 After completing his mandatory military service term from 1999 to 2001, he became an officer in the Ministry of Defense of Armenia with the rank of lieutenant.On 11 January 2004, he left for Budapest, Hungary, to participate in a three-month English language course which was part of NATO's Partnership for Peace program.On 19 February he was axed, while asleep, by his fellow participant, Azerbaijani Lieutenant Ramil Safarov.