It turns out that Amberd Mayor Manvel Babayan only told the parents and family members of Hayk Mkrtchyan, the 19 year-old soldier who died earlier today at his outpost in Artsakh, that the boy had been seriously wounded.

Only Hayk’s brother Ruben knows that the boy will not be returning home. His mother still clings to the hope that her son will recover and be united with them in Amberd, their village in Armenia’s Amberd Marz.

The boy’s father, Vasil, who has been working in Russia for the past year, only knows that his son has been severely wounded. He plans to fly back to Armenia tonight.

Neighbours, who know the truth of the matter, told Hetq that they just cannot bring themselves to telling the mother and sisters what actually has happened.

No one from the Etchmiadzin army commissariat, where Hayk was conscripted, has seen fit to make the trip to Amberd and break the news to the soldier’s family.

One Amberd resident said it was a shame the way the army has failed to take responsibility for the soldier’s death and is calling on local residents to protest in front of the Government Building in Yerevan.

Local residents as well don’t want to break the news to Hayk’s mother Yeranouhie.

We spoke to Ruben at a neighbour’s house, so that Yeranouhie and other family members would not overhear the truth.

Ruben kept his emotions in check, hitting the door with his clenched fist.

The brother told us that no one had yet paid the family a visit from either the army commissariat of the Ministry of Defense.

Colonel Hakob Azatyan, from the Etchmiadzin Commissariat, told us that he had personally informed family members about Hayk’s death

“The relatives know that their boy is dead. I told them personally. As to whom I told specifically, let’s not discuss such details on the telephone,” Colonel Azatyan said.

Local residents told us that earlier today one of the relatives called up the commissariat to verify that an accident had taken place. This was the extent of Colonel Azatyan’s “message”.

Ruben told us that he had gone to Artsakh to see his brother on August 14 and that Hayk had told him that everything was fine.

Hayk was supposed to have been drafted in November of 2010. The first medical examination uncovered a head scar and doctors suspected that the boy might suffer from psychological problems.

Hayk was examined a second time and eventually drafted a month later.

Ruben told us his brother wanted to serve in the army and would go to plead his case personally to the commissariat if he was rejected.

“Hayk decided to go to Russia after being discharged from service. He wanted to work and save enough to buy a car, Ruben said.

Rumours are spreading in Amberd that Hayk was killed by another conscript by Gyumri.

Given that no official information has been forthcoming from the Defense Ministry such hearsay is bound to spread even further.