Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his spouse Anna Hakobyan attended the Hero of Our Time award ceremony, which was held at Zvartnots Cathedral within the framework of festivities dedicated to the 29th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. The event was also attended by President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, National Assembly Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan, members of government, MPs, marz governors, representatives of foreign diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia and other dignitaries.

The awards went to 13 participants of the Hero of Our Time TV program authored by the Information and Public Relations Center of the RA Prime Minister’s Office: founder of Mosh studio Armine Aghajanyan, veterinary surgeon Suren Vardanyan, silversmiths Ani Sargsyan and Narine Yeghoyan, founder of Lucia Food company Lousine Baratyan and Rafael Martirosyan, founder of Asp riding club Tigran Baghishjanyan, founder of a 3D printers producing company Arthur Khojabaghyan, designer, shoemaker Hayk Ananyan, founders of a company producing Twinz glasses Babken and David Khachatryans, snail-breeder Vahe Hakhverdyan, beekeeper Karlen Chagharyan, confectioners Yolant Hattat and Raffi Rshtuni, engineer, co-author of Robin robot Karen Khachikyan.

Prime Minister Pashinyan presented the 13th Grand Prize-statuette to one of the participants. This year’s edition featured two special awards. Doctors were entitled to a symbolic award for contributing to the fight against COVID-19, while servicemen were awarded for active participation in the defensive operation in Tavush. The awards were presented to Dr. Sargis Ghazaryan and conscript Narek Hakobyan.

Greeting the participants, Nikol Pashinyan stated: “It was a really wonderful evening. The first Hero of Our Time awards ceremony took place in Gyumri last year. It was a truly impressive undertaking. This year’s event is even better. And it is obvious that a very important event has appeared in the form of the Hero of Our Time awards ceremony. I am confident that we will all be looking forward to this day every year in order to glorify the “heroes of our time.”

Today’s event started with a statement that our soldiers and doctors were the real heroes of this year. It is emblematic that on my initiative and by presidential decrees, Captain of the Armed Forces Ruben Sanamyan and honored doctor Hrayr Hovakimyan were awarded the title of National Hero of the Republic of Armenia, but what matters most is that by glorifying the “heroes of our time” we actually commend the creative potential of our citizens.

Many heroes are grateful to the government for being entitled to high state awards. In fact, the government is just the one to thank them for their heroic actions, since they came to reaffirm what we were talking about. We were talking about how important the individual effort can be. We are talking about the fact that anyone can create his own environment, can create his own wellbeing. Of course, the government has to play a key role in terms of encouraging the heroes of our time.

Now let me introduce today’s main prize winner. The heroes of our TV program all deserved the main prize. In the meantime, we wondered what should make the main prize winner different from other contenders.

Our protagonist’s main feature is that he showed amazing consistency in changing his way of life. As far as we know, he had no serious reason whatsoever for changing his lifestyle. He had a job. Moreover, he used to work in the banking system for a long time. Later on he got employed in the system of public administration. After all, he decided not to pursue the career of public servant and took to a sphere where he could enjoy his creative genie. He decided to create toys for children that would teach them to build construct in a creative manner. And so, the name of our main prize winner is Sevak Markosyan.”

The Premier handed the 13th Grand Prix to founder of Marcos Toys Ltd Sevak Markosyan.