Memorial Day for the Victims of the Armenian Parliament Shooting Date in the current year: October 27, 2024

The gunmen were led by Nairi Hunanyan, a former journalist and a former member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun). They killed eight people, including Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan and National Assembly Speaker Karen Demirchyan, and injured at least 30 people. According to witnesses, Sargsyan was their main target, and other deaths were unintended.

The group claimed they were carrying out a coup. While holding about 50 hostages inside the National Assembly building, they demanded negotiations with President Kocharyan. Their demands included a live broadcast on national television for a political statement and a helicopter. After negotiations, they released the hostages and gave themselves up in exchange to the guarantee of a fair trial.

The trial began in February 2001 and the verdict was announced in December 2003. The five main perpetrators of the shooting were sentenced to a life in prison. The prosecution originally sought the death penalty, but capital punishment had been abolished in Armenia by the time of the verdict.

Memorial Day for the Victims of the Armenian Parliament Shooting is a mournful date in Armenia’s calendar. On this day, people bring flowers to the memorial to the victims located near the parliament building.