Supplying Artsakh Forces with Defense Tools

 Staff, 3 June 2016

TORONTO—When a few weeks ago Hranush Hagopian, Minister of Diaspora, Republic of Armenia, announced that there were 24 Artsakh War-specific fundraising campaigns in the Diaspora, she was probably not aware of the small and isolated campaigns which are also pitching in to support of the embattled Artsakh Armenians.

One such campaign was organized by former Armenia and Artsakh residents who have settled in Toronto in recent years. The man who organized the campaign is Khoren Mardoyan, a Toronto resident who is Advisor to the Ministry of Diaspora to Canada.

 Staff, 3 June 2016

TORONTO—When a few weeks ago Hranush Hagopian, Minister of Diaspora, Republic of Armenia, announced that there were 24 Artsakh War-specific fundraising campaigns in the Diaspora, she was probably not aware of the small and isolated campaigns which are also pitching in to support of the embattled Artsakh Armenians.

One such campaign was organized by former Armenia and Artsakh residents who have settled in Toronto in recent years. The man who organized the campaign is Khoren Mardoyan, a Toronto resident who is Advisor to the Ministry of Diaspora to Canada.

As soon as the Azeri army launched its surprise attack in early April, Mardoyan says he contacted Toronto friends and acquaintances whom he knew while serving with the Artsakh Defense Ministry and later serving at the Municipal Government of RA as Advisor to the Nor Norq District Mayor.

He explained to them his modest plan to help the Artsakh Forces. They met several times at the Armenian Community Center to iron out their plan. Eventually, the group grew to 25 men—all between the ages of 25 to 45

First on the group’s agenda was what to supply to the Artsakh forces.  The group quickly agreed that night-vision goggles, thermal camera and binoculars would be of great value to the soldiers defending Artsakh and Armenia. Few weeks after the launch of the campaign, the group had raised necessary funds to purchase the equipment. With the funds they bought four night-vision goggles, a thermal camera and two powerful binoculars. All seven pieces have already been shipped to Artsakh.

Mardoyan said that the donations are continuing. When he goes to Armenia later this month, he will distribute these additional funds to the families of the recent martyrs. He will then travel to Artsakh and personally hand the goggles, the camera and the binoculars to the soldiers on the front line.

Distributing the funds to the families is just the first step. The second phase of the campaign is to raise further sums for the families of the martyrs. The group members will individually donate $20 to $30 per month in support of the families whose relations were casualties of the war.  The fund will function for one year.

Mardoyan says: “A blow to Artsakh is a blow not just to Armenia but also to the Armenian Nation. If we lose Artsakh, Armenia will be vulnerable and even dysfunctional. Without Armenia, the survival of our nation becomes questionable.”

People who would like participate in the mission should contact Khoren Mardoyan at 647-980-9449 or at [email protected]