence in Yerevan prior to the war and left behind academic work in geophysics that colleagues say influenced his precise approach to ballistics and positioning. For many Armenians, Semerjian’s life embodies the complex mix of patriotism and sacrifice that characterized the early 1990s conflict over Artsakh. His family’s move to the United States underscores the private cost of public struggle: a country that honors its heroes and families that carry their absence across continents. Elena, his daughter, has taken on the legacy of her father. She keeps fighting for justice and for others to remember what her dad accomplished. She has become an ambassador for Armenian issues, appearing at events and using her voice to ensure that her father’s story and the memories of other heroes are not forgotten. She wants to keep that legacy alive and make sure that he didn’t die in vain. Elena’s dedication to her father’s legacy has not only kept his memory alive, but it has also gotten other people to join the fight. Her work has brought attention to the challenges that the Armenian people still face and the sacrifices that those who fought for their freedom made. She ensures that her fathers legacy inspires and drives many for generations to come. Elena’s constant fight for justice is seen by many as a sign of the strength of the Armenian nation. It is a story about sacrifice and the love that will never die between a father and daughter, no matter time or space. Elena remembers forever her dad saying, “We won’t be able to keep Yerevan tomorrow if we can’t keep Artsakh today.”

Elena’s dedication to her father’s legacy becomes greater every year. She realizes that the fight for justice will never end and that it takes willpower and a determination to always fight for it.