CEREMONY OF REQUIEM HELD IN YERABLUR ON AUGUST 7 IN CONNECTION WITH
DAY OF MEMORY OF PERISHED MEMBERS OF ARMENIAN LIBERATION SECRET ARMY
YEREVAN, August 11 (Noyan Tapan). The ceremony of requiem was held in
Yerablur on August 7 in connection with the Day of Memory of the
perished members of the Armenian Liberation Secret Army (ASALA).
The ceremony was organized by the “Nemesis” patriotic organization of
revival. On 7 August 1982, freedom fighters Zohrab Sargsian and Levon
Ekmekchian attacked “Esempoga” international airport of Ankara,
demanding that Turkey should recognize the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
During fights lasting about 3 hours, when ammunition were nearing the
end, Zohrab Sargsian committed suicide, and Levon Ekmekchian, being
heavily injuried, was taken prisoner. The Turkish court sentenced him
to death by hanging. According to ASALA member Zaven Petrosian, it is
the memory of these two freedom fighters that August 7 is announced
the Day of Memory of those perished in the up-to-date armed conflict.
According to him, the youth of all the communities of the Diaspora
inspired with the attack of the Turkish airport by Zohrab Sargsian and
Levon Ekmekchian started struggling for the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and drew the attention of the international
community to the problem of the Armenian Cause (Hay Dat).