On the morning of 18 October, famous businessman, benefactor Levon Hayrapetyan passed away at the age of 68. Hayrapetyan’s family has confirmed the news.

“Bury me next to my relatives”-these were the businessman’s last words published by Moscow-based Armenian journalist Vahe Avanesyan.

Levon Hayrapetyan was born in 1949 in the Vank village of Martakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

After graduating from the Faculty of Philosophy at Moscow State University, he worked as a journalist for “Komsomolskaya Pravda” and “Sobesednik newspapers and “Ogonyok” magazine. He is also the founder of Sovremennik Publishing House.

He has actively participated in the establishment of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and is considered the largest investor in the modern history of Nagorno-Karabakh. His programs and projects have been carried out in Stepanakert and the Vank village of Martakert region.

Between 2000 and 2002, the proclaimed 13^th century Gandzasar Monastery was rebuilt through the businessman’s funding. Hayrapetyan has also invested a large amount of money for the enhancement of infrastructures located near the monastic complex in Vank village.

On October 16, 2008, the benefactor organized the wedding ceremony for 700 newlyweds in the ancient Shushi and historic Gandzasar Monastery of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The ceremony was the first of its kind in not only Artsakh, but also all of Armenia.

Let us remind that Levon Hayrapetyan was apprehended in July 2014 in Moscow under the charge of fraud, but denied the charge. In early October 2017, due to his health problems, the measure of restraint was replaced with house arrest.