January, 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of an epic military battle that saw Russian troops inflict nearly 100,000
casualties upon Ottoman army regulars during the Russian Czar's Caucasus Campaign during the First World War. I would therefore like to take
this historic opportunity to once more revisit what came to be known in history books as the Battle of Sarikamish, a battle that had finally liberated Western Armenia
from nearly one thousand years of Turkish/Muslim occupation.
Imperial Russian forces reinforced by a significant number of battle-hardened Armenian volunteers from the Caucasus preempted an impending Ottoman strike against the Russian Empire in the south Caucasus by advancing west towards Erzerum from the Russian held ancient Armenian city of Kars. It was late December 1914, the initial stages of the Caucasus Campaign during the First World War, when the two imperial rivals first met on the wind swept, snow covered mountainous landscape at Sarikamish. When the battle was over some four weeks later, the entire Ottoman force under the leadership of none other than Enver Pasha lay utterly decimated. Thousands-upon-thousands of frozen Ottoman corpses lay strewn across the frozen battlefield. The Ottoman war machine had totally collapsed on its eastern front. According to some accounts, out of a force of nearly 100,000 Ottoman troops about 60,000 to 80,000 were said to have perished during the battle and the rest had either fled or were taken prisoner. The following is a rare archival film footage of the battle's aftermath -
Russian successes inside historic Armenian territories enabled a significant portion of the region's native Armenian population escape the ravages of war and the genocidal campaign of Turks. After suffering several hundred years of Turkic-Islamic oppression and periodic large scale massacres, Armenians were finally beginning to see the light of salvation and liberty. By early 1917 the Russian-Armenian frontier stretched as far west as Erzingan. There was no Turkish army in sight and the liberation of Western Armenia seemed all but completed. Then, quite suddenly, fate struck. Alas, the sun was not to shine on the Armenian Highlands.
The Russian Empire had suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of Germany on European front at the Battle of Tannenberg early in the war. This near total defeat of Russian forces in Europe between 1914 and 1915 had began to create serious sociopolitical unrest within the vast but now increasingly ungovernable empire. The hardships of the world war had set into motion series of unpredictable events that would eventually lead to a successful Bolshevik takeover of Imperial Russia during a bloody revolution that would later became known as the October Revolution of 1917. As a result of tumultuous events leading up to the October Revolution in 1917, the Russian Czar was forced to call off his highly successful Caucasus Campaign against Ottoman Empire. Consequently, Russian troops began abandoning their conquered positions within Western Armenia by early/mid 1917. As such, the astounding military gains made at Sarikamish and in battles thereafter would prove futile. What followed the Russian retreat from Western Armenia was the darkest page in Armenian and Russian history -
By 1918 the entire Russian nation had descended into a darkness that it would not come out of until long after the Second World War and after tens-of-millions of Russians had perished. With the unexpected abandonment of the Armenia Highlands by imperial Russian forces, using the pro-Russian sentiments of Caucasian Armenians as a pretext, Turks began to intensify their genocidal campaign against their defenseless Armenian subjects. By the early 1920s, nearly two million Armenians had perished and all of Western Armenia was all but emptied of its aboriginal Armenian population and was now fully under Turkish/Muslim occupation once again. It is important to note here that Enver Pasha, the Ottoman Empire's Minister of War, was one of the principle architects of the Armenian Genocide. It is also note worthy that Enver was the leader of the ill-fated Ottoman army at Sarikamish and he is said to have barely escaped with his life.
But it would be utterly disingenuous to attribute the Ottoman Turk's genocidal campaign against Ottoman Armenians living very far from the battlefields of Sarikamish to Russian actions during the First World War. Ottoman Armenians had nothing to do with the Imperial Russian campaign against an aggressor like the Ottoman Empire. In fact, most Ottoman Armenians were semi-assimilated and some Armenians at the time were even rebelling against the Russian Czar. Several thousand Armenian volunteers from the Caucasus fighting in the Russian imperial army could not excuse the Turk's genocidal designs against the entire Armenian population of Ottoman occupied Western Armenia.
It is also well known that Ottoman Turks had genocidal designs for their Armenian subjects going as far back to the late 19th century. Let's also recall that there were periodic massacres of Ottoman Armenian long before a single Russian soldier stepped foot into Ottoman occupied Western Armenia. Simply put, the Russian Caucasus Campaign was only the pretext, the convenient excuse bloodthirsty Turks sought to accelerate their plans to rid themselves of the "Armenian question".
Nevertheless, had it not been for the Bolshevik revolution in Russia (a Jewish funded and led revolution in which sadly many Armenians played an important role in), I strongly believe that the western reaches of Armenia today would have at the very least included Van, Erzingan and Trabizond - and there would not have been a bloody tragedy known today as the Armenian Genocide. In my opinion, Bolsheviks were indirectly responsible for the horrible tragedy that befell Ottoman Armenians. The Bolshevik leadership was also of course solely responsible for giving Turks and Caucasian Tatars (known today as Azerbaijanis) the Armenian territories of Kars, Ardahan, Nakhijevan and Artsakh. That Bolsheviks were the lesser of evils when fate once again came knocking on the door in Armenia in 1921 is all together another story.
Russians recently produced a very professionally made documentary for the 1ooth anniversary of the First World War. The following is the link to film's segment on the historic Battle of Sarikamish and the Armenian Genocide. I urge the reader, however, to watch the entire eight part series. Although the documentary unfortunately fails to mention the Jewish role in the Bolshevik revolution this film is a very welcome departure nonetheless from the standard Anglo-American-Jewish interpretation of historic events -
To liberate one's nation from oppression one must take calculated risks. Partaking in the Caucasus Campaign was a risk well worth taking. After all, no one expected the Russian Empire to suffer a devastating defeat at the hands of Germany so early in the war and no one could predict the total collapse of the Russian Empire as a result of the Bolshevik revolution. From an Armenian perspective, a historic opportunity was presented during the early months of the First World War to free Western Armenia from the bloody clutches of Ottoman Turks and several thousand Armenians from the Russian Empire were smart enough to take advantage of it. As noted above, it would be wise to recall once more that there had already been large scale massacres of Armenians by Turks in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Armenians wanted freedom from the Turkish yoke.
Therefore, when such an opportunity arises once again (and it will one day) I expect Armenians to take advantage of it once again. Preparing such a mindset is in fact what I try to cultivate through this blog.
Another good lesson to be learned from the First World War is the importance of having a powerful Russia that is under Slavic, Christian rule. Russia's sociopolitical health should be a concern not only for Russians but for all Armenians as well because Armenia is destined to remain within Russia's orbit. Similar to how Jews deeply involve themselves in American political affairs, Armenians need to deeply involve themselves in Russian political affairs. Official Yerevan needs to setup an academy of Russian studies. Official Yerevan must establish professional links with prominent Russian officials. Armenians need to be a constant presence within the walls of the Kremlin. Russian-Armenians need to become better organized and politically active throughout the Russian Federation.
The following poll results, however, reveal that we have thus far failed in promoting Armenian awareness inside the Russian Federation -
For
years I have been warning that all of the pro-Armenian policies coming
out of Moscow have been primarily initiated by top level Russian officials without much if
any Armenian input - because Armenian officials
have been too busy begging for attention from Washington and Brussels. For
years I have been warning that we are failing to fully
appreciate the great potential of our
historic alliance with the Russian Federation. For
years I have been warning that we are failing to understand the serious dangers presented by Yerevan's continued flirtations with
the political West. For years I have been warning that a
majority of Armenian politicians in Armenia's political arena are either
pro-West, West-leaning, bought by the West or can yet be easily bought
by the West, and that Armenia is an ally of Russia today merely as a
result of a handful of people in Armenia. For years I have been warning about the near total absence of organized Armenian lobbying efforts in the Kremlin. For years I have been warning that Turks/Azeris are actively engaged in organized lobbying efforts the Kremlin.
In my opinion, Armenians should be faulted for not exploiting the full potential of Russia's alliance with Armenia. Armenians should also be faulted for whatever flaws there may be within Russian-Armenian relations. In this regard, I see two fundamental problems: 1) The lack of Armenian lobbying efforts in Moscow. 2) Yerevan's persistent flirtations with Western powers. Simply put: We have plenty of assholes that are ready to curse Russia for supplying arms to Azerbaijan, but we do not have enough Armenians trying to deepen Russian-Armenian relations so than Russian officials begin taking Armenians concerns more seriously.
I'd like to remind the reader that the south Caucasus is like a table where Turks, Persians, Azeris, Georgians, Islamists, Western energy interests, Russians and Armenians sit and discuss various matters - and at times come to blows over one issue or another. Imagine this table and whatever fight it may produce, without its Russian occupant. In other words, imagine the plight of Armenia in a Turkic-Islamic dominated, violent political landscape without having the Russian Bear as a geopolitical factor to rely on.
Nevertheless, what's important to recognize is that as a result of Russian-Armenian collaboration during the First World War, even as late as 1917, Western Armenia had been liberated for the most part. Armenians must be collectively seeking for a rematch if we want to liberate Western Armenia. But, looking at Armenians in general and our traditional Diaspora (the off-springs of the Ottoman Armenian genocide survivors) in particular, there is much left to be desired.
Our politically shortsighted and genocide recognition obsessed compatriots in the Diaspora are afraid of discussing these kinds of historical events simply because of fears that doing so might somehow undermine genocide recognition efforts in the West - as if the decades long now standard modus operandi of acting like pathetic victims has bared any fruit.
We as a nation must commemorate the Armenian Genocide on a yearly basis and always treat it as a historical fact. Debating whether a genocide occurred or not is an insult to the memory of our martyrs. Having said that, we must also recognize that the Armenian Diaspora's decades long obsession with achieving genocide recognition in the Western world has only served to create several generations of terribly insecure, emotionally scarred and self-hating Armenians with serious victim mentalities and severe political illiteracy.
Beyond proudly and enthusiastically acknowledging that Armenians were victims of "the 2oth century's first genocide" and of course "the first Christian nation", the typical "proud" American-Armenian today knows next to nothing about Armenia's vastly rich national heritage and understands next to nothing about the complex political landscape within which Armenia is unfortunately located in today. Our unhealthy approach to Armenian matters, be it issues regarding the Armenian Genocide or sociopolitical matters pertaining to Armenia itself, has created abnormalities within our Diasporan communities. The following is a brief look at how intellectually deficient, psychologically compromised and emotionally disconnected Armenians have become in the Diaspora today -
The
voices above, including that of the freaky-nutjob called Ara Manoogian, are not rare within Diasporan circles. We have quite a few
"proud" Armenians these days that have emotionally divorced themselves
from
Armenia and see themselves first-and-foremost as "American Armenians" and "Western Armenians". We
have significant numbers of Armenians today that see patriotism and
national preservation as backward and dangerous concepts not worthy of
"righteous" Armenians. We have significant numbers of Armenians today that seek unconditional "reconciliation" with Turks. We have significant numbers of Armenians today that wants Yerevan to curtail its ties with Moscow. We have significant numbers of Armenians today that are more worried about the plight of homosexuals in Armenia than about Armenia itself.
We have significant numbers of Armenians today who want nothing to do with their homeland simply because the less-than ideal realities of the Armenia we have today does not live up to their personal fantasies of what Armenia should be like.
I personally know quite a few of the aforementioned types in our society and in my extended family. This is what we get for becoming assimilated, this is what we get for basing an entire nation's identity on a genocide. We have damaged and deformed the Armenian spirit. And the more recent doom-and-gloom campaign and the information war against the fledgling Armenian state by Western operatives throughout Armenian society has only exasperated the already bad situation.
Nations with victim mentalities, misplaced priorities and political illiteracy will always be manipulated and led astray. Insecure and politically ignorant nations that beg at the feet of others (especially at the feet of reptilian politicians in the West) can never accomplish anything in the world of realpolitik - nor will they ever be respected by the international community.
Spurred on by self-serving, Western-financed opportunists like Ara Papyan and subversive organizations such as Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Committee (TARC) and the Zoryan Institute, our hopelessly naive and deeply scarred compatriots still talk about "justice" and "international law" being on the side of Armenians and the need for "reconciliation" with Turks. But the same utterly fail to realize that as long as Armenia does not have the strong Russian backing and the military and/or financial power to push its political weight upon the international stage, Armenia shall remain vulnerable in the eyes of Turks and worthless in the eyes on the international community.
Despite the wildest dreams of our reconciliation obsessed compatriots, Turks will never look at Armenians without hostility, nor will they ever willingly put aside their pan-Turkic fantasies. Yes, they live next to us, but neighbors like Turks and Azeris can only be dealt with from a position of strength. Mind you that I am saying this as one that fully supported the "protocols" several years ago. Yes, the border between Armenia and Turkey needs to open. Yes, there needs to be dialogue between Yerevan and Ankara. But all this needs to happen very carefully and from a clear position of strength - and free of Western meddling. In recent years there has been a concerted effort by the West to bring politically ignorant Armenians and sweet talking Turks together. This Western agenda essentially seeks to solve the Armenian problem with merely an apology or some other largely symbolic gesture from Ankara. Needless to say, such Western-backed initiatives are counterproductive and are in fact dangerous to the long term health and well being of the Armenian state. It would be very advisable to look at Western and Turkish intentions with regards to Armenia within the following political context -
Despite their economic blockade of a tiny, remote, landlocked and impoverished Armenia - as well as their periodic threats to finish-off what they couldn't during the First
World War - Armenia's stature in the south Caucasus is increasing with
each passing year largely thanks to the Russian presence inside
Armenia. As a result, Turks have begun to take the advise of their
Western/Jewish counterparts by attempting to convince us Armenians (well, at least the idiots amongst us) that
Turks and Armenians can indeed live side-by-side once again... if only it wasn't for them pesky Russkies!
When it comes to Armenia, there is nothing that would please Western powers and Turks more than driving a permanent wedge between Yerevan and Moscow. This is the geostrategic agenda Turks and Westerners have been working on in Armenia. Listening closely to Armenia's Western-led political opposition, one immediately recognizes the above mentioned Turco-Western agenda in their rhetoric. Keep this in mind next time you happen to come across speeches from political opposition activists in Armenia.
The venomous anti-Putin protests we saw during the Russian president's visit to Armenia a year ago may be a troubling sign that the Turco-Western agenda to sow Russophobia within Armenian society is working to a discernible degree. I'd like to remind the reader once again that many Armenians already blame Russians for the genocide Armenians suffered during the First World War, and Armenia's most beloved "nationalist leader" Paruyr Hayrikian and his politically illiterate followers think that Russians are worst than Turks. The same could also be said about the followers of the extremist nutjob called Jirayr Sefilian and the American agent known as Raffi Hovanissian. Despite the fact that Russia is a critical lifeline to Armenia, Western interests inside Armenian society have managed to sow a significant degree of Russophobia. If this Russophobia, yet fledgling, somehow goes mainstream, it will kill the country.
In short, as Stratfor's George Friedman candidly put it: "Russian presence in Armenia is bad for Turkey". And as "Barcin Yinanc" slyly advises Armenians: "Focus on Russia rather than Turkey!"
Get the picture?
Amazingly many Armenians are not getting it.
Anyway, when it comes to the Armenian Genocide, Turkish "recognition" per se is worthless and may even be counterproductive. With the Armenian Genocide matter resolved, the Armenian Diaspora in the western world will cease to exist within a single generation. Armenians don't need genocide recognition or apology by Turks if it is not accompanied by significant reparations. With that said, it's downright delusional to think that Ankara will voluntarily return historic Armenia to its rightful owners or pay the tens-of-billions of dollars in reparations as a result of "recognition", "reconciliation" and/or "international pressure". Therefore, pursuit of reconciliation with Turks only serves to distract us from placing our pan-national emphasis on militarily, economically and politically strengthening the Armenian homeland we have today.
Imperial Russian forces reinforced by a significant number of battle-hardened Armenian volunteers from the Caucasus preempted an impending Ottoman strike against the Russian Empire in the south Caucasus by advancing west towards Erzerum from the Russian held ancient Armenian city of Kars. It was late December 1914, the initial stages of the Caucasus Campaign during the First World War, when the two imperial rivals first met on the wind swept, snow covered mountainous landscape at Sarikamish. When the battle was over some four weeks later, the entire Ottoman force under the leadership of none other than Enver Pasha lay utterly decimated. Thousands-upon-thousands of frozen Ottoman corpses lay strewn across the frozen battlefield. The Ottoman war machine had totally collapsed on its eastern front. According to some accounts, out of a force of nearly 100,000 Ottoman troops about 60,000 to 80,000 were said to have perished during the battle and the rest had either fled or were taken prisoner. The following is a rare archival film footage of the battle's aftermath -
Road of Sarikamish after the Turkish retreat December, 1914 (video): http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=80771
The
exact number of Ottoman casualties may be disputed by historians
today. What's not in dispute, however, is that an entire
Ottoman army lay decimated in Western Armenia on January, 1915. The Ottoman defeat at
Sarikamish had finally opened the gates to the historic Armenian Highlands. With this gate wide open, the
Russian-Armenian force went on to liberate the ancient
Armenian cities of Van, Erzrum, Baiburt, Erzingan, Artvin and Trabizon from the bloody
clutches of Turkish and Kurdish tyrants. The
following map details Russian advances in Western Armenia during
their Caucasus Campaign between December 1914 and May 1916 -
Russian advances in Western Armenia during the Caucasus Campaign in 1915
Russian successes inside historic Armenian territories enabled a significant portion of the region's native Armenian population escape the ravages of war and the genocidal campaign of Turks. After suffering several hundred years of Turkic-Islamic oppression and periodic large scale massacres, Armenians were finally beginning to see the light of salvation and liberty. By early 1917 the Russian-Armenian frontier stretched as far west as Erzingan. There was no Turkish army in sight and the liberation of Western Armenia seemed all but completed. Then, quite suddenly, fate struck. Alas, the sun was not to shine on the Armenian Highlands.
The Russian Empire had suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of Germany on European front at the Battle of Tannenberg early in the war. This near total defeat of Russian forces in Europe between 1914 and 1915 had began to create serious sociopolitical unrest within the vast but now increasingly ungovernable empire. The hardships of the world war had set into motion series of unpredictable events that would eventually lead to a successful Bolshevik takeover of Imperial Russia during a bloody revolution that would later became known as the October Revolution of 1917. As a result of tumultuous events leading up to the October Revolution in 1917, the Russian Czar was forced to call off his highly successful Caucasus Campaign against Ottoman Empire. Consequently, Russian troops began abandoning their conquered positions within Western Armenia by early/mid 1917. As such, the astounding military gains made at Sarikamish and in battles thereafter would prove futile. What followed the Russian retreat from Western Armenia was the darkest page in Armenian and Russian history -
Turkish advances after the Bolshevik revolution in 1917
By 1918 the entire Russian nation had descended into a darkness that it would not come out of until long after the Second World War and after tens-of-millions of Russians had perished. With the unexpected abandonment of the Armenia Highlands by imperial Russian forces, using the pro-Russian sentiments of Caucasian Armenians as a pretext, Turks began to intensify their genocidal campaign against their defenseless Armenian subjects. By the early 1920s, nearly two million Armenians had perished and all of Western Armenia was all but emptied of its aboriginal Armenian population and was now fully under Turkish/Muslim occupation once again. It is important to note here that Enver Pasha, the Ottoman Empire's Minister of War, was one of the principle architects of the Armenian Genocide. It is also note worthy that Enver was the leader of the ill-fated Ottoman army at Sarikamish and he is said to have barely escaped with his life.
But it would be utterly disingenuous to attribute the Ottoman Turk's genocidal campaign against Ottoman Armenians living very far from the battlefields of Sarikamish to Russian actions during the First World War. Ottoman Armenians had nothing to do with the Imperial Russian campaign against an aggressor like the Ottoman Empire. In fact, most Ottoman Armenians were semi-assimilated and some Armenians at the time were even rebelling against the Russian Czar. Several thousand Armenian volunteers from the Caucasus fighting in the Russian imperial army could not excuse the Turk's genocidal designs against the entire Armenian population of Ottoman occupied Western Armenia.
It is also well known that Ottoman Turks had genocidal designs for their Armenian subjects going as far back to the late 19th century. Let's also recall that there were periodic massacres of Ottoman Armenian long before a single Russian soldier stepped foot into Ottoman occupied Western Armenia. Simply put, the Russian Caucasus Campaign was only the pretext, the convenient excuse bloodthirsty Turks sought to accelerate their plans to rid themselves of the "Armenian question".
Nevertheless, had it not been for the Bolshevik revolution in Russia (a Jewish funded and led revolution in which sadly many Armenians played an important role in), I strongly believe that the western reaches of Armenia today would have at the very least included Van, Erzingan and Trabizond - and there would not have been a bloody tragedy known today as the Armenian Genocide. In my opinion, Bolsheviks were indirectly responsible for the horrible tragedy that befell Ottoman Armenians. The Bolshevik leadership was also of course solely responsible for giving Turks and Caucasian Tatars (known today as Azerbaijanis) the Armenian territories of Kars, Ardahan, Nakhijevan and Artsakh. That Bolsheviks were the lesser of evils when fate once again came knocking on the door in Armenia in 1921 is all together another story.
Russians recently produced a very professionally made documentary for the 1ooth anniversary of the First World War. The following is the link to film's segment on the historic Battle of Sarikamish and the Armenian Genocide. I urge the reader, however, to watch the entire eight part series. Although the documentary unfortunately fails to mention the Jewish role in the Bolshevik revolution this film is a very welcome departure nonetheless from the standard Anglo-American-Jewish interpretation of historic events -
How unpredictable history can be and how cruel it has been for us Armenians for the past one thousand years. Armenians can draw many conclusions and learn many lessons from these historic events. But questioning the wisdom of Armenians participating in Russia's Caucasus Campaign is out of the question.World War One - Episode 3. Documentary Film. Historical Reenactment. 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBaxL1Rwvmg&feature=youtu.be
To liberate one's nation from oppression one must take calculated risks. Partaking in the Caucasus Campaign was a risk well worth taking. After all, no one expected the Russian Empire to suffer a devastating defeat at the hands of Germany so early in the war and no one could predict the total collapse of the Russian Empire as a result of the Bolshevik revolution. From an Armenian perspective, a historic opportunity was presented during the early months of the First World War to free Western Armenia from the bloody clutches of Ottoman Turks and several thousand Armenians from the Russian Empire were smart enough to take advantage of it. As noted above, it would be wise to recall once more that there had already been large scale massacres of Armenians by Turks in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Armenians wanted freedom from the Turkish yoke.
Therefore, when such an opportunity arises once again (and it will one day) I expect Armenians to take advantage of it once again. Preparing such a mindset is in fact what I try to cultivate through this blog.
Another good lesson to be learned from the First World War is the importance of having a powerful Russia that is under Slavic, Christian rule. Russia's sociopolitical health should be a concern not only for Russians but for all Armenians as well because Armenia is destined to remain within Russia's orbit. Similar to how Jews deeply involve themselves in American political affairs, Armenians need to deeply involve themselves in Russian political affairs. Official Yerevan needs to setup an academy of Russian studies. Official Yerevan must establish professional links with prominent Russian officials. Armenians need to be a constant presence within the walls of the Kremlin. Russian-Armenians need to become better organized and politically active throughout the Russian Federation.
The following poll results, however, reveal that we have thus far failed in promoting Armenian awareness inside the Russian Federation -
Survey: Armenia, Azerbaijan enjoy almost the same level of trust among Russians: http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/12/15/survey-armenia-azerbaijan-enjoy-almost-the-same-level-of-trust-among-russians/
In my opinion, Armenians should be faulted for not exploiting the full potential of Russia's alliance with Armenia. Armenians should also be faulted for whatever flaws there may be within Russian-Armenian relations. In this regard, I see two fundamental problems: 1) The lack of Armenian lobbying efforts in Moscow. 2) Yerevan's persistent flirtations with Western powers. Simply put: We have plenty of assholes that are ready to curse Russia for supplying arms to Azerbaijan, but we do not have enough Armenians trying to deepen Russian-Armenian relations so than Russian officials begin taking Armenians concerns more seriously.
I'd like to remind the reader that the south Caucasus is like a table where Turks, Persians, Azeris, Georgians, Islamists, Western energy interests, Russians and Armenians sit and discuss various matters - and at times come to blows over one issue or another. Imagine this table and whatever fight it may produce, without its Russian occupant. In other words, imagine the plight of Armenia in a Turkic-Islamic dominated, violent political landscape without having the Russian Bear as a geopolitical factor to rely on.
Nevertheless, what's important to recognize is that as a result of Russian-Armenian collaboration during the First World War, even as late as 1917, Western Armenia had been liberated for the most part. Armenians must be collectively seeking for a rematch if we want to liberate Western Armenia. But, looking at Armenians in general and our traditional Diaspora (the off-springs of the Ottoman Armenian genocide survivors) in particular, there is much left to be desired.
Misunderstood history, misplaced priorities, misled politics
Our politically shortsighted and genocide recognition obsessed compatriots in the Diaspora are afraid of discussing these kinds of historical events simply because of fears that doing so might somehow undermine genocide recognition efforts in the West - as if the decades long now standard modus operandi of acting like pathetic victims has bared any fruit.
We as a nation must commemorate the Armenian Genocide on a yearly basis and always treat it as a historical fact. Debating whether a genocide occurred or not is an insult to the memory of our martyrs. Having said that, we must also recognize that the Armenian Diaspora's decades long obsession with achieving genocide recognition in the Western world has only served to create several generations of terribly insecure, emotionally scarred and self-hating Armenians with serious victim mentalities and severe political illiteracy.
Beyond proudly and enthusiastically acknowledging that Armenians were victims of "the 2oth century's first genocide" and of course "the first Christian nation", the typical "proud" American-Armenian today knows next to nothing about Armenia's vastly rich national heritage and understands next to nothing about the complex political landscape within which Armenia is unfortunately located in today. Our unhealthy approach to Armenian matters, be it issues regarding the Armenian Genocide or sociopolitical matters pertaining to Armenia itself, has created abnormalities within our Diasporan communities. The following is a brief look at how intellectually deficient, psychologically compromised and emotionally disconnected Armenians have become in the Diaspora today -
American Armenians boycott donations: http://www.azernews.az/aggression/74028.html
Diaspora Historian Argues Against "One Nation, One Homeland" Myth: http://hetq.am/eng/interviews/31938/diaspora-historian-argues-against-one-nation-one-homeland-myth.html
I Turned My Back on Armenia: http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/12/10/i-turned-my-back-on-armenia/
Giving Thanks as Proud American Armenians: http://armenianweekly.com/2014/11/26/giving-thanks-as-proud-american-armenians/
Hypocrisy or ineptitude?: http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/09/28/astarjian-hypocrisy-or-ineptitude/
Prominent Diasporans Sign Statement in Support of Homosexuality: http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/11/01/prominent-diasporans-sign-petition-in-support-of-equality-in-armenia/
We have significant numbers of Armenians today who want nothing to do with their homeland simply because the less-than ideal realities of the Armenia we have today does not live up to their personal fantasies of what Armenia should be like.
I personally know quite a few of the aforementioned types in our society and in my extended family. This is what we get for becoming assimilated, this is what we get for basing an entire nation's identity on a genocide. We have damaged and deformed the Armenian spirit. And the more recent doom-and-gloom campaign and the information war against the fledgling Armenian state by Western operatives throughout Armenian society has only exasperated the already bad situation.
Nations with victim mentalities, misplaced priorities and political illiteracy will always be manipulated and led astray. Insecure and politically ignorant nations that beg at the feet of others (especially at the feet of reptilian politicians in the West) can never accomplish anything in the world of realpolitik - nor will they ever be respected by the international community.
Spurred on by self-serving, Western-financed opportunists like Ara Papyan and subversive organizations such as Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Committee (TARC) and the Zoryan Institute, our hopelessly naive and deeply scarred compatriots still talk about "justice" and "international law" being on the side of Armenians and the need for "reconciliation" with Turks. But the same utterly fail to realize that as long as Armenia does not have the strong Russian backing and the military and/or financial power to push its political weight upon the international stage, Armenia shall remain vulnerable in the eyes of Turks and worthless in the eyes on the international community.
Despite the wildest dreams of our reconciliation obsessed compatriots, Turks will never look at Armenians without hostility, nor will they ever willingly put aside their pan-Turkic fantasies. Yes, they live next to us, but neighbors like Turks and Azeris can only be dealt with from a position of strength. Mind you that I am saying this as one that fully supported the "protocols" several years ago. Yes, the border between Armenia and Turkey needs to open. Yes, there needs to be dialogue between Yerevan and Ankara. But all this needs to happen very carefully and from a clear position of strength - and free of Western meddling. In recent years there has been a concerted effort by the West to bring politically ignorant Armenians and sweet talking Turks together. This Western agenda essentially seeks to solve the Armenian problem with merely an apology or some other largely symbolic gesture from Ankara. Needless to say, such Western-backed initiatives are counterproductive and are in fact dangerous to the long term health and well being of the Armenian state. It would be very advisable to look at Western and Turkish intentions with regards to Armenia within the following political context -
George Friedman: “Russian presence in Armenia is bad for Turkey”: http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2010/11/arye-gut-israeli-jewish-expert-in.html
Turkish Advice: Armenian diaspora, focus on Russia rather than Turkey! http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/armenian-diaspora-focus-on-russia-rather-than-turkey
Russian General Leonid Ivashov: Turkey Seeks Separation Between Russia, Armenia: http://news.am/eng/news/36696.html
Opening of Armenian-Turkish Border Should be a Russian but not a U.S. Project: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=2700
USA trying to break up Armenian-Russian military relations, general says: http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/a...0005/0040.html
When it comes to Armenia, there is nothing that would please Western powers and Turks more than driving a permanent wedge between Yerevan and Moscow. This is the geostrategic agenda Turks and Westerners have been working on in Armenia. Listening closely to Armenia's Western-led political opposition, one immediately recognizes the above mentioned Turco-Western agenda in their rhetoric. Keep this in mind next time you happen to come across speeches from political opposition activists in Armenia.
The venomous anti-Putin protests we saw during the Russian president's visit to Armenia a year ago may be a troubling sign that the Turco-Western agenda to sow Russophobia within Armenian society is working to a discernible degree. I'd like to remind the reader once again that many Armenians already blame Russians for the genocide Armenians suffered during the First World War, and Armenia's most beloved "nationalist leader" Paruyr Hayrikian and his politically illiterate followers think that Russians are worst than Turks. The same could also be said about the followers of the extremist nutjob called Jirayr Sefilian and the American agent known as Raffi Hovanissian. Despite the fact that Russia is a critical lifeline to Armenia, Western interests inside Armenian society have managed to sow a significant degree of Russophobia. If this Russophobia, yet fledgling, somehow goes mainstream, it will kill the country.
In short, as Stratfor's George Friedman candidly put it: "Russian presence in Armenia is bad for Turkey". And as "Barcin Yinanc" slyly advises Armenians: "Focus on Russia rather than Turkey!"
Get the picture?
Amazingly many Armenians are not getting it.
Anyway, when it comes to the Armenian Genocide, Turkish "recognition" per se is worthless and may even be counterproductive. With the Armenian Genocide matter resolved, the Armenian Diaspora in the western world will cease to exist within a single generation. Armenians don't need genocide recognition or apology by Turks if it is not accompanied by significant reparations. With that said, it's downright delusional to think that Ankara will voluntarily return historic Armenia to its rightful owners or pay the tens-of-billions of dollars in reparations as a result of "recognition", "reconciliation" and/or "international pressure". Therefore, pursuit of reconciliation with Turks only serves to distract us from placing our pan-national emphasis on militarily, economically and politically strengthening the Armenian homeland we have today.
Russians and Turks will come to blows again, will we be ready?
I'd like to remind the reader once more that despite Moscow's very lucrative trade deals with Ankara during the past two decades (to the tune of tens of billions of dollars annually), Moscow has not stopped recognizing the Armenian Genocide, Russian officials have not stopped from appearing at the Armenian Genocide memorial in Yerevan, Moscow has not allowed Artsakh to be invaded by Azerbaijan - nor has Moscow's profitable dealings with Ankara stopped the Russian military from paying less attention to the security of the Armenian-Turkish border. Unlike in the Western world, where virtually everything has its price, Moscow's approach to regional politics is firmly based on its national security needs, and Armenia is an integral part of Russia's national security and it will remain so for the foreseeable future. Don't take my word for it. Let's take a quick look at what some prominent Russians have to say about Russian-Armenian relations:
In an article appearing in Russia Today, Mikhail Aleksandrov, a political analyst working for the Institute of CIS made the following comment about Moscow's military presence inside Armenia -
In another article produced by Russia's Pravda, Vice President of the Academy of Geopolitical Issues Konstantin Sivkov is quoted as saying -
“If Turkey attacks Armenia, it will be treated as an attack on Russia. Russia would fight on Armenia's side with all its might. If necessary, Russia could use nuclear weapons against Turkey, both tactical, and if need be, strategic. This is defined in the military doctrine of the Russian Federation. Armenia is fully protected with the Russian umbrella of both conventional forces as well as strategic nuclear forces.”Alexsei Arbatov, the former deputy chairman of the Russia State Duma's Defense Committee defined Russian-Armenian relations with the following words -
“Armenia is our only classic military-political ally...Armenia will not survive without Russia, while, without Armenia, Russia will lose all its important positions in the Caucasus...Even though Armenia is a small country, it is our forepost in the South Caucasus. I would say that Armenia is more important to us than Israel is to the Americans.”
In describing what Russia's reaction would be to a possible invasion of Armenia by Turkey or Azerbaijan, Alexander
Khramchikhin, Director of the Institute for Political and Military
Analysis said -
This by the former Russian ambassador to Armenia, Vladimir Stupishin -
“In my view, the true settling of the Karabakh conflict suggests complete rejection by Azerbaijan of the primal Armenian lands. It is possible to resolve the problem of the refugees by providing them with opportunities in places where they live now. How come in almost every discussion on Karabakh the only refugees that are being consistently mentioned are the Azeri refugees? Why can’t the Armenians return to Baku, Gyandja, Sumgait, Artsvashen, Getashen, etc.?”
"When Azerbaijani officials, including the president, predict that Armenia will collapse as a state, they are mistaken. Nobody will let Armenia collapse. Even if only 100,000 people lived in Armenia, Russia would protect it as it regards Armenia as its outpost"And this by Senior researcher of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Viktor Nadein-Rayevsky -
“Russia will never cede Armenia for improving its relations with Turkey. This is a matter of principle. There are things one can sacrifice, but there are things one cannot. The point is not so much that two million Armenians live in Russia and many of them are Russian citizens. For Armenia Russia’s steps must never be bad. The point is that even the Yeltsin Russia perfectly realized that it must not waive Armenia’s interests, not mentioning Putin, who clearly sees the national interests, at least, the clear ones. He is trying to extrapolate them for the future. I simply can’t imagine that Russia may yield Armenia – if Russia does this it will lose all of its positions in the Caucasus. Russia should understand one most important thing – there are partners and allied countries with whom one should keep up the sense of alliance and duty.”Armenia is a major strategic asset for Russia, an asset it will go to war over. Russians know this. Azeris know this. Georgians know this. Iranians know this. Turks know this. Westerners know this. Amazingly, the only people that do not yet fully comprehend this are Armenians! Historically, Russian officials have looked at Armenia as a strategic fortress protecting Russia's vulnerable underbelly. Even Bolsheviks, yes those that had mutilated some parts of Armenia in hopes of luring Turkey into the Soviet Union, recognized the overall strategic importance of preserving an Armenia state in the region. In fact, we have an Armenia today primarily because of this recognition by Soviet leaders. Simply put: Armenia's strategic importance and value to Russia will remain unchanged for as long as Turks, Iranians, Islamists and Westerners have designs for the Caucasus. There will be no alternative scenarios or alternative geostrategic formulas for the Kremlin for the foreseeable future. Regardless of how close Moscow and Ankara get, not a square centimeter of Armenia or Artsakh proper will be in danger. Therefore, Armenians need not panic.
Besides, had Russians really wanted to sell Armenia to the Turks (what many of our delusional idiots fear) they would have done so during the 1990s when Russia was on its knees and the Kremlin was in the hands of criminals. Even then, even when Russia was weak and in no shape to fight anyone, when Ankara began mobilizing military assets to intervene on behalf of Azerbaijan during spring of 1992 when the war in Artsakh had suddenly began going very badly for Baku, Moscow threatened Turkey with a world war. Yes, Russia threatened Turks with a world war over a little Armenia that was no longer under its control. Russia was ready to risk everything for our little homeland in the south Caucasus even when Russia itself was in chaos and in danger of falling apart. The following is an excerpt from a 1996 analysis by Dmitri Trenin -
“The purely military interest which Russia has had in the Caucasus appears to have receded in importance in comparison with the Imperial or Soviet periods. It is now essentially defensive in nature and precludes any large-scale strategic penetration, including the supply of military assistance, arms supplies, etc., to any third party. To prevent any potential Turkish opportunism at the time of the Soviet Union's disintegration, Marshal Shaposhnikov, then Commander-in-Chief of the Joint Armed Forces of the CIS, warned of a "Third World War" if Turkey were to interfere militarily in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. In March 1993, General Grachev, Russia's Defence Minister, made Russia's own military co-operation with Turkey conditional on Ankara's discontinuing its military assistance to Baku.”If Russia was willing to go to war over Armenia in the 1990s, what would it do now? Therefore, I ask the reader again to disregard the Russophobic rhetoric coming out of Armenia's Western-led political opposition. Armenia's territorial integrity will be of vital strategic importance to Moscow for as long as Armenia remains firmly allied to Russia. I therefore do not fear closer Russian-Turkish relations. There are, however, other geopolitical ramifications to consider.
In a very serious setback for Western powers Moscow recently reached a major natural gas deal with Ankara. Closer Russian-Turkish relations is one of the unintended consequences of Western aggression in the region in recent years.
In my opinion, while cold relations between Moscow and Ankara is better from an Armenian perspective, warm Russo-Turkish relations should not been seen as necessarily bad. Good relations between Moscow and Ankara may cause Turkey to drift further away from Western powers. The further Ankara drifts from Western powers higher the chances that it may suffer serious repercussions. After all, Western powers and Jews still maintain quite a bit of influence inside Turkey, especially amongst its secular population and its economic/financial elite. The recent natural gas deal reached between Russia and Turkey is a serious insult from Ankara to Baku and Kiev for it signals less Turkish support for both nations.
Nonetheless, Western powers are currently in the danger of losing more leverage over Ankara. Some of the readers may recall that back in the autumn of 2008 NATO came somewhat close to losing Turkey. Fearing at the time that Moscow would send its tanks all the way down to the Georgian-Turkish border and cut it off from energy supplies, a panic-stricken Ankara placed its bet with Mother Russia. Soon after the shooting ended in Georgia, Ankara began signalling that it was ready to curb its relations with NATO and seek closer ties with Moscow. It was at this time when Turkish officials put aside their pan-Turkic pride, sent President Abdullah Gül on an official visit to Yerevan and announced their desire to form a "Caucasus Union" that was envisioned to include Russia, Turkey Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia -
Turkey in tight spot between Russia and NATO (September, 2008): http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2009/06/turkey-historic-presidential-day-trip.htm
Turkey lays out plans for Caucasian alliance as Georgian FM in Istanbul (September, 2008): http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2009/06/despite-objections-from-baku-and.html
Ultimately, Moscow may or may not succeed in luring Ankara out of NATO. I personally do not think it will happen because taking Turkey out of NATO without destroying it in the process cannot be done. Regardless of what may or may not happen with Ankara's NATO membership, what is important from an Armenian perspective is Turkey's increasing reliance on Russian trade and energy. After all, with the annexation of Crimea Russia has become the dominant force in the Black Sea region and its regional clout is continuing to grow. Russian-Turkish trade is primarily one way - Russian energy to Turkey's energy starved economy. In other words, Russia is the region's dominant military power and Turkey needs Russia more than Russia needs Turkey. In my opinion, better relations with Moscow will force Ankara to abandon its Pan-Turkic and Neo-Ottoman wet-dreams in the Caucasus. With better relations between Moscow and Ankara, the Armenian-Turkish border may just open after all. After all, the so-called "protocols" were at least in part a Russian agenda -
Looking at Armenian-Turkish Relations - Without the Paranoia, Obsessions or the Hysteria: http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2010/08/looking-at-armenian-turkish-relations.html
With a land stretching virtually from the Atlantic to the Pacific, with natural resources virtually inexhaustible and with a massive nuclear armed military that is unbeatable on the battlefield, whatever serious campaign, military or otherwise, the Russian nation decides to embark upon today will be a safe bet. Having suffered the darkest period of its history during the first half of the 20th century, the Russian nation is once again on the rise and will certainly be continuing its forward momentum for the foreseeable future.
Once more: From an Armenian perspective, any degree of increased Russian control over Turkey is welcome. The relationship in question does not have the potential of deepening or lasting very long. At best, Moscow-Ankara relations promises to be business like and remain at arms length. With that said, there will always be the potential of hostilities between the two nations.
Russians and Turks are from two, vastly different cultures/civilizations. Ethnic Russians are mostly decedents of central European Vikings settlers that were Christianized about one thousand years ago and the Russian nation is the direct progeny of the Byzantine Empire. Muslim Turks, on the other hand, are the decedents of various central Asian nomadic tribes that invaded eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Armenian Highlands during the past one thousand years. Christian Slavs and Muslim Turkic peoples have clashed throughout history. It is essentially a natural rivalry within the human ecology that is similar to that of bears and wolves (pun intended) competing over the same feeding territory. Russians and Turks have come to blows over a dozen times only during the past two hundred years - each time with Russia winning. In the 1990s we again saw this rivalry between Russians and Turks play out in the Caucasus and in the Balkans, and more recently we saw it take place within Syria and Crimea. In each case the Russian Bear won again.
The relationship between Moscow and Ankara cannot get too warm because Turks today have an instinctual fear of the Russian Bear and Russian have an instinctual disdain towards Turks. Another reason why Moscow will never lower it guard when it comes to dealing with Turks is Russia's large Turkic/Islamic population. Moscow has an inherent problem in this regard. Therefore, demographic concerns as well as fears of uprisings by its Turkic/Islamic population will force Russian officials to always keep relations with nations like Turkey at an arms length. Simply put: Russian officials know all too well the potential risks of blindly embracing Turks.
There may be periods of peace and cooperation between the region's two natural competitors but the rivalry between Russia and Turkey will never totally disappear. Recognition of the inevitability of a Russian-Turkish conflict is what has made the political West embrace the Turkish nation for the past two centuries. It's not only me predicting an eventual Russo-Turkish clash. In the following article we see George Friedman's Stratfor also acknowledging this natural geopolitical inevitability -
Fear of the Russian Bear by Turks is as prevalent now as it has ever been. When the time is right, and if Moscow decides they can afford going to war to establish a wider buffer zone around their vulnerable underbelly and perhaps obtain direct access to warm water ports for their navy, there is nothing Turkey - or its friends - can do to stop the Bear.Shifting Geopolitics: The Rise of Russia and Turkey (August, 2010): http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2010/11/ultimately-both-russia-and-turkey-know.html
After all is said and done, one thing remains crystal clear for me: If Western Armenia is to get liberated someday (and I think it's a very real possibility), it wont come by the way of an Armenian-Kurdish cooperation (what a laughable idea) as some delusional ARF-ers think and it wont happen as a result of collaborating with Islamized Armenians inside Turkey (another laughable idea). It will only happen as a result of Russian-Armenian troops once again marching westward from the south Caucasus. Kurds and Islamized Armenians will be utilized as factors on the ground only when such a Russian-Armenian force from the Caucasus enters Western Armenia. Therefore, the road to Western Armenia starts in Eastern Armenia. And the keys to Western Armenia's liberation are found in the Kremlin. The aforementioned is the only hypothetical possibility we Armenians must learn to recognize and hope for. And this is the long-term, pan-national agenda we Armenians must embark on, that is if we want to see Western Armenia liberated one day.
In the meanwhile, Armenians must understand that international law is made by the powerful to control the weak. We must realize that only the strong can impose their version of history upon others. Only the strong can right the wrongs of history. Only the strong can enjoy a prominent position on the negotiation table. Only the strong are invited to lavish banquets as honored guests. We must also not forget that for thousands of years politics has been governed by one very natural yet simple law: Might makes right.
As long as we Armenians continue thinking of ourselves as victims and continue acting like victims; as long as we Armenians blindly pursue Western fairytales; as long as we Armenians are distracted from fully exploiting Armenia's close alliance with Russia - we Armenians shall forever remain victims and Armenia shall forever remain destitute!
When remembering historic events such as the Battle of Sarikamish and the Russian Caucasus Campaign during the First World War, Armenian nationalists cant help but be reminded of the plight of Western Armenia. The Russian-Armenian advance into the Armenian Highlands during the First World War shows us all that doing so is very possible (given that it is done under the right circumstances) and it encourages us to prepare, at least mentally, for the next historic opportunity. I have no doubt that when opportunity does come knocking once again, a renewed Caucasus Campaign will yield a drastically different result. I have no doubt that Russians and Turks will come to blows once more. And when it happens, it will be a vastly different outcome. Will we Armenians be ready?
Liberation of Western Armenia
I have long maintained that sooner-or-later Armenia will need to expand - break out of its mountain prison - if it is to prosper and be taken seriously by the international community. I have always maintained that collaboration with Russia (and to a lesser extent with Iran) is the only way forward for Armenia in this regard. I have always maintained that the best route for Armenia to expand is through Georgia to the Black Sea and/or through Azerbaijan to the southern Russian border. My sentiments regarding this geostrategically important matter are reflected in the following blog entry -
The liberation of Western Armenia is also a hypothetical possibility and it should definitely be addressed. Allow me to start off by first saying that this is a very complex geopolitical matter. There are many variables involved, not the least of which is the unpredictability of tomorrow. No one but God knows when the day will come when Armenian tanks will drive into Van and reclaim Armenia's most ancient capitol city. That glorious day may or may not happen within our life times. Having said that, we as a nation need to be vigilant and ready for when an opportunity to do so does arrive once more. If we are not ready to exploit such an opportunity - then obviously there is no chance whatsoever. However, if we are ready and work towards that particular goal - then there is a chance, a very good chance. Therefore, it's ultimately up to us as a people to decide what we want for our future. Sadly, however, many Armenians today have either given up on the idea, are indifferent to it, approach it irrationally or are categorically against it. And this apathy and irrationality is the main obstacle we face in righting the wrongs of history, not Turks.Can Armenia exploit Russian Actions in the Caucasus? http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2012/04/can-armenia-exploit-russias-action-plan.html
Therefore, the "enemy" is us.
While the problem may be the Armenian, Armenia the nation-state is on route to actually becoming ready to embark on such an endeavor one day. Yes, Armenia is gradually becoming a major regional player. Unlike in 1914, Armenia is an independent nation with a major military victory already to its credit. Unlike in 1914, Armenia has a relatively powerful military that is getting stronger by the year. Unlike in 1914, Armenia is an established nation-state with an important strategic alliance with the Russian Federation and very warm relations with Iran. Unlike in 1914, Armenia also has a worldwide Diaspora than will come to its aid in time of need. Armenia today is a developing nation-state and one that already yields the most political clout in the south Caucasus. Armenia will become a major political player in the region.
The last thing I want is for us Armenians to be asleep at the wheel once again when opportunity comes knocking on the door. Apathy and the lack of awareness and patriotic ambition within Armenian society is my biggest concern. One hundred years ago the same situation allowed Turks to ravage historic Armenia and exterminate the region's native Armenian population. Despite all the patriotic songs and stories we have heard from the period of the First World War, the reality of the matter is that most Armenians at the time were either complacent with their overall condition as semi-Turkified Ottoman subjects or simply scared into inaction.
Let's remember that the Ottoman military had been utterly decimated and Turkey was not a serious fighting force soon after the start of the First World War. Moreover, when Russians retreated from Western Armenia in 1917 they left behind large stockpiles of weaponry that Armenians could have used for the liberation effort. Had we as a people rallied around the goal of liberation we would have been able to preserve significant portions of our historic lands - despite the Russian retreat in 1917 - and there would most probably not have been an Armenian Genocide to lament over. In my opinion, Armenian apathy, complacency and lack of preparedness allowed the genocide to take place.
In this regard, I think we all can learn a lot from our warlike compatriots in Artsakh.
Being that Armenians of Artsakh are the only major group within our nation that were not totally subjugated by any power at any time in history, they are the direct genetic decedents of the warrior-aristocracy of the ancient Armenian Highlands. Armenians of Artsakh carry within their genetic code the traits of our ancient ancestors. Therefore, it is fully understandable why a majority of the greatest Armenian men in modern times were derived from the general vicinity of Artsakh. This, in my opinion, speaks volumes about the importance of pedigree. While the rest of the Armenian nation was deprived of its aristocracy and reduced to being subservient peasants, artisans and merchants during the course of the past one thousand years, much to the chagrin of Persians, Turks and Bolsheviks, Armenians of Artsakh were able to preserve our people's ancient characteristics: Resourceful, disciplined, resilient, stubborn, intelligent, patriotic and warlike.
Needless to say, Azeris found all this out the hard way during the 1990s. Artsakh reminded all Armenians that the external enemy has always been and continues to be the Turk. Artsakh showed us all that the only way forward is through armed struggle. Artsakh also gave us all a real lesson in genuine patriotism and realpolitik. In a certain sense, Artsakh saved Armenia and the Diaspora, not the other way around.
Getting back to the First World War: Only a miniscule percentage of Armenians actually fought for Armenia's independence in Western Armenia. Insignificant numbers, lack of discipline and the lack of cooperation and coordination amongst various Armenian groups often characterized the Armenian liberation effort at the time. Not only that, as noted above, many Armenians at the time were even rebelling against the Russian Czar and many within the Ottoman-Armenian community were actually conspiring against Armenian freedom fighters. As much as we are inclined to blame Turks, Kurds, Germans, Brits, French and Russians for our devastating losses during the First World War, we Armenians also share equal blame. In fact, I would go as far as saying what happened to Armenians back then was primarily the fault of Armenians because, unlike us Armenians, all the other players at the time were merely doing what was in their best interests.
Anyway, that was then, this is now. We need to learn from our mistakes and look forward.
There are many important lessons to be learned from the First World War: The need for national unity; unconditional service to the national flag; a powerful military; being a part of genuine alliances with regional powers; a heightened awareness to the political world we all live in; and the importance of geostrategic foresight.
Moreover, the need to approach Armenia's current sociopolitical issues rationally and objectively is also fundamentally important - so is the need to stop chasing our tails with dangerous Western fairytales: toxic concoctions known popularly as Democracy, Capitalism, Civil Society, Westernization and Globalization. More importantly, we need to collectively work towards deepening our strategic alliance with the Russian Bear. We need to use our God given talents to figure out a way of turning Russia's national interests into an extension of Armenian interests. The foundation to do just that exists today for Moscow's and Yerevan's political interests converge to a great degree. This needs to be further cultivated in a concerted and organized effort. The convergence of interests between our two nations needs to become institutionalized.
Armenian officials, business tycoon and activists therefore need to be a constant presence within the walls of the Kremlin. While Armenia's increasingly powerful military is without any doubt Armenia's TACTICAL advantage on the global chessboard, Yerevan's alliance with Moscow must be cultivated to become Armenia's STRATEGIC advantage on the global chessboard.
Armenia's expansion is therefore mainly based upon the nature of Russo-Armenian relations, as well as various other geopolitical and socioeconomic factors. Armenian officials need to work on these various factors and the rest of us need to be patient and pray for the best. I firmly believe we will liberate our historic lands. It's merely a matter of when.
I will now briefly address some reoccurring questions and objections some Armenians have every time the topic of liberating Western Armenia is brought up in conversation.
Will Russia help once again? When the circumstances are right, in other words when the West is in no position to intervene perhaps due to a major war or economic collapse or when the Turkish state is on the verge of falling apart, Moscow may be very willing to participate in a military campaign inside Turkey simply to gain assess to the strategic Strait of Dardanelles or to gain a foothold in the warm water sea ports in Cilicia. Geostrategically, it would fully serve Moscow's interests if their regional rival Turkey is broken into pieces and some of the pieces given to its strategic ally Armenia (as long as Armenia remains firmly within the Russian orbit).
Will Iran participate? Iran's position in such a scenario is more difficult to predict for Iran is an Islamic state and it also has a natural fear of Russians. But, with proper negotiations with Moscow and Yerevan and perhaps some incentives Tehran may very well be convinced to seek the destruction of its historic rival, the Turk, as well.
How will Armenians defend the land when it's liberated? The lands in question can easily be protect and defended by a well armed and well trained modern military force. The land is rugged and alpine, once you acquire it and dig in, you are in total control. Artsakh is a good example of how effectively a relatively small but capable force can protect a large mountainous region. Also, if you do have a nuclear device behind you, you are virtually untouchable. North Korea is a good example this. Besides, I only envision Armenia making a move into Western Armenia when the Turkish nation is weak and if Yerevan has Russian and Iranian support. In other words, when the Turk is vulnerable and the geopolitical situation is appropriate, you stomp on its head as fast as you can and as hard as you can and you don't stop stomping until you accomplish your mission.
What about the Kurds? There is a possibility that Kurds may be willing to accept the liberation of Western Armenia if they receive sovereignty in other Kurdish populated territories in exchange. In the event, however, Kurds oppose the liberation of Western Armenia, they will be made to move to northern Iraq or south-west of Van. It's no big deal. During times of geopolitical unrest, these things occur naturally. During their 2006 war against Hezbollah, Israel was been able to displace close to one million Lebanese within two short weeks. The much less capable Artsakh army was able to do the same with Azeris in 1993. Kurds who decide to remain within the liberated territories will do so as Armenian citizens (just as they are Turkish citizens now, there is no reason why they cant be Armenian citizens). Having said that, however, the emphasis should be placed on convincing Kurds to accept sovereignty in territories south and/or west of Van.
What is so important about our lands? Western Armenia, also known as Armenian Highlands is the cradle of Armenian civilization as well as the cradle of human civilization. Western Armenia is where millions of our martyred ancestors lie in unmarked graves. Moreover, the region is rich in natural resources and agricultural potential. Every Armenian wants to see a prosperous Armenia, right? Well, a prosperous Armenia will need to expand eventually. I envision the Armenian homeland growing in population within the next one hundred years. Armenians will eventually need more land, if only as living space. Therefore, what better land than our lands to expand into? More importantly, the Armenian Highlands hold great geostrategic value. The geostrategic value of the territory that Ankara controls today is one of the fundamental reasons why Turkey is a major political and economic players in the region. The territory in question is an important international intersection and a potential major hub for trade. Those that control the Armenian Highlands automatically become major political players throughout the region and beyond.
The only way we Armenians will be able to get some respect from the international community is by creating a large and powerful nation: A nation that would be able to sit on the table as an equal with major powers. Let's not forget that politics is always dirty business. If we Armenians want our homeland to truly prosper we need to be aggressive. Isn't this how the wealthiest and the most powerful nations on earth got their start? Isn't this how the wealthiest and the most powerful nations on earth live today? To this effect, we need to get rid of our genocide complexes. We need to get rid our our Diasporan mentalities. Unfortunately, we Armenians think small. When one thinks small one accomplishes small. But as long as we remain small, dependent on foreign aid and politically indecisive and thus vulnerable, the international community will give us lip service at best or plot our destruction at worst. It's quite natural, for that is the natural order of international relations. Nevertheless, whether or not we will be able to liberate our historic lands in Western Armenia is more-or-less based upon the following factors:
A settlement of the Artsakh dispute in Armenia's favor; The strength of the Armenian economy; The strength of the Armenian military; The strength of Russian-Armenian alliance; The strength of Armenian-Iranians relations; The strength of Armenian-Kurdish relations; The strength of Armenian-Arab relations; The strength of Armenian-Greek relations; The degree of Turkey's internal problems; The degree of Turkey's problems with Western powers; The readiness of the ArmenianThe above are more-or-less the main geopolitical factors that would determine whether or not Eastern Armenia will be able to see the liberation of Western Armenia one day. Naturally, these are all hypothetical and to some extent wishful thinking. The condition today is not yet ripe. The factors are not yet there. But, as I said: If we keep this agenda in our minds and desire this within our hearts, there is a possibility. But if we don't, there is no chance. Thus, the pivotal factor is played by nobody but us.
As we have unfortunately been seeing in recent years, throughout our history our people have been Armenia's biggest and most insurmountable obstacle. But with proper Social Engineering (conditioning of the masses) our very talented people can potentially become Armenia's catalyst to a greater future. Despite its severe yet natural growing pains, our homeland in the south Caucasus is making good progress in many areas, but there is a lot more to accomplish.
At the end of the day, we must also recognize that the Russian factor in the south Caucasus is the main reason why we Armenians have been able to create an Armenian homeland in a very inhospitable environment for the past two hundred years. Russia has given Armenians an opportunity we Armenians have not had in well over one thousand years. We now need to recognize this opportunity and hopefully use it to Armenia's advantage. With the following I'd like to take a brief look at the Russian factor in Armenia's rebirth.
The Russian factor in Armenia's rebirth
The Russian nation has played a fundamental role in the creation of the modern Armenian state. The Armenian state exists today due to the Russian factor in the region. Most Armenians I know however tend to approach this subject matter with emotional bravado and utmost arrogance. I am, on the other hand, going to approach this subject matter very rationally and objectively - because the worst thing we can do as a people at this point in our history is to overestimate our abilities, undervalue our alliance with the Russian nation and underestimate the power of our predatory enemies.
For the past one thousand years the Caucasus has been infested by Turkic peoples and numerous warlike Islamic tribes. It was the Russian nation that brought peace and civility to the greater region during the past two hundred years. However, left on its own the region has the inherent tendency to revert back into being a Turkic-Islamic cesspool. An analogy to ponder: The modern south Caucasus is like a table where Turks, Persians, Azeris, Georgians, Islamists, Western energy interests, Russians and Armenians sit and discuss various political and economic matters. Imagine an Armenia at this table without its Russian occupant. In other words: Imagine Armenia's situation in a Turkic, Islamic and Western energy interest dominated political landscape without the presence of the Russian Bear.
It is virtually impossible to visualize an Armenian homeland within such an Asiatic/Islamic cesspool despite our best imaginations. The Russian factor is the only reason why we Armenians have been able to create an Armenian homeland in such hostile environment for the past two hundred years. And as it has been for the past two hundred years, Armenia has risen with Russia and she has fallen with her. Armenia's situation today is no different. Due to historic, economic and geopolitical circumstances prevailing within the south Caucasus, Armenia is wed to Russia - for better or for worst. Armenians need to recognize this reality, accept it and simply begin working on the relationship to derive maximum benefit for Armenia.
October 12, 2013 was the bicentennial of the Treaty of Gulistan.
This Russo-Persian treaty saw the
liberation of Artsakh from Islamic rule. Some fifteen years later, in
1828, the Treaty of Turkmenchay
was realized. This historic treaty established
the Arax River as the boundary between imperial Russia, the Ottoman Empire and Persia.
By the middle of the 19th century, the entire Caucasus north and south
were fully under Russian rule and the Re-Armenization of historic
Armenian territories had begun in earnest. Therefore, ask yourselves: Where
would Armenia be today had Czarist Russia not come down to the South
Caucasus? Would there be an Armenia today? Perhaps there would. But it's very, very hard
imagining an Armenian nation-state anywhere below the Caucasus
mountain range had the region in question remained Turkic, Persian and/or
Islamic - which is most probably what would have happened had Russians not come down to the Arax River.
These
two hundred year old treaties also reminds us that the south
Caucasus has historically been a Russian zone of interest. The Russian
nation therefore has a historic obligation to the region. In my opinion, the Russian nation has an obligation to right the wrongs of history in the region. I would even go as far as saying that
the Russian nation has a strong obligation towards us Armenians. While
fully acknowledging the immense importance of Russia as Armenia's lifeline
and appreciating all that the Russian nation has directly and indirectly
done for the Armenian nation, it must also be pointed out that Armenians have
sacrificed and contributed immensely for the Russian nation for the past
two hundred years. In fact, per capita, Armenians have given more to the
Russian
nation than another other regional peoples. We Armenians want this sacrifice and
contribution to the great Russian nation to be acknowledged by Russians today.
More
importantly, we want Russia to see the far-reaching potentials of
working with and strengthening an independent Armenian state in the south Caucasus as a Christian
civilization that continues to
protect Russia's southern gate.
Let's now take a brief look back at some of the human factors that led to the time period in question that in turn led to the Treaties of Gulistan and Turkmenchay.
Israel Ori, Davit Bek, Mkhitar Sparapet, Valerian Madatov and Mikhail Loris-Melikov are some of the greatest names in modern Armenian history. The aforementioned individuals were unique in that they were also aristocratic men, both in demeanor and biological lineage. They were in essence remnants of Armenia's ancient military aristocracy that was still miraculously surviving in Artsakh and Zangezur in the 17th and 18th centuries. These men exhibited traits that have all but been eradicated from modern Armenian society (thanks in large part to Bolshevism of yesterday and Westernization and Globalism of today). They were noble men of tireless action, immense courage, military prowess and great political foresight. These men ultimately became directly responsible for the creation of an Armenian nation-state in a region utterly saturated and infested with Turks and Muslims. These men laid the very foundations of the Armenian nation in the Caucasus. One other common trait found within these great men in our history was their intimate connection to imperial Russia. It was through these men that the Russian Empire moved its borders into the south Caucasus.
Before the Russian Empire's invasion of the south Caucasus in the early 19th century, the region in question was a very different place: The Khanate of Erevan (Persian controlled Yerevan) is said to have had dozens of Mosques and only several Armenian churches and Muslims in the territories of modern day Armenia were a vast majority.
How did this Islamic facade of Armenia change? Armenia slowly began to shed it's Turkic/Islamic facade and laid the foundations of an Armenian nation-state as a result of Israel Ori's farsighted political actions and also the heroism of great military men like David Bek and Mkhitar Sparapet. The aforementioned men sought and secured military support from imperial Russia beginning in the early 18th century and by doing so eventually managed to defeat Persian and Ottoman forces in a series of battles throughout the south Caucasus. Their farsighted actions essentially set the foundations upon which the Russian Czar would establish its borders in the south Caucasus. Imperial Russia's presence in the south Caucasus became the foundational template upon which an independent Armenian state would eventual be revived in 1918. The first Armenian republic in-turn became the political base upon which the second, Soviet Armenian republic would be created in 1921. And the Soviet Armenian republic would in-turn morph into the third republic, which was founded in 1991.
In other words: Over two hundred years ago a handful of men and their followers sought and got Russian support and were then able to finally shed centuries of Turkic/Islam rule and set the foundations of the modern Armenian state.
Russian-Armenian alliance of the mid-18th century facilitated the incorporation of the south Caucasus into the Russian Empire in the early 19th century. After the peace the Russian Empire reached with Persia at Gulistan in 1813, the Czar's imperial forces led by great Russian-Armenian military leaders like Valerian Madatov and Mikhail Loris-Melikov went on to conquer the rest of the south Caucasus by 1828. By liberating the region from Islamic rule, the Russian Empire thus became the catalyst upon which the region's Armenian peasantry (unlike their compatriots in Western Armenia) were eventually able to realize their genetic potential. Imperial Russia put in place various academic and military institutions that the region's Armenian population would begin taking advantage of.
As a result of these changes in the region's cultural/political climate, the region's Armenian peasantry gradually began producing large numbers of scientists, intellectuals, writers, academicians, musicians, military men and statesmen. What followed was a flowering of Armenian culture at the time. It is also important to note here that Armenia's nationalistic movements was also in large part made possible by the presence of the Russian Empire in the Caucasus and by the Armenification program that had been started in the region by the famous German-Russian Czarina, Catherine the Great. Imperial Russia actively encouraged Armenian nationalism during the second half of the 19th century. This effort helped give rise to Armenia's political parties, one of which is very active to this day. What's more, Armenia's greatest war heroes of the 19th and 20th centuries were all trained by imperial Russia.
Nevertheless, by the turn of the 20th century the numbers of Armenians had grown considerably in the present territories of Armenia. So when genocidal Turks began their anti-Armenian jihad in the late 19th century in Western Armenia, Armenians had a homeland to retreat to. Therefore, next time Armenians feel that the strong, self-destructive and nauseating urge to claim that Czarist Russia wanted "Armenia without Armenians" they should instead shut their mouths, pull their heads out of their asses, take a deep breath and look at the big picture. And the following is a little snapshot from Wikipedia of the big picture I'm referring to -
After the incorporation of the [Erivan] khanate into the Russian Empire in 1828, many Muslims (Azerbaijani Tatars, Kurds, Lezgis and various nomadic tribes) migrated to Persia, and were replaced with tens of thousands of repatriated and resettled Armenians from Persia. Such migrations, albeit on a lesser scale, continued until the end of the 19th century... The Russian authorities allowed and encouraged Armenians living in Turkish and Persian territory to migrate into Russian territory - about 49,000 subsequently settled in the Armenian Oblast. Armenian captives who were moved and lived in Iran since 1804 or even as far back as 1795 were permitted to return, which permitted Armenians to regain plurality.
No
matter how one chooses to look at it, the fact is that we have an
Armenia today simply because of the Russian factor in the region's
recent history. The
Russian occupation of the southern Caucasus allowed the Armenia's merchant and
peasant classes to finally cultivate and fine tune their natural, God given talents
within all field of modern civilization. We Armenians are proud to have had great men such as Mikhail Loris-Melikov,
Valerian Matadov, Israel Ori, Davit Bek, Mkhitar Sparapet, Garegin
Njdeh, the Orbeli brothers, Aram Khachaturyan, Artem Mikoyan, Arno
Babajanian, Hovannes Tumanian, Khachatur Abovyan, Hovhannes Baghramyan,
Alikhanian brothers, Aram Hambartsumyan, Hovhannes Ayvazovsky, to
name only a few - because of the great natural talents we Armenians
have been given by God, coupled with the Russian factor in our modern
history.
The Russian nation today continues to be a historic opportunity. Russia today is actually an opportunity Armenia has not had in well over one thousand years. Armenia's national borders have not been this impregnable in well over one thousand years. Arguably, Armenia has not been this independent in well over one thousand years. Armenia has been weathering the current Western instigated crisis in the region quite well thanks to the military protection it has been receiving by the Russian Federation. Despite it all, however, we still have Russophobic freaks throughout the Armenian Diaspora and Armenia itself doing their best to drive a wedge between Yerevan and Moscow. Because as always, Armenia's worst enemies have always been Armenians.
I would like to briefly deviate for a moment for a point I would like to make by asking: How did Armenia's peasantry thank a great patriotic war hero and liberator like Mkhitar Sparapet? ... Armenia's peasantry at the time thanked the great military leader not much unlike how Armenia's peasantry has often thanked its leadership: They murdered Mkhitar Sparapet, cut off his head and sent it as a reconciliation gift to the Turkish Pasha of Tabriz. Our worst enemies have always been found amongst us.
The enemy within: Idiots or traitors?
Once more: The south Caucasus is like a table where Turks, Persians, Azeris, Georgians, Islamists, Western energy interests, Russians and Armenians sit and discuss various matters - and at times fight each other. Imagine this table without its Russian occupant. Imagine Armenia's situation in a Turkic-Islamic dominated political landscape without having the Russian Bear as a geopolitical factor to rely on. Armenia cannot exist without the Russian factor in the region's political climate. Simply put: No Russia in Armenia = no Armenia in the south Caucasus. Russian realize this. Westerners realize this. Turks realize this. Azeris realize this. Again, the only people that do not fully realize this are Armenians.
Which should make one wonder: Why are so many Armenians today trying to undermine Russian-Armenian relations? Which should make one ask: Are these people idiots or traitors? In my opinion, the most accurate answer to the above question would be: A mix of both.
Armenians need to recognize that Armenia is in serious danger today. Washington has marked the country with an agenda that is meant to cause serious political unrest similar to what it has done in the Ukraine and elsewhere. Hosting one of the largest numbers of Western funded NGOs and one of the largest US embassies in the world, Armenia is one of Washington's major targets. Alarmingly, not enough Armenians are recognizing this danger. As we have seen in places such as Venezuela, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Serbia, Russia and Ukraine, Western funded NGOs and their supporters remain the single most dangerous element inside Armenia today. It should be of little consolation that Washington does not yet have the number's advantage in Armenia currently because Western assets in the small nation are like cancerous cells that can grow and metastasize unexpectedly. Many nations have made the mistake of not taking Western led and financed assets in their countries seriously.
Behind the seemingly “humanitarian” agendas of Armenia’s Western-funded activists lurks a very dangerous Western imperial agenda.
Although they talk about "civil society" (which in reality means tolerance of ethnic minorities, religious cults and homosexuals), "freedom of speech" (which in reality means allowing Western propagandists a free hand in the country to manipulate the sentiments of the ignorant masses) and "democracy" (which in reality means allowing the manipulated masses to decide political discourse), the expulsion of Russia as a geopolitical factor from Armenia is precisely what Armenia's Western-led political opposition groups like Raffi Hovanissian's Heritage party, Vartan Oskanian's Civilitas, Paruyr Hayriakian's National Self-Determination Union party, David Grigorian's Policy Forum Armenia and and Jirayr Sefilian's Preparliament movement, as well as an army of Western funded think tanks, NGOs and their supporters are what they are after.
Armenia’s Russian backed security services need to monitor every single NGO or individual that receives funding from any Western nation. Once more I would like to bring to the readers attention the following partial list of individuals and entities currently working to undermine Russo-Armenian relations by advancing Western sociopolitical agendas inside Armenia today -
Looking at the overall low quality of the Armenian Diaspora today and the Western-led activists in the political opposition in Armenia, I'm afraid not much seems to have changed
in the Armenian psyche: If ever given a chance, there are a number of nutjobs in Armenia that would gladly behead Armenia's leadership today and present the head on a platter to Westerners, Turks and Jews. Armenians today are ready and willing to decapitate their leadership for their political illusions and/or personal ambitions.
No
matter how one chooses to look at it, the fact is that we have an
Armenia today simply because of the Russian factor in the region's
recent history. The
Russian occupation of the southern Caucasus allowed the Armenia's merchant and
peasant classes to finally cultivate and fine tune their natural, God given talents and enter into the modern world. We Armenians are proud to have had great men such as Mikhail Loris-Melikov,
Valerian Matadov, Israel Ori, Davit Bek, Mkhitar Sparapet, Garegin
Njdeh, the Orbeli brothers, Aram Khachaturyan, Artem Mikoyan, Arno
Babajanian, Hovannes Tumanyan, the Mikoyan brothers, Khachatur Abovyan, Hovhannes Baghramyan,
Gevork Vartanyan, Arno Babajanyan, the Alikhanyan brothers, Aram Hambartsumyan, Hovhannes Ayvazovsky, to
name only a few - because of natural talents we have been given by God - coupled with the Russian factor in our modern
history. If stating such facts makes me a Russophile, then so be it. I rather dwell in reality than drown in fantasy.
Had the Russian not come down to the south Caucasus and Anatolia starting in the early 19th century and had Christian Russia not been a safe refuge for a great number of Armenians for several centuries - we Armenians today would in all likeliness still be living stateless in eastern Turkey and northern Iran, not much unlike Yezdis and Kurds.
Had the Russian not come down to the south Caucasus and Anatolia starting in the early 19th century and had Christian Russia not been a safe refuge for a great number of Armenians for several centuries - we Armenians today would in all likeliness still be living stateless in eastern Turkey and northern Iran, not much unlike Yezdis and Kurds.
The Russian nation today continues to be a historic opportunity. Russia today is actually an opportunity Armenia has not had in well over one thousand years. Armenia's national borders have not been this impregnable in well over one thousand years. Arguably, Armenia has not been this independent in well over one thousand years. Armenia has been weathering the current Western instigated crisis in the region quite well thanks to the military protection it has been receiving by the Russian Federation. Despite it all, however, we still have Russophobic freaks throughout the Armenian Diaspora and Armenia itself doing their best to drive a wedge between Yerevan and Moscow. Because as always, Armenia's worst enemies have always been Armenians.
I would like to briefly deviate for a moment for a point I would like to make by asking: How did Armenia's peasantry thank a great patriotic war hero and liberator like Mkhitar Sparapet? ... Armenia's peasantry at the time thanked the great military leader not much unlike how Armenia's peasantry has often thanked its leadership: They murdered Mkhitar Sparapet, cut off his head and sent it as a reconciliation gift to the Turkish Pasha of Tabriz. Our worst enemies have always been found amongst us.
The enemy within: Idiots or traitors?
Once more: The south Caucasus is like a table where Turks, Persians, Azeris, Georgians, Islamists, Western energy interests, Russians and Armenians sit and discuss various matters - and at times fight each other. Imagine this table without its Russian occupant. Imagine Armenia's situation in a Turkic-Islamic dominated political landscape without having the Russian Bear as a geopolitical factor to rely on. Armenia cannot exist without the Russian factor in the region's political climate. Simply put: No Russia in Armenia = no Armenia in the south Caucasus. Russian realize this. Westerners realize this. Turks realize this. Azeris realize this. Again, the only people that do not fully realize this are Armenians.
Which should make one wonder: Why are so many Armenians today trying to undermine Russian-Armenian relations? Which should make one ask: Are these people idiots or traitors? In my opinion, the most accurate answer to the above question would be: A mix of both.
Armenians need to recognize that Armenia is in serious danger today. Washington has marked the country with an agenda that is meant to cause serious political unrest similar to what it has done in the Ukraine and elsewhere. Hosting one of the largest numbers of Western funded NGOs and one of the largest US embassies in the world, Armenia is one of Washington's major targets. Alarmingly, not enough Armenians are recognizing this danger. As we have seen in places such as Venezuela, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Serbia, Russia and Ukraine, Western funded NGOs and their supporters remain the single most dangerous element inside Armenia today. It should be of little consolation that Washington does not yet have the number's advantage in Armenia currently because Western assets in the small nation are like cancerous cells that can grow and metastasize unexpectedly. Many nations have made the mistake of not taking Western led and financed assets in their countries seriously.
Behind the seemingly “humanitarian” agendas of Armenia’s Western-funded activists lurks a very dangerous Western imperial agenda.
Although they talk about "civil society" (which in reality means tolerance of ethnic minorities, religious cults and homosexuals), "freedom of speech" (which in reality means allowing Western propagandists a free hand in the country to manipulate the sentiments of the ignorant masses) and "democracy" (which in reality means allowing the manipulated masses to decide political discourse), the expulsion of Russia as a geopolitical factor from Armenia is precisely what Armenia's Western-led political opposition groups like Raffi Hovanissian's Heritage party, Vartan Oskanian's Civilitas, Paruyr Hayriakian's National Self-Determination Union party, David Grigorian's Policy Forum Armenia and and Jirayr Sefilian's Preparliament movement, as well as an army of Western funded think tanks, NGOs and their supporters are what they are after.
Armenia’s Russian backed security services need to monitor every single NGO or individual that receives funding from any Western nation. Once more I would like to bring to the readers attention the following partial list of individuals and entities currently working to undermine Russo-Armenian relations by advancing Western sociopolitical agendas inside Armenia today -
Richard Giragosian, Paruyr Hayrikian, Raffi Hovanissian and family, Zaruhi Postanjian, Levon Petrosian, Vartan Oskanian, Andranik Dovlatyan, Andreas Gukasyan, Larisa Minasyan, Levon Zurabian, Manvel Sargsian, Shant Voskerichian, Artur Sakunts, Babken DerGrigorian, Shant Arutyunian, Ruben Gevorkyants, Avetik Ishkhanyan, Jirayr Libaridian, Nikol Pashinyan, Yeghia Nersesian, Gayane Abrahamyan, Armen Martirosyan, Hilda Grigoryan, Salpi Ghazarian, Jirayr Sefilian, Edik Baghtasaryan, Arpine Galfayan, Emil Danielyan, Levon Parseghyan, Van Krikorian, Harry Tamrazian, Susanna Muradyan, Hranush Kharatyan, Georgy Vanyan, Igor Muratyan, Jhanna Makhyan, Ara Manoogian, Robert Davidian, Onnik Krikorian, David Grigorian, Arpine Galfayan, Vardges Gaspari, David Sanasaryan, Vahan Martyrosyan, Sassoon Kosian, Hovnanian family, Zaruhi Poghosyan, Lara Aharonian, Nanore Barsumian, Larisa Minasyan, Mamikon Hovsepyan, Naira Hayrumyan, Sona Ayvazyan, Ara Papyan, David Shahnazaryan, Yekaterina Poghosyan, Tigran Khzmalyan, Daniel Ioannisyan, Garo Ghazarian, Garegin Chugaszyan, Liana Aghajanian, Arevik Saribekyan, Anush Sedrakyan, Arman Babajanyan, Tsovinar Nazaryan, Gevorg Safaryan, Karine Aghajanyan, Angel Khachatryan, Alex Yenikomshyan, Alexander Arzumanyan, Eduard Abrahamyan, Boris Navasardyan, Gayane Mkrtchyan, Maro Matossian, Varujan Avetisyan, Marianna Grigoryan, Edgar Khachatryan, Karen Hakobian, Tony Halpin, Anna Nemtsova, John Hughes, Kirk Wallace, Rick Ney, Anton Ivchenko, Blogger Unzipped, Rotary Club of Yerevan, Transparency International Anti-corruption Center, Gala TV, Open Society Foundation Armenia, Armenian Assembly of America, Pink Armenia, Policy Forum Armenia, Armenian Renaissance, ACNIS, Civilitas, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, Peace Dialogue, Armenian Environmental Network, NGO Center of Armenia, Rights and Support Foundation, UIC Armenia, British Council of Armenia, Women’s Support Center, Rights and Support Foundation, Caucasus Research Resource Center Armenia, Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, Founding Parliament (formerly Pre-Parliament), Heritage Party, Radio Liberty, Asparez Journalists' Club, Caucasus Center for Peacemaking Initiative, Women’s Resource Center, Arajinlratvakan, ArmeniaNow, Armenia Today, Aravot, Hetq and Lragir.
While bloodless, what Western-led whores like Zaruhi Boztanjian did in Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg was essentially the same: She figuratively beheaded her nation's leader in a public square in front of foreign leaders known to be hostile towards Armenia. I'm sure that in an earlier time or under different circumstances, her beheading of the Armenian President to appease foreigners would not have been such a figurative one. Needless to say, it was only a matter of time before puppet-masters in the West rewarded Zaruhi for her blatant treachery. Soon after her abominable act it was reported that she would be sent to the US for a six-month training program at the CIA affiliated Tufts University. I'd like to remind the reader that Tufts University is the Alma Mater of Raffi Hovannisian and Vartan Oskanian. With that said, the treasonous whore Boztanjyan is not alone in trying to decapitate the Armenian state.
With Armenia's acceptance into the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Washington has been doing its best to prepare the field for a Ukrainian type uprising in Armenia. Therefore, in the coming months, expect Raffi Hovanissian's Heritage Party and Jirayr Sefilian's Նախախորհրդարան (Preparliament) to provoke sociopolitical unrest, similar to what has been happening in Ukraine and elsewhere in recent years.
Threats of a violent coup on April 24
As the historic centennial of the Armenian Genocide approaches the biggest obstacle to commemoration events in Armenia will not be Turks or Azeris but Armenians. With Armenia's official entry into the Russian-led EEU sealed, Uncle Sam's angry operatives in Armenia have gotten increasingly desperate. Preparliament extremists will attempt a regime change in Armenia come next April 24, during the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide - by the use of arms if need be! In their public speeches Preparliament extremists are also implying that the murder of Armenian security officials and politicians is justified now because, in their opinion, the two serve foreign interests (i.e. Russian interests). No, this is not some satirical dark comedy skit. This is real, folks. Listen to them speak for themselves -
Սթափվե´ք, այլապես կգա այն օրը, երբ ժողովուրդը կստիպի ձեզ սթափվել: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNEz5W9_lKo
Preparliament extremists are publicly threatening to kill (սատկացնել) Armenian officials and security personal as if they are animals because according to them Armenian authorities serve Russian interests. Yet, no police investigation and no outrage from any corner of Armenian society. Are there any limits to our people's self-destructive behavior and stupidity? Perhaps the killing of Preparliament members is now justified as well, specially since their actions in Armenia directly serve the interests of Western powers and Turks. It is not surprising that Armenia's Western-led activists have lately become the darlings of Azeri news media -
Armenian opposition warns it may revert to armed protests: http://www.azernews.az/aggression/74211.html
Armenian opposition calls for removal of authorities: http://www.azernews.az/aggression/75284.html
American Armenians boycott donations: http://www.azernews.az/aggression/74028.html
Ten
years ago I would have somehow found room in my heart to understand
these crazy people. Today, despite how hard I try I cannot find any rationale
behind what they are trying to do. Allow me to also say that at worst Armenia's despised "regime" is no worst than
most fledgling governments around the world today. And in many ways
Armenia's current political system is actually better than that of most fledgling
governments. Armenians are not fleeing Armenia because of "corruption" and "injustice",
Armenians are fleeing Armenia because of two fundamental reasons: The
mass hysteria being created and spread by Armenia's Western-led political
opposition and Armenian օտարամոլութիւն. As the modern Armenian slogan - որտեղ հաց այնտեղ կաց - implies, Armenians, not much unlike gypsies, are ready to pack up and go when things are not to their liking.
More impotently: Didn't we see enough death and destruction by the ideological brethren of our Preparliament types in places such as Venezuela, Greece, Serbia, Ukraine, Libya, Egypt and Syria? Haven't we seen democracy now(!) extremists and civil society fagots destroy enough countries around the world?
Preparilament extremists should play with fire in their homes, not in my homeland!
Once more, Armenia's self-destructive peasantry is very willing to burn down their village to save it from imaginary monsters that only exist in their heads. Very surreal indeed. Armenia are still generations way from truly deserving political freedom for Armenians do not yet understand the responsibilities that come with having an nation-state.
More impotently: Didn't we see enough death and destruction by the ideological brethren of our Preparliament types in places such as Venezuela, Greece, Serbia, Ukraine, Libya, Egypt and Syria? Haven't we seen democracy now(!) extremists and civil society fagots destroy enough countries around the world?
Preparilament extremists should play with fire in their homes, not in my homeland!
Once more, Armenia's self-destructive peasantry is very willing to burn down their village to save it from imaginary monsters that only exist in their heads. Very surreal indeed. Armenia are still generations way from truly deserving political freedom for Armenians do not yet understand the responsibilities that come with having an nation-state.
In their unbridled hate and jealousy, massive arrogance and egotism, mental and emotional illness, political ignorance and in some cases treasonous pursuits, Armenians today continue being Armenia's first and foremost obstacle. If one unfortunate day, like a day after Russian forces are somehow forced to retreat from the south Caucasus and Western powers begin bombing Armenia for one geopolitical reason or another, it would be Armenia's Western-led activists appearing on CNN and BBC to explain an/or excuse why the "democratic world" needed to bomb their "authoritarian" homeland into submission. We saw similar processes play out in places such as Serbia, Ukraine, Iraq, Libya and Syria. Armenia's Western-led political opposition should be a reminder to us all that throughout our history the Armenian state has had to prepare for battle not only against external enemies but also against internal enemies -
Հայ-ռուսական համատեղ մարտավարական զորավարժությունը «Ալագյազ» զորավարժարանում: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1qU3_acLno&list=UU4lSkT4s1RJ8EK4nZ7pPgqA
Ոստիկանության զորավարժությունը Արզնի օդանավակայանի տարածքում (դիտել 4:45-ից): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHgK_kKhAxs
Today, I have but one prayer: God, please save Armenia from democracy.
I hope the readers can now begin to understand that political illiteracy is part of the reason why we Armenians have not had a state to be proud about in well over one thousand years. I hope the reader now understands why I say democracy is one of the most serious threats facing Armenia today. I hope the reader now understands why I say Armenians need to be ruled by an authoritarian government. I hope the reader now understands why I reserve more hope in Russians than in Armenians when it comes to the security of Armenia. I hope the reader now understands why I have been saying that one must search the deepest African jungle or the remotest Arabian desert village to find a tribe of people more politically ignorant and self-destructive as us Armenians.
In my opinion, Armenians per se do not deserve any credit to any of Yerevan's diplomatic successes. A handful of men - the Karabakh clan in particular - are why Yerevan has expertly navigated the turmoil of the south Caucasus during the past twenty years and the same is the reason why Armenia is allied to Russia.
The pursuit of Western fairytales such as "democracy" and "human rights" in Armenia are dangerous red-herrings that only serve to stagnate the fledgling nation politically and economically and prevent Armenians from collectively pursuing more important, more strategic matters facing our embattled nation. With all that said, I believe better times lie ahead. Despite its severe growing pains, Armenia today stands poised to become a major regional trade hub. Despite its Western-led self-destructive political opposition's wishes, Armenia stands poised to be a strategic point between the EEU and the Middle East, Turkey, Iran and Europe. I finally see some light at the end of our long and dark tunnel. Thankfully, we have had some competent leaders at the helm in Yerevan. President Sargsyan's decision to join the Russian led EEU was a wise geostrategic move that will begin paying enormous dividends in the future for Pax Russica in the south Caucasus holds many promises. Therefore, it's high time we use this historic opportunity for the betterment of our sacred homeland in order to strengthen it so that when the day comes to move westward, Armenia will be ready to accomplish its sacred mission.
In conclusion, we Armenians desperately need to place more emphasis on the heroic aspects of our vastly rich national history. We Armenians desperately need to better understand our national history. We Armenians desperately need to better understand ourselves. We Armenians desperately need to better understand the harsh realities of the political world we live in. We Armenians desperately need to better understand the importance of deepening Armenia's ties to Russia. It's high time we collectively strengthened the Armenian homeland instead of undermining it in our pursuit of outlandish Western fantasies.
Let us therefore put aside our Washingtonian wet dreams, EUrotic fantasies, self-pity and Disporan mentalities and let's properly salute the heroic participants of the Russo-Armenian army at the Battle of Sarikamish - an epic battle where brave Armenian warriors from the Caucasus together with their Christian Orthodox Slavic brethren from the north brought the mighty Ottoman army to its knees and in doing so liberated Western Armenia! The reader may be interested to know that the Battle of Sarikamish has been turned into somewhat of a solemn holiday in Turkey in recent years. Every year, the Turkish military contemplatively commemorates the historic event that took place between December 1914 and January 1915. Therefore, in my humble opinion, I think it would be very appropriate, I would even say polite, to wish all Turks a very Happy Sarikamish!
And I wish you all a very Happy Sarikamish. Let's hope that the blessed memory of all those Armenians and Russians that gave their lives for the liberation of Western Armenia may inspire a new generation of brave warriors. And let's collectively pray that Sarikamish II - of course without the first one's Bolshevik ending - is not too far down the Anatolian road...
Arevordi
January, 2015
***
The Battle of Sarikamish
Russian-Armenian trenches in the forests of SarikamishRussia viewed the Caucasus Front as secondary to the Eastern Front. Eastern Front had the Russian manpower and resources. Russia had taken the fortress of Kars from the Turks during the Russo-Turkish War in 1877 and feared a campaign into the Caucasus, a Caucasus Campaign, aimed at retaking Kars and the port of Batum. The Ottoman generalship and organization were negligible compared to the Allies. A Caucasus Campaign would have a distracting effect on Russian forces. The plan found sympathy with German advisory that a success in this region would mean a diversion of Russian forces to this front from the Polish and Galician fronts. Germany supplied the missing resources and the Ottoman 3rd Army's manpower was used to achieve the desired distraction. Strategic goal of the Caucasus Campaign was set to retake Artvin, Ardahan, along Kars, and the port of Batum. For a longer term goal, Enver hoped a success would facilitate opening the route to Tbilisi and beyond with a revolt of Caucasian Muslims. The Turkish — or rather German — strategic goal was to cut off Russian access to the hydrocarbon resources around the Caspian Sea.
The long term goal made British vary. The Anglo-Persian Oil Company was in the proposed path which had the exclusive rights to work petroleum deposits throughout the Persian Empire except in the provinces of Azerbaijan, Ghilan, Mazendaran, Asdrabad and Khorasan. In 1914, before the war, the British government had contracted with the company for the supply of oil-fuel for the navy. The headquarters of the 3rd Army was located in Erzurum under the command of Hasan İzzet Pasha. On October 30, 1914, the 3rd Army headquarters was informed by High Command in Istanbul about an exchange of fire during the pursuit of Goeben and Breslau in the Black Sea. High Command expected the Russian Army to cross the Ottoman border at any time. The Bergmann Offensive (November 2, 1914 - November 16, 1914) ended with the defeat of Russian troops under the command of Bergmann. The Russian success was along the southern shoulders of the offense where Armenian volunteers visible (effective) and taken Karaköse and Doğubeyazıt Hasan İzzet Pasha managed to stabilize the front by letting the Russians 25 kilometers inside the Ottoman Empire along the Erzurum-Sarikamish axis.
The war minister, Enver Pasha, devised an operation plan while he was at the Department of War in Istanbul. His strategy based on German principles copied from Napoleon. Enver's plan involved a single envelopment using three Corps. On the right flank, XI Corps would fix the Russians in place and conduct feint attacks. In the center, IX Corps would fight in the direction of Sarikamish Pass. Hafız Hakkı’s X Corps, which was to be on the left flank, would drive to Oltu, cross the Allahüekber Mountains, cut the Kars road and drive the Russians to the Aras Valley, where the Russian forces would be destroyed by all three Corps attacking in total harmony. Meanwhile a detachment unit under Stange Bey would conduct highly visible operations to distract and pin Russian units. The success depended on these troops arriving at their specified objectives at the correct moment. The Russians fulfilled the first part of this strategy with the Bergmann Offensive by Russian forces concentrating at Sarikamish and Köprüköy.
Photo said to be of the 4th battalion of the Armenian volunteers engaged at strategic Barduz Pass
Hasan İzzet Pasha was not in favor of an offensive action in the harsh winter conditions. He was planning to remain in defense. He wanted to pull the Russians to the Erzurum Fortress and launch a counter attack at the right time. Assistant Chief of Staff Colonel Hafız Hakkı Bey was sent to replace the commander of X Corps Ziya Pasha to energize the 3rd Army. After initial exchanges with Hafız Hakkı, on December 18, Hasan İzzet, whose release from the command was signed on December 14 by Enver, told to Enver: “We have to consider 8 or 9 days for a large scaled encircling manoeuvre. However, during this time the XI Corps, which will remain at the front, might be jeopardized. Even if we execute the manoeuvre with two corps, they will probably face difficulties against the enemy.” Enver Pasha wanted his plan executed through a winter offense. He decided to take in the charge. He left Istanbul with General Bronsart von Schellendorf and the head of the Operations Office Lieutenant Colonel Feldmann. They arrived in Erzurum on December 21. Senior Turkish commanders opposed the forced resignation of Hasan İzzet the Commander of the 3rd Army due to his rejection of the plan.
The total war zone was nearly 1,250-1,500 kilometers (776-932 miles) wide from Black sea to Lake Van, which made the military concentration difficult. The operation executed at a plateau averaging 1,500-2,000 meters (5,000-6,500 feet). The main difficulty about the region was the roads. The transportation infrastructure on the Ottoman side was far from adequate. Russia's main advantage was the railway up to Kars including a terminal at Sarikamish. The railway was 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the border. The only way for an army through the Caucasian heights was the high mountain passes in which were lied the cities Kars and Sarikamish. Beyond, the upper valleys of the Aras River and Euphrates extended westward. Everywhere else was the paths in tracks which were impenetrable to artillery. The forces were concentrated about 80 kilometers (50 miles) on each side of the border at the fortresses of Kars (Russian) and Erzurum (Ottoman).
The 3rd Army under the command of Enver Pasha was composed of the IX, X and XI Corps. 3rd Army's headquarters and the IX Corps were located in Erzurum. The X Corps was stationed in Sivas, whereas the XI Corps was in Elazığ (Mamuretülaziz). A detachment unit under the command of German Stange (lieutenant colonel) was established from the 3rd Infantry Division located at Erzurum Fortress to reinforce the offense and pin down the Russians. This detachment unit was originally stationed in Thrace; consisting of two battalions of the 8th Infantry Regiment and two artillery. The fighting power included 83,000 regular troops, reserves, and personnel of the Erzurum Fortress added to 118,000. The total manpower including transportation units, depot regiments, and military police was 150,000. There were 73 machine guns and 218 artillery pieces. Ottoman forces were inadequately prepared for the campaign. Two divisions of the IX Corps began a long trek with no winter clothing and only dry bread and olives for rations.
Armenian 3rd battalion cavalry and troops commanded by Hamazasp Srvandztian rallying at Etchmiadzin in 1914The Russian Caucasus Army was a well-equipped 100,000 troops. The Russians redeployed almost half of the Caucasus Army to the Prussian front due to the defeats at the Battle of Tannenberg (August 23 - September 2, 1914) and the Masurian Lakes (September 9-14, 1914), leaving behind just 65,000 troops. To remedy these troop movements Count Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov consulted with the Mayor of Tbilisi Alexandre Khatsian, the primate of Tbilisi Bishop Mesrop, and the prominent civic leader Dr. Hakob Zavriev about the creation of Armenian volunteer detachments. The Russian Armenian reservists had already been drafted into the regular armed forces and sent to European theatre of World War I. The volunteer units would make up of Armenians who were not citizens of the empire or not obligated to serve. Originally, there were 4 volunteer battalions created. Along the Kars Oblast, the 3rd battalion commanded by Hamazasp (Srvandztian) and 4th battalion by Keri (Arshak Gavafian) operated on the front facing Erzurum between Sarikamish and Oltu. The Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasian Military District (Caucasian Army) was Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov. Effective command laid on Inf. General Aleksandr Zakharevich Myshlayevsky who was originally a military historian graduated from Imperial General Staff Academy. General Nikolai Yudenich was the Chief of Staff of General Myshlayevsky.
Hafız Hakki was at the left flank. His order was to move the IX and X Corps to Sarikamish and Kars. He contemplated a two step plan. A sudden initial attack ("major offensive") and second step with both Corps proceeding at full speed towards the Oltu. He expected the assault at İd to be concluded by the afternoon of December 22. Then the Corps would march 30 kilometers a day and arrive in the Kars-Sarikamish line by December 25. For the movement on the extreme left two divisions of the Stange regiment had been sent by sea from Constantinople to Trabzon. On early December 22, Hafız Hakkı ordered his troops to move forward. They engaged in a brief skirmish against a Russian brigade commanded by General Istomin, once these divisions reached to Oltu. The skirmishes at Oltu ended the next day after 4 artillery guns, 4 machine guns, and 1000 Russian troops were taken prisoner. On December 23, Istomin abandoned his position for the general direction of Ardahan. Hafız Hakkı sent 2 divisions to pursue Istomin. At the extreme left wing, the Stange Regiment, which had landed at Trabzon, was to move up the Çoruh valley towards Ardahan and across a pass of 2,4384 kilometers (8,000 feet) high.
On December 24, Hafız Hakkı was well beyond Oltu after having marched a hard 75 kilometers in just over three days. However, they were not at Kars-Sarikamish line as it was planned. On December 25, Ottoman troops had been marching for 14 hours under heavy snow. The soldiers were exhausted, fatigued, hungry; the fear of frostbite and Russian machine guns were slowly being replaced by absolute indifference. On December 26, at the 18th hour of this march, in the early hours of the morning, the 91st Regiment of X Corps came under enemy fire. The Russians left the scene after nearly two hours of fighting. The regiment hit the road again. Soon a snow storm began. Under these conditions the 91st Regiment managed to reach Kosor in 21 hours after leaving Penek, a distance of just 8 kilometers. Other units reached their destinations at a similar rate. While Enver was ordering a night attack, elements of the X Corps were spending the night in the villages of Kosor, Arsenik and Patsik, which were 40, 35 and 30 kilometers from Sarikamish respectively. The Allahüekber Mountains were in front of these units. It would take them at least 2 more days to reach Sarikamish.
The X Corps suffered a delay of 24 hours in the Barduz Pass. This added an extra deviation from Enver's all-attack plan. In the Barduz Pass conflict 4th battalion of the Armenian volunteers lost 600 troops. The Stange regiment looked down to Ardahan. When the commander Malyshevsky arrived army headquarters in the Russian front line, he was almost in a complete panic. He gave the order for a general retreat. The process of withdrawing was to start on December 25 and 26. The Russians evacuated Sarikamish, leaving only 2 cavalry squadrons and 1,000 railwaymen to defend it. Not all Russian commanders were in a state of panic. The Russian army headquarters maintained a solid grip on the situation, the effective command and control never lost. General Yudenich, taking command of the II Turkestan Corps, decided to put up resistance. On December 28 the Russians held by the XI Corps at Khorasan. The IX Corps were at Sarikamish. The X Corps were threatening to pierce the Russian front along the Kars railway at east side. The Stange regiment was descending upon Ardahan at sixty miles north-east. The Enver's operational plan looked liked succeeded on the map. The ground situation was alarming. Ottoman forces were worn out, half starved, and short of guns and ammunition, for no transport on earth could cope with such a breakneck march. Enver Pasha thought that the Russians were retreating to Kars. In fact, it was actually an encircling movement.
On December 29, the assault took place. The IX and XI Corps, totaling 12,000 men, began to attack Sarikamish. During bitter bayonet fighting, only 300 men succeeded in breaking into the city. At end of the day, they were driven off, losing 6,000 troops. Enver's positive mood replaced with disappointment when he received information that Russians were preparing to encircle his forces with a force of five regiments. This shock enabled Enver Pasha to see the truth. On December 31, the IX Corps was stuck in woods outside Sarikamish and down to some 2,500 men and 14 artillery guns and machine guns. On the same night bad news arrived from Bardız to Enver’s headquarters. The 32nd Division abandoned his positions to the Russians. This meant that Barduz and Kızılkilise roads were now in Russian hands. The Ottoman forces were inside a semicircle. Retreat through the open mouth of the circle would be the rational decision. Enver refused to lose momentum, and ordered his units to continue with the plan. On January 1, commander of the XI Corps pressed a frontal attack on Sarikamish lasting for the next 4 days; after that the heavy fighting began to lose momentum. Snow hindered advancing forces which were supposed to bring the relief. The IX Corps melted away on the way to Sarikamish. One of the divisions lost 40% of its strength in a snowstorm. The X Corps never come to the rescue. The 90% of X Corps was left on the slopes of Allahüekber Mountains. The XI Corps was fighting at the Aras region. A regiment entered Çerkezköy, only to be taken prisoner. According to schedule but exhausted, the Stange regiment entered Ardahan. The Russians were about to encircle the remaining forces.
On January 2, Russian artillery fire caused severe casualties. Enver Pasha received two reports; one was from the chief of staff of the IX Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Şerif, and the other from Colonel Hafız Hakkı. Both reports were saying that they did not have any capacity to launch another attack. They were simply too weak. Enver responded to the units “the offensive is to go on at full strength.” This was later used as a sign of his denial. Later, Enver slowly accepted the truth and focused on securing the routes for retreat instead of insisting on new attacks to take Sarikamish. He combined the two corps there, renamed it the “Left Wing Army.” He promoted the Colonel Hafız Hakkı to Brigadier General and gave the command of the Left wing Army. On January 3, I Corps were driven out again back to the Choruk Valley, in which direction the remnants of the X Corps were also retreating. Hafız Hakkı, who was just promoted to be a Pasha, was hoping for reinforcements. He did not order his units, Left Wing Army, to retreat. He believed it could be still possible to take Sarikamish. Meanwhile, around 40 kilometres south to Sarikamish, the XI Corps led by Galip Pasha was renewing attacks on Russian lines in an attempt to relieve the pressure on the IX and X Corps positioned in front of Sarikamish. However, the Russians were advancing now. The circle was getting narrower. On January 4, Hafız Hakkı Pasha toured the front line. He said to İhsan Pasha that it is over and he was hoping that some of the troops left on Allahüekber Mountains could be still alive.
On January 6, the 3rd Army headquarters found itself under fire. The Russians captured the entire 28th Division. The 17th and 29th Divisions were taken prisoner. 8 senior officers including İhsan Pasha surrendered to the Russians. Among the captives, 108 officers and 80 soldiers transferred to Sarikamish. Hafız Hakkı Pasha managed to save himself. He safely reached the headquarters of the X Corps. He found out that the IX Corps fell to the hands of Russians. He ordered a total retreat. On January 7, the remaining forces began their march towards Erzurum. On January 11, after four days of travel Enver Pasha and the German officers reached Erzurum. They stipulated in their original plan that the same route could be taken by the 3rd Army in two days. The transports dispatched from Constantinople which attempted to land troops and provisions at Trabzon were sunk by a Russian Black Sea squadron and the warships. The escorts SMS Goeben and TCG Hamidieh chased back to the Bosporus. On January 17, the remnants of Ottoman forces in woods outside Sarikamish were collected which signaled the end of final fighting in this front. On the other side, the Russian right wing cleared the Choruk Valley. Enver's project ended in failure after three weeks of heroic struggle amid high mountains and deep snowdrifts. For a time, at least, Russia was secure from attack in the Caucasus. Hafız Hakkı Pasha expected that the Russians use this success to capture the Erzurum Fortress. The 3rd Army immediately took reconstruction measures. This proved to be nearly impossible as all the local reserves depleted. On February 12, the young and energetic Hafız Hakkı Pasha died at the helm of the Army. Otto Liman von Sanders, who was asked before, rejected the position again. Mahmut Kamil Pasha took the command of the Army. The war minister Enver Pasha never commanded troops in any other battle again.
The Ottoman 3rd Army started with 118,000 fighting power. It was reduced to 42,000 effective in January 1915. There are conflicting figures on Ottoman Casualties. Sources do not agree on what the final sum should include. The Turkish official history states; 32,000 KIA, 15,000 died sickness, 7,000 prisoners, 10,000 wounded, some 50,000 casualty. The casualties of the conflict escalated beyond the end of active period as the most immediate problem confronting the 3rd Army became the typhus epidemic. The epidemic was so bad that the commander of the Army Hafız Hakkı Pasha died of typhus just a few weeks later in Erzurum. TAF presents a round-up 60,000 throughout all the period of operation. Russians had 7,000 POW's, which includes 200 officers. These POW's were kept under confinement for the next three three years in the small town of Varnavino, east of Moscow on the Vetluga River. After the final days of the Czarist empire, these soldiers had chance to return ailing Ottoman Empire. Russian losses were 16,000 KIA and 12,000 died sickness, mostly due to frostbite. TAF sources report a rounded 30,000 without giving details on the breakdown of this number.
Enver was the strategist of the operation. Hassan Izzet was the tactician who implemented the plan and remedied the shortcomings. The failure was blamed on Enver. Beyond his faulty estimate on how the enveloped Russians would react, his failure was on not keeping operational reserves that matched the needs of the conditions. He did not have enough field service to factor the hardships faced by the soldiers, he analyzed the operational necessities theoretically rather than contextually. Carrying out a military plan in the winter was not the major failure of the operation. A valid question is if the plan could have executed better? It would be hard to exceed the performance of the Turkish soldiers. The IX and X Corps marched with the possible best effectiveness under the given conditions. The authority of the command over the units were undeniable which extended to the human limits. The majority of the units managed to move to the right positions. In many respects, the destruction of 30,000 Russian units should be credited. The communication and cooperation between the Ottoman units failed, forces functioned separate units rather than mutually supporting engagements as originally planned. There was not sufficient operational reserve established, for size of engagement. The conditions of the Ottoman forces could have been better, if Enver paused the operations on December 14, or did not moved beyond Oltu line with the artillery pieces. The decision to take heavy artillery rather than short range smaller caliber beyond the Oltu line was failure as the forces were faced detachment units with better mobility. The plan's had faulty estimate on the Russian forces. The commanders of the X and IX Corps were replaced with little or no experience at the operational level. The chief of staff of IX Corps Köprülülü Şerif Bey "..troops fought on the top of tall mountains under snowstorm against the artillery of an enemy of centuries and they were completely annihilated, but not a single Turkish soldier has ever turned his back to his nation... In Sarikamish, there was no panic.”
During the battle the light infantry was used by both sides. The detachment Armenian volunteer units on the Russian side, and the detachment I Corps unit under control of Stange Bey bey provided skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying of the enemy advance or preventing them escaping. The Ottoman detachment unit whence the Armenian volunteers operated and also those settlements left exposed by tactical withdrawals of the Russian forces and Armenian volunteer units. The Armenian detachment units are credited no small measure of the success which attended by the Russian forces, as they were natives of the region, adjusted to the climatic conditions, familiar with every road and mountain path, and had real incentive to fierce and resolute combat. The Armenian volunteers were small, mobile, and well adapted to the semi-guerrilla warfare. They did good work as scouts, though they took part in many severe engagements. Armenian detachment battalions challenged the Ottoman operations during the critical times: "the delay enabled the Russian Caucasus Army to concentrate sufficient force around Sarikamish".
Martin Gilbert in The First World War states that in search of allies against the Turks, the Tsar visited the "Caucasus front" on December 30, telling the head of the Armenian Church that "a most brilliant future awaits the Armenians". With these words, the fate of hundreds of thousands of Armenians was endangered, as Ottoman Empire saw in its own large Armenian minority a source of fifth column activity, treachery and disloyalty, and did nothing to dampen anti-Armenian feeling. The relationship between the Armenians and the Ottoman Empire had already started to deteriorate after numerous massacres in eastern Anatolia during the 1890s. The Ottoman government claimed[citation needed] that it had a legitimate defense by sovereign state—at the moment of its greatest danger—against an actual or projected Armenian uprising in favor of Russia and Western Allied invasion of Ottoman heartlands. On his return to Constantinople, Enver Pasha blamed his failure on the actions of the region's local Armenians, initiating the repressive measures against the empire's Armenian population that were an early stage of the Armenian Genocide.
Source: http://wapedia.mobi/en/Battle_of_Sarikamis
Caucasus Campaign: World War One
The Caucasus Campaign comprised armed conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire, later including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Central Caspian Dictatorship and the British Empire as part of the Middle Eastern theatre or alternatively named as part of the Caucasus Campaign during World War I. The Caucasus Campaign extended from the Caucasus to the Eastern Asia Minor region, reaching as far as Trabzon, Bitlis, Muş and Van. The land warfare was accompanied by the Russian navy in the Black Sea Region of the Ottoman Empire.
On February 23, 1917, the Russian advance was halted following the Russian Revolution,
and later the disintegrated Russian Caucasus Army was replaced by the
forces of the newly established Armenian state, comprised from the
previous Armenian volunteer units and the Armenian irregular units.
During 1918 the region also saw the establishment of the Central Caspian
Dictatorship, the Republic of Mountainous Armenia and an Allied force
named Dunsterforce which was composed of elite troops drawn from the
Mesopotamian and Western Fronts. The Ottoman Empire and German Empire
had a hot conflict at Batumi with the arrival of German Caucasus
Expedition whose prime aim was to secure oil supplies.
On March 3, 1918, the campaign was terminated between the Ottoman Empire and Russia with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and on June 4, 1918, the Ottoman Empire signed the Treaty of Batum with Armenia.
Background
The main objective of the Ottoman Empire was the recovery of its territories in Armenian Highland. These regions were captured by Russians after the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78. The strategic goals of the Caucasus Campaign for Ottoman Forces was to retake Artvin, Ardahan,
Kars, and the port of Batum. A success in this region would mean a
diversion of Russian forces to this front from the Polish and Galician
fronts. A Caucasus Campaign would have a distracting effect on Russian
forces. The plan found sympathy with German advisory.
Germany supplied the missing resources and the Ottoman 3rd Army's
manpower was used to achieve the desired distraction. War Minister Enver Pasha hoped a success would facilitate opening the route to Tbilisi and beyond with a revolt of Caucasian Muslims. The Ottoman – or rather German – strategic goal was to cut off Russian access to the hydrocarbon resources around the Caspian Sea.
Russia viewed the Caucasus front as secondary to the Eastern Front. The Eastern Front had the most Russian manpower and resources. Russia had taken the fortress of Kars from the Turks during the Russo-Turkish War in 1877 and feared a campaign into the Caucasus aimed at retaking Kars and the port of Batum. In March 1915, when the Russian foreign minister Sergey Sazonov in a meeting with British ambassador George Buchanan and French Ambassador Maurice Paléologue
stated that a lasting postwar settlement demanded full Russian
possession of the capital city of the Ottoman Empire, the straits of Bosphorus and Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, southern Thrace up to the Enos-Midia line as well as parts of the Black Sea coast of Anatolia between the Bosphorus, the Sakarya River and an undetermined point near the Bay of Izmit. The Russian Tsarist regime planned to replace the Muslim population of Northern Anatolia and Istanbul with more reliable Cossack settlers.
Armenian national liberation movement sought to establish First Republic of Armenia. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation achieved this goal with the establishment of the internationally recognized Democratic Republic of Armenia in May 1918. Also as early as 1915, the Administration for Western Armenia and later Republic of Mountainous Armenia were Armenian controlled entities, while Centrocaspian Dictatorship was established with Armenian participation. None of these entities were long lasting.
The British worked with Russian revolutionary troops to prevent
Enver Pasha's goal of establishing an independent Transcaucasia. The Anglo-Persian Oil Company was in the proposed path of Ottoman ambitions, which owned the exclusive rights to work petroleum deposits throughout the Persian Empire
except in the provinces of Azerbaijan, Ghilan, Mazendaran, Asdrabad and
Khorasan. In 1914, before the war, the British government had
contracted with the company for the supply of oil-fuel for the navy.
Forces
The Ottomans had one army based in the region, the 3rd Army. In 1916
they sent reinforcements and formed the 2nd Army. The Ottoman
generalship and organization were negligible compared to the Allies. At
the beginning of the conflict, Ottoman combined forces estimate ranged
from 100,000 to 190,000 men. Many were poorly equipped.
Before the war, Russia had Russian Caucasus Army with 100,000 men
under the nominal command of the Governor General of the Caucasus
Illarion Vorontsov-Dashkov. The real commander was his chief of staff
General Nikolai Yudenich.
At the onset of the Caucasus Campaign, the Russians had to redeploy
almost half of their forces to the Prussian front due to the defeats at
the Battle of Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes, leaving behind just 60,000 troops. This Army had Armenian generals Nazarbekov, Silikian,
and Pirumov who stayed in Caucasia. The Russian Caucasus Army
dissipated in 1917 as the regular Russian regiments deserted the front
line after the revolution. By 1917, when the Russian Caucasus Army
disintegrated, there were 110,000–120,000 soldiers of Armenian
ethnicity. This number approached to 150,000 for the total Armenians
(including other Allied forces) for Near East where opposing to Ottoman
forces.
In the summer of 1914, Armenian volunteer units were established
under the Russian Armed forces. As the Russian Armenian conscripts were
already send to the European Front, this force was uniquely established
from Armenians that were not Russian Armenian or the ones that were not
obligated to serve. It was initially established as detachment units
(rather than part of Russian Caucasus Command) under the Viceroyalty of
the Caucasus. These forces were commanded by Andranik Ozanian, and also Drastamat Kanayan, Arshak Gafavian, Sargis Mehrabyan. An Ottoman representative Karekin Bastermadjian
(Armen Karo) was also united to this force. Initially they had 20,000
men, but throughout the conflicts it was reported that their number
increased. At the turn of 1916, Nikolai Yudenich decided to either merge
these units under the Russian Caucasus Army or dismantle them.
Armenian national liberation movement commanded the Armenian Fedayee (Armenian: Ֆէտայի) during these conflicts. These civilian forces generally organized around famous leaders, such as Murad of Sebastia (Armenian: Սեբաստացի Մուրատ). These were generally refereed as Armenian partisian guerrilla detachments. Boghos Nubar the president of the Armenian National Assembly declared that they accompanied the main Armenian units. The line from Van to Erzincan was organized through these units.
In December 1917, The Dashnaks of Armenian national liberation movement
through the Armenian Congress of Eastern Armenians established a
military force. The corps realigned themselves under the command of
General Tovmas Nazarbekian. Drastamat Kanayan was assigned as a civilian commissioner. The frontline had three main divisions: Movses Silikyan, Andranik Ozanian and Mikhail Areshian. Another regular unit was under Colonel Korganian. The line from Van to Erzincan was organized through these units. It was mentioned that Adrianic had 150,000 men. After declaration of the Democratic Republic of Armenia Nazarbekian became the first Commander-in-chief of the whole Armenian state.
There were Kurdish militia in the region. They reportedly sided with both the Ottoman and Russian forces. Lionel Dunsterville
was appointed in 1917 to lead an Allied force of under 1,000
Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand elite troops, accompanied
by armored cars.
Operations
During July 1914, there were negotiations between the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) and Armenian intelligentsia at the Armenian congress at Erzurum. The public conclusion of this congress was "Ostensibly conducted to peaceful advance Armenian demands by legitimate means". The CUP regarded the congress as the seedbed in establishing the decisions of insurrection. Historian Erikson concluded that after this meeting the CUP was convinced on strong Armenian – Russian links with detailed plans aimed at the detachment of the region from the Ottoman Empire.
1914
On November 1, the Bergmann Offensive, Russians crossed the frontier first. They planned to capture Doğubeyazıt and Köprüköy. The official Russian declaration of war to Ottoman Empire came on November 2. The established force for this goal was 25 infantry battalions, 37 cavalry units and 120 artillery guns. It had two wings. On the right wing, the Russian I Corps crossed the border and moved from Sarıkamış toward the direction of Köprüköy. They reached Köprüköy on November 4. On the left wing, the Russian IV Corps moved from Yerevan to Pasinler Plains. The commander of 3rd Army, Hasan Izzet was not in favor of an offensive action in the harsh winter conditions. His plan to remain in defense and launch a counterattack at the right time. This was overridden by the War Minister Enver Pasha. On November 7, the 3rd Army commenced its offensive with the participation of the XI Corps and all cavalry units. This force was supported by Kurdish Tribal Regiment. The cavalry failed to execute the encircling and the Kurdish Tribal Regiment proved to be unreliable. Russians gained territory after the withdrawal of the 18th and the 30th Divisions. Ottoman forces managed to maintain their positions at Köprüköy. By November 12, the IX Corps with Ahmet Fevzi Pasha reinforce the XI Corps on the left flank. The 3rd Army began to push the Russians back with the support of the cavalry. The 3rd Infantry Regiment managed to invade Köprüköy after the Azap Offensive between November 17 to 20. By the end of November, the front had stabilized with the Russians clinging to a salient 25 kilometers into Ottoman Empire along the Erzurum-Sarıkamış axis. The Russian success was along the southern shoulders of the offensive where Armenian volunteers were effective and took Karaköse and Doğubeyazıt. Doğubeyazıt was the northern neighbor of Van Province. Ottoman casualties were high: 9000 killed, 3000 taken prisoner and 2800 deserters.
Operations
During July 1914, there were negotiations between the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) and Armenian intelligentsia at the Armenian congress at Erzurum. The public conclusion of this congress was "Ostensibly conducted to peaceful advance Armenian demands by legitimate means". The CUP regarded the congress as the seedbed in establishing the decisions of insurrection. Historian Erikson concluded that after this meeting the CUP was convinced on strong Armenian – Russian links with detailed plans aimed at the detachment of the region from the Ottoman Empire.
1914
On November 1, the Bergmann Offensive, Russians crossed the frontier first. They planned to capture Doğubeyazıt and Köprüköy. The official Russian declaration of war to Ottoman Empire came on November 2. The established force for this goal was 25 infantry battalions, 37 cavalry units and 120 artillery guns. It had two wings. On the right wing, the Russian I Corps crossed the border and moved from Sarıkamış toward the direction of Köprüköy. They reached Köprüköy on November 4. On the left wing, the Russian IV Corps moved from Yerevan to Pasinler Plains. The commander of 3rd Army, Hasan Izzet was not in favor of an offensive action in the harsh winter conditions. His plan to remain in defense and launch a counterattack at the right time. This was overridden by the War Minister Enver Pasha. On November 7, the 3rd Army commenced its offensive with the participation of the XI Corps and all cavalry units. This force was supported by Kurdish Tribal Regiment. The cavalry failed to execute the encircling and the Kurdish Tribal Regiment proved to be unreliable. Russians gained territory after the withdrawal of the 18th and the 30th Divisions. Ottoman forces managed to maintain their positions at Köprüköy. By November 12, the IX Corps with Ahmet Fevzi Pasha reinforce the XI Corps on the left flank. The 3rd Army began to push the Russians back with the support of the cavalry. The 3rd Infantry Regiment managed to invade Köprüköy after the Azap Offensive between November 17 to 20. By the end of November, the front had stabilized with the Russians clinging to a salient 25 kilometers into Ottoman Empire along the Erzurum-Sarıkamış axis. The Russian success was along the southern shoulders of the offensive where Armenian volunteers were effective and took Karaköse and Doğubeyazıt. Doğubeyazıt was the northern neighbor of Van Province. Ottoman casualties were high: 9000 killed, 3000 taken prisoner and 2800 deserters.
During December, Nicholas II of Russia visited the Caucasus Campaign. The head of the Armenian Church along the president of the Armenian National Council of Tiflis in Tiflis Alexander Khatisyan received the excellence:
"From all countries Armenians are hurrying to enter the ranks of the glorious Russian Army, with their blood to serve the victory of the Russian Army... Let the Russian flag wave freely over the Dardanelles and the Bosporus, Let your will the peoples [Armenian] remaining under the Turkish yoke receive freedom. Let the Armenian people of Turkey who have suffered for the faith of Christ received resurrection for a new free life...."
On December 15, 1914, at the Battle of Ardahan
the city Ardanuch was captured. It was an operation commanded by German
Lt. Col. Stange. The mission of Stange Bey Detachment was to conduct
highly visible operations to distract and pin Russian units. Stange
Bey's initial mission was to operate in the Chorok region. The unit was
materially assisted by the rebellious Adjars of the country, who seized
the road. Later Enver modified the original plan toward supporting the
Battle of Sarikamish. It was ordered to cut the Russian support link to
Sarikamish-Kars line. On January 1, this unit was in Ardahan.
On December 22, at the Battle of Sarikamish
3rd Army received the order to advance towards Kars. In the face of the
3rd Army's advance Governor Vorontsov planned to pull the Russian
Caucasus Army back to Kars. Yudenich ignored Vorontsov's wishes to
withdraw. He stayed to defend Sarikamis. Enver Pasha assumed the
personal command of the 3rd Army and ordered it into battle against the
Russian troops.
1915
On January 6, the 3rd Army headquarters found itself under fire. Hafiz Hakki Pasha
ordered a total retreat. On January 7, the remaining forces began their
march towards Erzurum. The resulting Battle of Sarikamish became a
stunning defeat. Only 10% of the Army managed to retreat back to its
starting position. Enver gave up command. The detachment Armenian
volunteer units credited no small measure of the success which attended
by the Russian forces; they challenged the Ottoman operations during the
critical times: "the delay enabled the Russian Caucasus Army to
concentrate sufficient force around Sarikamish". Enver blamed this
defeat on Armenians living in the region actively siding with the
Russians after his return to Constantinople. On January 18, 1915, the Lt. Col. Stange's unit was recalled from
the area around Ardahan. It was to stay behind the lines in the region;
only on March 1, 1915 did it regain its initial position.
In February, General Yudenich was praised for the victory and
promoted to commander-in-chief of all Russian troops in the Caucasus.
The Allies (British and France) asked Russia to relieve the pressure on
the Western front. In return, Russia asked the Allies to relieve
pressure in the Caucasus by a naval attack. The resulting operations in
the Black Sea gave the Russians some respite to replenish their forces.
Additionally, actions at the Battle of Gallipoli
which aimed at capturing the Ottoman capital helped the Russian forces
on this front. On February 12, the commander of the 3rd Army Hafiz Hakki
Pasha died of typhus and was replaced by Brigadier General Mahmut Kamil
Pasha. Kamil faced the daunting task of putting the Ottoman army back
in order. The military planners back in Istanbul were scared of the
Russians advancing deeper into the mainland.
During March the strategic situation remained stable. The
completely devastated 3rd Army received new blood through reinforcements
from the 1st and 2nd Armies, although these supplements were not
stronger than a division. The Battle of Gallipoli was draining every
Ottoman resource. Meanwhile, the Russians were holding the towns of
Eleşkirt, Ağrı and Doğubeyazıt in the south. Military action never
escalated above small-scale skirmishes—the Ottomans simply did not have
enough forces to secure the whole East Anatolian region.
On April 20, the resistance at the city of Van
began. The Armenian defenders protecting 30,000 residents and 15,000
refugees with 1,500 able bodied riflemen who were supplied with 300
rifles and 1,000 pistols and antique weapons. The conflict lasted more
than three weeks until the General Yudenich came to rescue them. General
Yudenich began an offensive (May 6) into Ottoman territory. One wing of
this offensive headed towards Lake Van to relieve the Armenian residents of the Van Resistance. A brigade
of Trans-Baikal Cossacks under General Trukhin, and some Armenian
volunteers towards Van. On May 21, General Yudenich arrived to the city,
received the keys to the city and citadel and confirmed the Armenian
provisional government in office, with Aram Manukian as governor. The Fedayee turned over the city of Van. With Van secure, fighting shifted farther west for the rest of the summer.
On April 24, Interior minister Mehmed Talat passed the order of April 24 (known by the Armenians as the Red Sunday), claimed that the Armenians in this region organized under the leadership of Russians and rebelled against his government, as they had shown in their securing of Van for Armenian nationalists. The Armenians of the Van Resistance and others which were under the Russian occupation were spared from these arrests, since they had rebelled.
On April 24, Interior minister Mehmed Talat passed the order of April 24 (known by the Armenians as the Red Sunday), claimed that the Armenians in this region organized under the leadership of Russians and rebelled against his government, as they had shown in their securing of Van for Armenian nationalists. The Armenians of the Van Resistance and others which were under the Russian occupation were spared from these arrests, since they had rebelled.
On May 6, the Russian advance began through the Tortum Valley
towards Erzurum. The Ottoman 29th and 30th Divisions managed to stop
this assault. The Ottoman X Corps counter-attacked the Russian forces.
But on the southern part of this advance, Ottoman forces were not as
successful as they have been in the north. On May 11 town of Malazgirt
fallen. On May 17, Russian forces entered the town of Van. Ottoman
forces continued to be pushed back. Supply lines were being cut, as the
Armenian rebellions were causing additional difficulties behind Ottoman
lines. The region south of Lake Van was extremely vulnerable. The Turks
had to defend a line of more than 600 kilometers with only 50,000 men
and 130 pieces of artillery. They were clearly outnumbered by the
Russians. The region was mountainous, thus difficult to defend.
On May 27, during the Russian offensive, the interior minister of Talat Pasha ordered a forced deportation of all Armenians out of region with the Tehcir Law to the Syria and Mosul. By June 13, Russian units were back to their starting line. On June 19, the Russians launched another offensive. This time northwest to Lake Van. The Russians, under Oganovski, launched an offense into the hills west of Malazgirt. The Russians underestimated the size of the Ottoman arm, and were surprised by a large Turkish force at the counterattack. Russian forces began to march from Malazgirt towards Muş. However, they were not aware of the fact that the Turkish IX Corps, together with the 17th and 28th Divisions was moving to Muş as well. Although the conditions were extremely difficult, the Turks were executing a very efficient operation of reorganization. 1st and 5th Expeditionary Forces were positioned to the south of the Russian offensive force and a “Right Wing Group” was established under the command of Brigadier General Abdülkerim Paşa. This group was independent from the Third Army and Abdülkerim Paşa was directly reporting to Enver Paşa. The Turks were ready to face the Russian attacks.
On May 27, during the Russian offensive, the interior minister of Talat Pasha ordered a forced deportation of all Armenians out of region with the Tehcir Law to the Syria and Mosul. By June 13, Russian units were back to their starting line. On June 19, the Russians launched another offensive. This time northwest to Lake Van. The Russians, under Oganovski, launched an offense into the hills west of Malazgirt. The Russians underestimated the size of the Ottoman arm, and were surprised by a large Turkish force at the counterattack. Russian forces began to march from Malazgirt towards Muş. However, they were not aware of the fact that the Turkish IX Corps, together with the 17th and 28th Divisions was moving to Muş as well. Although the conditions were extremely difficult, the Turks were executing a very efficient operation of reorganization. 1st and 5th Expeditionary Forces were positioned to the south of the Russian offensive force and a “Right Wing Group” was established under the command of Brigadier General Abdülkerim Paşa. This group was independent from the Third Army and Abdülkerim Paşa was directly reporting to Enver Paşa. The Turks were ready to face the Russian attacks.
On September 24, Grand Duke Nicholas was promoted to being charge
of all Russian forces in the Caucasus. In reality, he was removed from
being Supreme Commander of the Russian Caucasus Army which was the
highest executive position [actual conduct of the war] for the Caucasus
Campaign. His replacement was General Yudenich. This front was quiet
from October till the end of the year. Yudenich used this period to
reorganize. Around the start of 1916, Russian forces reached a level of
200,000 men and 380 pieces of artillery. On the other side the situation
was very different; the Ottoman High Command failed to make up the
losses during this period. The war in Gallipoli was sucking all the
resources and manpower. The IX, X and XI Corps could not be reinforced
and in addition to that the 1st and 5th Expeditionary Forces were
deployed to Mesopotamia. Enver Pasha, after not achieving his ambitions
or recognizing the dire situation on other fronts, decided that the
region was of secondary importance. As of January 1916, Ottoman forces
were 126,000 men, only 50,539 being combat. There were 74,057 rifles, 77
machine guns and 180 pieces of artillery. Ottoman force in Caucasus
Campaign was big on the paper, but not on the ground. The Ottomans
assumed that the Russians would not bother to attack. This assumption
turned out to be false.
1916
In early January, Yudenich secretly left its winter quarters and marched towards the major Ottoman fort at Erzurum. The winter is not normally a time for military activity in this part of the world. The bitter cold and terrible roads contributed greatly to the annihilation of Enver Pasha's 3rd Army in the previous year. The Russian General Yudenich viewed this as an opportunity to take the Ottomans by surprise. The Russians achieved total surprise and destroyed an Ottoman division that was in winter quarters at Battle of Koprukoy (January 10–18).
In early January, Yudenich secretly left its winter quarters and marched towards the major Ottoman fort at Erzurum. The winter is not normally a time for military activity in this part of the world. The bitter cold and terrible roads contributed greatly to the annihilation of Enver Pasha's 3rd Army in the previous year. The Russian General Yudenich viewed this as an opportunity to take the Ottomans by surprise. The Russians achieved total surprise and destroyed an Ottoman division that was in winter quarters at Battle of Koprukoy (January 10–18).
On February 16, Mahmut Kamil forced to order the 3rd Army to retreat from the city, as Yudenich had an advantage in numbers against the Ottomans. The difference was not big enough to be decisive, so Yudenich's plan was to attack the center of the Ottoman defenses, with the key attack falling in a weakly held sector. While diversionary attacks held the attention of Mahmut Kamil near Deve-Boyun ridge, Russian forces broke through at Forts Kara-gobek and Tafet. The result was that both rings of the cities' defenses had been penetrated.
In April, the Caucasus army moved in two directions from Erzurum, part went north and captured the ancient port city of Trabzon.
Other branch moved to Mush-Bitlis direction. These units pushed the 2nd
Army deep into Anatolia and captured Battle of Mush and Battle of Bitlis
(March 2 – August 24), driving the Ottoman army before it. Bitlis was
the last defense point for the Ottoman Army to prevent the Russians from
moving into central Anatolia and Mesopotamia.
During July, General Yudenich then countered the Ottoman attack with an offensive of his own towards Erzican with the Battle of Erzincan
(July 2–25). On July 2, Erzincan was captured; the Ottoman offensive
against Trabzon was halted as they tried to stabilize their front lines.
In August, Mustafa Kemal
recaptured Mush and Bitlis. Earlier in the year, after these towns fell
into Russian hands, the Ottoman War Ministry asked Mustafa Kemal to
organize the defense in the region. The region was controlled by the 2nd
Army. When Mustafa Kemal was assigned to his post, the enemy forces
were in constant advance. Fighting around the east side of Lake Van
continued throughout the summer but was inconclusive. In the earlier
periods of the campaign, Mustafa Kemal’s XVI Corps managed to take
Bitlis and Muş. Ahmet İzzet Paşa decided to attack one week after the
conclusion of the Russian offensive. A military force, in three
corps-sized groups, III, IV and XVI Corps, was gathered and sent
marching along the coast. The Second Army advanced on August 2. While Nikolai Nikolaevich Yudenich
was in the north and pushing the Ottoman 3rd Army, the Ottoman 2nd Army
was in the south facing the insurgency and the second branch of Russian
army under General Tovmas Nazarbekian and the detachment Armenian volunteer units controlled by Andranik Ozanian.
However this initial success did not bring victory. The 2nd Army
suffered from severe supply and logistics problems. However the Russians
stopped Kemal's troops at Gevaş and prevented their assault to Van.
By the late September, the Ottoman attack ended. The cost for 2nd
Army was 30,000 killed and wounded. The Russians strengthened their
lines. They were strong enough to respond with counteroffensives in two
weeks after the launch of the Ottoman offensive. The Russians held up
the advance. From September towards the Russian Revolution, the Russian Navy still dominated the Black Sea.
The rest of the year 1916 was spent by the Turks with
organizational and operational changes in the Caucasian front.
Fortunately for the Ottoman commanders, the Russians were quiet during
this period. The winter of 1916–17 was extremely harsh, which made
fighting nearly impossible.
1917
The military situation did not change during the spring of 1917. The
Russian plans for a renewed attack never substantiated. Meanwhile,
Russia was in political and social turmoil. It was also influencing the
army ranks. The chaos caused by the Russian Revolution
put a stop to all Russian military operations. The Russian forces began
to conduct withdrawals. Neither the Russian soldiers nor the Russian
people wanted to continue the war. The Russian army slowly
disintegrated. According to Fevzi Çakmak, in the winter of 1917 alone,
Russia had lost at least 100,000 soldiers, though the soldiers opposing
to Ottoman Empire numbered 250,000 at that time. Starting from the
spring of 1917, the situation was completely disadvantageous as a
renewed typhus, scurvy and similar problems resulting from hygiene and
food, became very common in the Caucasian army.
Until the Russian Revolution of 1917, Ottoman Empire's possible operation in Caucasia could not be imagined. After the Battle of Sarikamish,
the Ottoman units were "almost always" in disastrous situation trying
to hold on the left over regions in the occupied Ottoman lands.
Source: http://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/Caucasus_Campaign_%28Central_Victory%29
1915 ГОД. МОГЛО ЛИ БЫТЬ ИНАЧЕ?
Николай Николаевич ЮДЕНИЧ (18 (30).07.1862 - 05.10.1933гг.) -
русский военный деятель. Один из самых успешных генералов России во
время Первой мировой войны, "носитель русской славы, не потерпевший ни
одного поражения".
Генерал от инфантерии Юденич мог не только стяжать лавры
"второго Суворова", но и славу лучшего русского полководца ХХ века. Этот
человек должен был стать кавалером ордена Св.Георгия всех 4 степеней.
Таких в истории русской армии было всего лишь четверо: фельдмаршалы
Кутузов, Барклай-де-Толли, Дибич и Паскевич. Генерал Юденич командовал в
Первую мировую Кавказской армией, а затем Кавказским фронтом -
единственным, где русская армия не узнала горечи поражения или
отступления.
Победы на Кавказском фронте сделали Юденича к 1917 году героем
России. Но о нем в советское время писали только с уничижительными
эпитетами, а о его славе и полководческом таланте молчали вовсе. По
советским учебникам и монографиям получалась полная ахинея - что
Кавказская армия сражалась без военачальников и при этом побеждала! Это
замалчивание сделало свое черное дело. Сегодня мало кто знает, что
именно благодаря Юденичу Российская империя должна была обрести проливы
Босфор, Дарданеллы и Константинополь - Царьград, колыбель Православия,
осуществить свою вековую мечту и великую миссию. До освобождения
Константинополя от чужой и чуждой ему турецко-мусульманской оккупации
оставались считанные дни. Судьба Турции была уже предрешена русским
штыком - она должна была исчезнуть с Армянского нагорья и полуострова
Малая Азия как чужеродный элемент, принесший коренным обитателям -
армянам, грекам только лишь рабство, османское иго.
Но...
Антигосударственный переворот в России сделал ее из защитника и оплота
Православия его гонителем, из противника Турции она в одночасье, по
химерическим устремлениям большевиков, стала ее союзником и другом,
более того, она уступила ей не только ПРАКТИЧЕСКИ ВСЕ территории,
завоеванные русским солдатом, но даже и те, которые НИКОГДА ей не
принадлежали - часть территории Восточной Армении, перешедшей к России
по Туркманчайскому договору с Персией. И более того - она создала на
землях, также НИКОГДА Турции не принадлежавших, второе турецкое
государство - Азербайджан, ставший сейчас головной болью и для нас, и
для самой России. А сам Н.Н. Юденич, впрочем, как и П.Н.Врангель, как и
А.И.Деникин, как и А.В. Колчак, были объявлены ее врагами.
События, происходившие на Кавказском фронте, по времени и месту, а
также по составу участников имеют непосредственное отношение к Геноциду
армян в Османской империи. Эти события, несомненно, прямо или косвенно
повлияли на решение (нерешение) Армянского вопроса и сегодня нуждаются в
новой актуализации ввиду необходимости прояснить военно-политическую
обстановку, на фоне которой совершалось одно из самых кровавых
преступлений прошлого века.
Одержанные Юденичем на Кавказском фронте победы над превосходящими
силами турок в Сарыкамышской, Евфратской, Эрзерумской, Трапезундской и
других операциях в 1914-1916 годах каждый раз с восторгом встречались
союзниками по Антанте. В Сарыкамышской операции (9-25 декабря 1914
года), открывшей боевые действия на Кавказском фронте, русские войска
неожиданным контрударом разгромили наступавшую 3-ю турецкую армию под
командованием военного министра Энвера-паши (начальник штаба германский
генерал Ф.Бронзарт фон Шеллендорф). Энвер тогда чудом унес ноги; по
иронии судьбы от плена его спасли армяне - солдаты турецкой армии. Бои
шли на высоте более 2000м в условиях суровой горной зимы,
непрекращающегося бурана, когда видимость ограничивалась буквально двумя
шагами. Турки потеряли более 70 тысяч человек. К 23 января 1914 года у
Энвера в армии осталось всего 12 тысяч боеспособных солдат. За
Сарыкамышское сражение Юденич был награжден орденом св. Георгия IV
степени и назначен командующим Кавказской армии в чине генерала от
инфантерии.
По
мнению некоторых историков, турецкие власти организовали массовое
уничтожение армян в качестве мести за поражение турецкой армии при
Сарыкамыше, что не соответствует истине: события 1915г. были лишь пиком
Геноцида армян, длившегося, с приливами и отливами, с 1870-х гг. до
1923г. и даже до 1936г. (резня армян, алевитов и курдов в Дерсиме
(Тунджели).
Летом 1915 года великий князь Николай Николаевич (командующий
Кавказским фронтом) и генерал Юденич (командующий Кавказской армией)
предприняли экстренные меры по предотвращению вступления нейтральной
Персии в войну на стороне центральных держав (Германии, Турции и др.).
На ее территорию из Закавказья был переброшен 8-тысячный кавалерийский
корпус, а из Туркестанского военного округа выдвинут сводный казачий
отряд. Эти превентивные акции русских сорвали германо-турецкие попытки
склонить Тегеран и Кабул к войне против Антанты. За разгром "правого
крыла" 3-й турецкой армии (около 90 батальонов) в Евфратской операции,
закончившейся 30 июля 1915г., Н.Н.Юденич получил орден Св.Георгия III
степени.
Вершиной же воинской славы Юденича стала беспримерная в истории
русского военного искусства времен Первой мировой операция - взятие
крепости Эрзерум в 1916г., за которую Юденич был награжден Георгием II
степени. В плен попали более 13 тысяч турецких военнослужащих.
Крепость Эрзерум являлась единственным и сильно укрепленным районом
на Армянском нагорье и в Малой Азии; 11 фортов, подготовленных к
долговременной круговой обороне: многоярусные башни с крепостными
орудиями до 50 стволов в каждом, окруженные глубокими рвами, и все это
на высоте 2400 метров над уровнем моря. Один вид этой твердыни мог
привести в уныние кого угодно, но не русских, для которых это было
повторением пройденного. Наступление началось 28 декабря 1915 года.
После месяца тяжелых боев русские войска 3 февраля 1916 года во второй
раз овладели Эрзерумской крепостью.
Этот успех, который в военной истории сравнивается со штурмом Измаила
Суворовым, вызвал настоящий фурор. Перед русской армией открывался
оперативный простор на Армянское нагорье и в Анатолию - центральные
области Турции. Кавказская армия генерала Юденича продвинулись на 150
км. Турецкая 3-я армия была разгромлена полностью и потеряла больше
половины своего состава: 66 тыс. человек убитыми и ранеными, 13 тыс. -
пленными. Было взято 9 знамен и 323 орудия. Русская армия потеряла 2339
убитыми и 6 тыс. ранеными. Общие потери турок за кампанию составили 350
тыс. человек, из них 100 тыс. попали в плен. Взятие Эрзерума открыло
путь на Трапезунд, который был взят в апреле, а позже, в июле, был взят
Эрзинджан (Ерзнка). Русская армия глубоко продвинулась на территорию
Западной Армении, практически всю ее освободив от турецкого присутствия.
ИЗ ИЛЛЮСТРИРОВАННОГО ЖУРНАЛА "ИСКРЫ ВОСКРЕСЕНЬЕ" ОТ 3 АПРЕЛЯ 1916 ГОДА:
"От Эрзерума к Трапезунду. Наши доблестные кавказские войска,
заняв Эрзерум и оставив его далеко позади себя, победоносно
продвигаются вперед. Заняв 15 марта город Офь и форсировав реку
Огене-дере, они вступили на плацдарм, изрезанный параллельно текущими в
глубоких долинах реками и ручьями. Приходится вести атаки в очень
глубоком снегу, преодолевая при этом большое количество горных расщелин.
На этом плацдарме, прикрывающем подступы к Трапезунду, турки оказывают
упорное сопротивление, но наши, сбивая врага, уже 24 марта перешли
вторую реку - Кара-дере. Отбросив неприятеля за реку Каре-дере, наши
войска подошли почти к самому городу Сюрмене и теперь находятся на
расстоянии всего 28 верст от Трапезунда".
Перед Черноморским флотом была поставлена задача оказать содействие
приморскому флангу Кавказской армии в овладении Трапезундом. 23 и 24
января 1916г. корабли Батумского отряда ЧФ капитана I ранга М.
М.Римского-Корсакова подавили турецкие батареи у р. Архаве, что
позволило Приморскому отряду Кавказской армии (15 тыс. человек, 38
орудий) генерал-лейтенанта В.Н.Ляхова перейти в наступление. При
содействии морских десантов 1 апреля отряд вышел к позициям турок на р.
Кара-дере.
25-26 марта в Ризе и Хамургяне были высажены две пластунские бригады
(18 тыс. человек, 12 орудий), переброшенные из Новороссийска на 22
транспортах под охраной отряда кораблей. Бригады высаживались под
прикрытием кораблей Батумского отряда и авиации. 2 апреля Приморский
отряд, усиленный пластунскими бригадами, овладел сильно укрепленными
позициями турок на р. Кара-дере, а уже 5-го занял оставленный
противником Трапезунд.
В результате успеха Трапезундской операции была прервана кратчайшая
связь 3-й турецкой армии с Константинополем. Организованные русским
командованием в Трапезунде база легких сил ЧФ и база снабжения
значительно упрочили положение Кавказской армии.
Насколько продуманными были операции против Турции русских войск,
настолько же неудачно действовали против нее союзники. С 19 февраля
1915г. англо-французская армада (18 линкоров, 12 крейсеров, 40 эсминцев)
стала бомбардировать турецкие форты, начав Дарданельскую операцию с
главной целью десантироваться на Галлипольский полуостров, овладеть
Дарданеллами, Босфором и Константинополем. Несмотря на то что союзная
армия в 550 тыс. человек имела двукратное преимущество, союзники
потерпели сокрушительное поражение и вынужденно эвакуировали
экспедиционные силы из Турции в Грецию, на Салоникский фронт. Не лучше
обстояли дела и на Месопотамском фронте. 22 ноября 1915 года под
Багдадом турецкая группировка нанесла сокрушительный удар по британским
войскам, и те, осажденные в крепости Кут-Эль-Амар, в апреле 1916 года
капитулировали.
В итоге спустя некоторое время в Лондоне (май 1916 года) было
заключено секретное соглашение (договор Сайкса-Пико), по которому
союзники дали обещание России выполнить Англо-франко-русское соглашение
1915 года о проливах: присоединить к России Константинополь, проливы
Босфор и Дарданеллы и примыкающие к ним районы европейской и азиатской
части Турции, а также передать России области Эрзерума, Трапезунда,
Вана, Битлиса (т.е. практически всю территорию Армении по Севрскому
договору) и часть Курдистана.
МИНИСТР ИНОСТРАННЫХ ДЕЛ САЗОНОВ ТАК ОПИСЫВАЕТ ДОСТИГНУТУЮ ДОГОВОРЕННОСТЬ:
"В числе упомянутых в английском меморандуме пожеланий были еще
следующие: устройство в Константинополе вольного порта для склада и
провоза товаров, имевших назначение в страны Малой Азии и Юго-Восточной
Европы, кроме России; оставление Аравии и мусульманских святых мест под
независимой мусульманской властью; подчинение нейтральной зоны в Персии
английскому влиянию путем пересмотра русско-английского соглашения 1907
года. На все эти пожелания лондонского кабинета, как и на те, которые
были нам выражены г-ном Палеологом относительно уступки Франции Сирии и
Киликии, русское правительство выразило свое согласие. Дальнейшая
разработка и уточнение территориальных приобретений наших союзников за
счет Оттоманской империи были произведены позже, в личных переговорах
между мной и их особыми уполномоченными - сэром Марком Сайксом и г-ном
Пико. В апреле 1916 года, по окончании этих переговоров и выяснении
пожеланий каждого из членов Тройственного согласия, я сообщил в письме к
союзным представителям в Петрограде о согласии императорского
правительства на предъявленные ими требования о присоединении Англией
Месопотамии и Францией - Сирии и Киликии под условием приобретения
Россией в Малой Азии Эрзерума, Трапезунда, Вана и Битлиса вплоть до
пункта на Черноморском побережье, который должен был быть определен при
проведении новых границ. Часть Курдистана, лежащая к югу от Вана и
Битлиса, должна была равным образом отойти к России, взамен чего Франция
приобретала в Малой Азии значительную территорию с городом Харпутом.
Вот в общих чертах соглашение, к которому пришло русское правительство с
уполномоченными Англии и Франции в 1916 году".
Ясно, что данное соглашение в части, касающейся России, не было
выполнено, поскольку после октября 1917 года она из члена Антанты
превратилась в ее врага. Россия не приняла участия также в разделе сфер
влияния по итогам Первой мировой войны, зато, уже в большевистском
статусе, заключила в 1921 году бесславные Московский и Карсский договоры
с Турцией и тем самым не только утратила завоевания российской армии в
Первой мировой войне, но и уступила геополитическому противнику
территории, отвоеванные в течение всего XIX века.
В этом контексте уместно заметить, что сегодня в российской прессе
порой появляются опусы с экскурсом в 1918-1920 годы с намеком и упреком в
адрес армян и лидеров Первой Армянской республики за их приверженность
Антанте. При этом нарочито умалчивается (в расчете на неосведомленность
читателя), что Российская империя сама была в числе стран Антанты. На
чьей стороне тогда должны были быть армяне, если не на стороне
доблестных генералов Деникина, Юденича, Краснова, Врангеля и других?
(Вполне возможно, что среди причин, по которым большевики донельзя
обкорнали Армению, отрезав от нее в пользу Турции, Грузии и Азербайджана
(фактически - той же Турции) все возможное, не последнее место занимало
и это обстоятельство: они не могли и не простили Армении союзничество с
Белым движением и Антантой). И это в то время, когда большевики и эсеры
в ожесточенных перестрелках выясняли, кто из них больше предан "мировой
революции" и на каких условиях следует заключать Брестский мир. До сих
пор турки оправдывают учиненную кровавую бойню в Западной Армении,
называя ее "вынужденной депортацией" за приверженность армян Российской
империи.
Приведенные исторические события в контексте Армянского вопроса
вызывают обоснованное чувство досады, поскольку вынуждают оценивать
трагическое прошлое в сослагательном наклонении (если бы...), что
считается некорректным. Однако с точки зрения постулатов геополитики
устремления России в регионе Малой Азии остались прежними. Тенденции
России по освоению "Византийского наследства" совместно с
восточнохристианскими народами, а также восстановлению своего влияния на
Евразийском пространстве по всем признакам сохранились. Более того, эти
тенденции не могут угаснуть, поскольку геополитические тенденции нации и
государства обусловлены совокупностью объективных и постоянно
действующих внешних и внутренних факторов; временами они могут не
совпадать с программными установками отдельных партий, лоббирующих
группировок, политических доктрин и деятелей, однако результирующий
вектор поляризации, как правило, сохраняет свою прежнюю направленность
геополитических устремлений.
ПОСЛЕСЛОВИЕ. Данная статья компилятивная, составленная по
материалам русской прессы и российских аналитиков, в частности,
ВН-Аналитик. Мои добавления и отдельные комментарии не меняют общей
картины. Мы часто рассматриваем Армянский вопрос в отрыве от
геополитической и военной ситуации на Армянском нагорье, между тем как
при таком рассмотрении многое видится под другим углом. Материалы эти
интересны еще и тем, что свидетельствуют об идущей сегодня в России
серьезной "работе над ошибками", что неизбежно должно привести к
переосмыслению роли и места России в Закавказье, ее отношений с Турцией и
соседями по Закавказью.
И еще: не нам указывать, кого самим русским считать героями,
но для нас имена генералов Н.Н.Юденича, А.Н.Деникина, Врангеля должны
стоять рядом с именами их боевых соратников - генералов все той же
победоносной Кавказской армии М.Б.Силикяна, Т.О.Назарбекяна и других.
Для всех них понятия "честь" и "Родина" совпадали и были превыше всего.
Source: http://www.golosarmenii.am/ru/20405/society/26816/
Historical context
Russian-Turkish Wars
Russo-Turkish wars, series of wars between Russia and the Ottoman Empire
in the 17th–19th century. The wars reflected the decline of the Ottoman
Empire and resulted in the gradual southward extension of Russia’s
frontier and influence into Ottoman territory. The wars took place in
1676–81, 1687, 1689, 1695–96, 1710–12 (part of the Great Northern War),
1735–39, 1768–74, 1787–91, 1806–12, 1828–29, 1853–56 (part of the
Crimean War), and 1877–78. As a result of these wars, Russia was able to
extend its European frontiers southward to the Black Sea, southwestward to the Prut River, and south of the Caucasus Mountains in Asia.
The early Russo-Turkish Wars were mostly sparked by Russia’s attempts to establish a warm-water port on the Black Sea, which lay in Turkish hands. The first war (1676–81) was fought without success in Ukraine west of the Dnieper River by Russia, which renewed the war with failed invasions of the Crimea in 1687 and 1689. In the war of 1695–96, the Russian tsar Peter I the Great’s forces succeeded in capturing the fortress of Azov. In 1710 Turkey entered the Northern War against Russia, and after Peter the Great’s attempt to liberate the Balkans from Ottoman rule ended in defeat at the Prut River (1711), he was forced to return Azov to Turkey. War again broke out in 1735, with Russia and Austria in alliance against Turkey. The Russians successfully invaded Turkish-held Moldavia, but their Austrian allies were defeated in the field, and as a result the Russians obtained almost nothing in the Treaty of Belgrade (Sept. 18, 1739).
The first major Russo-Turkish War (1768–74) began after Turkey demanded that Russia’s ruler, Catherine II the Great, abstain from interfering in Poland’s internal affairs. The Russians went on to win impressive victories over the Turks. They captured Azov, the Crimea, and Bessarabia, and under Field Marshal P.A. Rumyantsev they overran Moldavia and also defeated the Turks in Bulgaria. The Turks were compelled to seek peace, which was concluded in the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca (July 21, 1774). This treaty made the Crimean khanate independent of the Turkish sultan; advanced the Russian frontier southward to the Southern (Pivdennyy) Buh River; gave Russia the right to maintain a fleet on the Black Sea; and assigned Russia vague rights of protection over the Ottoman sultan’s Christian subjects throughout the Balkans.
Russia was now in a much stronger position to expand, and in 1783 Catherine annexed the Crimean Peninsula outright. War broke out in 1787, with Austria again on the side of Russia (until 1791). Under General A.V. Suvorov, the Russians won several victories that gave them control of the lower Dniester and Danube rivers, and further Russian successes compelled the Turks to sign the Treaty of Jassy (Iaşi) on Jan. 9, 1792. By this treaty Turkey ceded the entire western Ukrainian Black Sea coast (from the Kerch Strait westward to the mouth of the Dniester) to Russia.
When Turkey deposed the Russophile governors of Moldavia and Walachia in 1806, war broke out again, though in a desultory fashion, since Russia was reluctant to concentrate large forces against Turkey while its relations with Napoleonic France were so uncertain. But in 1811, with the prospect of a Franco-Russian war in sight, Russia sought a quick decision on its southern frontier. The Russian field marshal M.I. Kutuzov’s victorious campaign of 1811–12 forced the Turks to cede Bessarabia to Russia by the Treaty of Bucharest (May 28, 1812).
Russia had by now secured the entire northern coast of the Black Sea. Its subsequent wars with Turkey were fought to gain influence in the Ottoman Balkans, win control of the Dardanelles and Bosporus straits, and expand into the Caucasus. The Greeks’ struggle for independence sparked the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–29, in which Russian forces advanced into Bulgaria, the Caucasus, and northeastern Anatolia itself before the Turks sued for peace. The resulting Treaty of Edirne (Sept. 14, 1829) gave Russia most of the eastern shore of the Black Sea, and Turkey recognized Russian sovereignty over Georgia and parts of present-day Armenia.
The war of 1853–56, known as the Crimean War, began after the Russian emperor Nicholas I tried to obtain further concessions from Turkey. Great Britain and France entered the conflict on Turkey’s side in 1854, however, and the Treaty of Paris (March 30, 1856) that ended the war was a serious diplomatic setback for Russia, though involving few territorial concessions.
The last Russo-Turkish War (1877–78) was also the most important one. In 1877 Russia and its ally Serbia came to the aid of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria in their rebellions against Turkish rule. The Russians attacked through Bulgaria, and after successfully concluding the Siege of Pleven they advanced into Thrace, taking Adrianople (now Edirne, Tur.) in January 1878. In March of that year Russia concluded the Treaty of San Stefano with Turkey. This treaty freed Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro from Turkish rule, gave autonomy to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and created a huge autonomous Bulgaria under Russian protection. Britain and Austria-Hungary, alarmed by the Russian gains contained in the treaty, compelled Russia to accept the Treaty of Berlin (July 1878), whereby Russia’s military-political gains from the war were severely restricted.
The early Russo-Turkish Wars were mostly sparked by Russia’s attempts to establish a warm-water port on the Black Sea, which lay in Turkish hands. The first war (1676–81) was fought without success in Ukraine west of the Dnieper River by Russia, which renewed the war with failed invasions of the Crimea in 1687 and 1689. In the war of 1695–96, the Russian tsar Peter I the Great’s forces succeeded in capturing the fortress of Azov. In 1710 Turkey entered the Northern War against Russia, and after Peter the Great’s attempt to liberate the Balkans from Ottoman rule ended in defeat at the Prut River (1711), he was forced to return Azov to Turkey. War again broke out in 1735, with Russia and Austria in alliance against Turkey. The Russians successfully invaded Turkish-held Moldavia, but their Austrian allies were defeated in the field, and as a result the Russians obtained almost nothing in the Treaty of Belgrade (Sept. 18, 1739).
The first major Russo-Turkish War (1768–74) began after Turkey demanded that Russia’s ruler, Catherine II the Great, abstain from interfering in Poland’s internal affairs. The Russians went on to win impressive victories over the Turks. They captured Azov, the Crimea, and Bessarabia, and under Field Marshal P.A. Rumyantsev they overran Moldavia and also defeated the Turks in Bulgaria. The Turks were compelled to seek peace, which was concluded in the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca (July 21, 1774). This treaty made the Crimean khanate independent of the Turkish sultan; advanced the Russian frontier southward to the Southern (Pivdennyy) Buh River; gave Russia the right to maintain a fleet on the Black Sea; and assigned Russia vague rights of protection over the Ottoman sultan’s Christian subjects throughout the Balkans.
Russia was now in a much stronger position to expand, and in 1783 Catherine annexed the Crimean Peninsula outright. War broke out in 1787, with Austria again on the side of Russia (until 1791). Under General A.V. Suvorov, the Russians won several victories that gave them control of the lower Dniester and Danube rivers, and further Russian successes compelled the Turks to sign the Treaty of Jassy (Iaşi) on Jan. 9, 1792. By this treaty Turkey ceded the entire western Ukrainian Black Sea coast (from the Kerch Strait westward to the mouth of the Dniester) to Russia.
When Turkey deposed the Russophile governors of Moldavia and Walachia in 1806, war broke out again, though in a desultory fashion, since Russia was reluctant to concentrate large forces against Turkey while its relations with Napoleonic France were so uncertain. But in 1811, with the prospect of a Franco-Russian war in sight, Russia sought a quick decision on its southern frontier. The Russian field marshal M.I. Kutuzov’s victorious campaign of 1811–12 forced the Turks to cede Bessarabia to Russia by the Treaty of Bucharest (May 28, 1812).
Russia had by now secured the entire northern coast of the Black Sea. Its subsequent wars with Turkey were fought to gain influence in the Ottoman Balkans, win control of the Dardanelles and Bosporus straits, and expand into the Caucasus. The Greeks’ struggle for independence sparked the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–29, in which Russian forces advanced into Bulgaria, the Caucasus, and northeastern Anatolia itself before the Turks sued for peace. The resulting Treaty of Edirne (Sept. 14, 1829) gave Russia most of the eastern shore of the Black Sea, and Turkey recognized Russian sovereignty over Georgia and parts of present-day Armenia.
The war of 1853–56, known as the Crimean War, began after the Russian emperor Nicholas I tried to obtain further concessions from Turkey. Great Britain and France entered the conflict on Turkey’s side in 1854, however, and the Treaty of Paris (March 30, 1856) that ended the war was a serious diplomatic setback for Russia, though involving few territorial concessions.
The last Russo-Turkish War (1877–78) was also the most important one. In 1877 Russia and its ally Serbia came to the aid of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria in their rebellions against Turkish rule. The Russians attacked through Bulgaria, and after successfully concluding the Siege of Pleven they advanced into Thrace, taking Adrianople (now Edirne, Tur.) in January 1878. In March of that year Russia concluded the Treaty of San Stefano with Turkey. This treaty freed Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro from Turkish rule, gave autonomy to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and created a huge autonomous Bulgaria under Russian protection. Britain and Austria-Hungary, alarmed by the Russian gains contained in the treaty, compelled Russia to accept the Treaty of Berlin (July 1878), whereby Russia’s military-political gains from the war were severely restricted.
Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/514064/Russo-Turkish-wars
Russian-Persian War
Disputes over territories along the southwestern coast of the Caspian
Sea and in the eastern Transcaucasus led to war between Russia and
Persia from 1804 to 1813 and again from 1826 to 1828. The military
conflict between the two empires was nothing new, but it entered a more
decisive stage with the dawning of the nineteenth century. At the root
of the first Russo-Persian War was the desire of Shah Fath Ali to secure
his northwestern territories in the name of the Qajar dynasty. At the
time, Persia's claims to Karabakh, Shirvan, Talesh, and Shakki seemed
precarious in the wake of Russia's annexation in 1801 of the former
kingdom of Georgia, also claimed by Persia. Meanwhile, Russia
consolidated this acquisition and resumed its military penetration of
border territories constituting parts of modern Azerbaijan and Armenia,
with the objective of extending its imperial frontiers to the Aras and
Kura rivers.
War broke out when Prince Paul Tsitsianov marched to Echmiadzin at the head of a column of Russian, Georgian, and Armenian troops. The outnumbered Russian army was unable to overcome the town's stubborn defense and several weeks later also unsuccessfully besieged Yerevan. Throughout the war, the Russians generally had the strategic initiative but lacked the strength to crush the Persian resistance. Able to commit only about ten thousand troops, a fraction of their total force in the Caucasus, the Russian commanders relied on superior tactics and weapons to overcome a numerical disadvantage of as much as five to one. Overlapping wars with Napoleonic France, Turkey (1806–1812), and Sweden (1808–1809), as well as sporadic tribal uprisings in the Caucasus, distracted the tsar's attention. Yet state-supported, centralized military organization provided Russian columns with considerable combat power. In contrast, the Persian forces were largely irregular cavalry raised and organized on a tribal basis. Abbas Mirza, heir to the throne, sought French and British instructors to modernize his army, and resorted to a guerrilla strategy that delayed the Persian defeat.
In 1810, the Persians proclaimed a holy war, but this had little effect on the eventual outcome. The Russian victories at Aslandaz in 1812 and Lankarin in 1813 sealed the verdict in Russia's favor. Under the Treaty of Golestan, Russia obtained most of the disputed territories, including Dagestan and northern Azerbaijan, and reduced the local khans to the status of vassals.
Another war between Russia and Persia broke out in 1826 following the death of Alexander I and the subsequent Decembrist revolt. Sensing opportunity, the Persians invaded in July at the instigation of Abbas Mirza, and even won some early victories against the outnumbered forces of General Alexei Yermolov, whose appeals to St. Petersburg for reinforcements went unfulfilled. With only twelve regular battalions, the Russians effectively delayed the Persian advance. A contingent of about eighteen hundred, for instance, held the strategic fortress at Shusha against a greatly superior force. On September 12, a Persian army under the personal command of Abbas Mirza was defeated at Yelizabetpol. In the spring of 1827, the Russian command passed to General Ivan Paskevich. He captured Yerevan at the end of September and crossed the Aras River to seize Tabriz. In November, Abbas Mirza reluctantly submitted. Under the Treaty of Torkamanchay (February 1828), Persia ceded Yerevan and all the territory up to the Aras River and paid a twenty million ruble indemnity.
Source: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404101165.html
War broke out when Prince Paul Tsitsianov marched to Echmiadzin at the head of a column of Russian, Georgian, and Armenian troops. The outnumbered Russian army was unable to overcome the town's stubborn defense and several weeks later also unsuccessfully besieged Yerevan. Throughout the war, the Russians generally had the strategic initiative but lacked the strength to crush the Persian resistance. Able to commit only about ten thousand troops, a fraction of their total force in the Caucasus, the Russian commanders relied on superior tactics and weapons to overcome a numerical disadvantage of as much as five to one. Overlapping wars with Napoleonic France, Turkey (1806–1812), and Sweden (1808–1809), as well as sporadic tribal uprisings in the Caucasus, distracted the tsar's attention. Yet state-supported, centralized military organization provided Russian columns with considerable combat power. In contrast, the Persian forces were largely irregular cavalry raised and organized on a tribal basis. Abbas Mirza, heir to the throne, sought French and British instructors to modernize his army, and resorted to a guerrilla strategy that delayed the Persian defeat.
In 1810, the Persians proclaimed a holy war, but this had little effect on the eventual outcome. The Russian victories at Aslandaz in 1812 and Lankarin in 1813 sealed the verdict in Russia's favor. Under the Treaty of Golestan, Russia obtained most of the disputed territories, including Dagestan and northern Azerbaijan, and reduced the local khans to the status of vassals.
Another war between Russia and Persia broke out in 1826 following the death of Alexander I and the subsequent Decembrist revolt. Sensing opportunity, the Persians invaded in July at the instigation of Abbas Mirza, and even won some early victories against the outnumbered forces of General Alexei Yermolov, whose appeals to St. Petersburg for reinforcements went unfulfilled. With only twelve regular battalions, the Russians effectively delayed the Persian advance. A contingent of about eighteen hundred, for instance, held the strategic fortress at Shusha against a greatly superior force. On September 12, a Persian army under the personal command of Abbas Mirza was defeated at Yelizabetpol. In the spring of 1827, the Russian command passed to General Ivan Paskevich. He captured Yerevan at the end of September and crossed the Aras River to seize Tabriz. In November, Abbas Mirza reluctantly submitted. Under the Treaty of Torkamanchay (February 1828), Persia ceded Yerevan and all the territory up to the Aras River and paid a twenty million ruble indemnity.
Source: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404101165.html
Armenian, Russian Presidents open Hill of Honor
After the Armenian and Russian national anthems were performed, the Presidents welcomed the guests and the Gyumri residents. The Presidents’ speeches were followed by a pray for the repose of the Russian servicemen’s souls. The Hill of Honor is a cemetery founded on the order of Commander of the Caucasus corps, General Nikolay Muravyev in 1856. An orthodox church was later built there. Consecrated in 1886, the church has been preserved. The Russian President and his wife arrived in Armenia on August 19. On arriving in Yerevan, the Russian leader headed for the Memorial to Armenian Genocide victims. He laid flowers at the monument. On August 20, Armenian-Russian negotiations were held. The CSTO’s informal summit has opened in Yerevan. An opening ceremony of the Hill of Honor was held in Gyumri. The memorial was opened on the burial place of 156 officers of the Russian army killed during the Russian-Turkish wars in the 19th century. Participating in the ceremony were the Armenian and Russian Presidents, Serzh Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev. The Armenian and Russian leaders laid a wreath at the memorial, a NEWS.am correspondent reported. It is a sculpture is a soldier mourning for his killed comrades-in-arms and an eagle over the soldier’s head with the Turkish flag in its talons.
Source: http://news.am/eng/news/28359.html
Russia, Our Best Friend
For centuries Armenians dreamed of having their
own state and after each national tragedy and slaughter hoped it would
be the last time. My paternal grandparents dreamed of an independent
Armenia but didn’t see its birth. I consider myself a lucky Armenian: I
saw the emergence of an independent Armenia; what my ancestors hoped for centuries became true in my time.
My father, who doesn’t speak Armenian, says to me
after each visit to the motherland: "Son, I feel that my soul is
nourished and I can’t live without this feeling.” Despite the negative
narrative among many Diaspora Armenians who turn their back to their
ancestral land and the non-stop propaganda that Armenia is ruled by
oligarchs, that depopulation will mark the end of the country, that the
president is a crook, etc, I feel Armenia is intelligently managed in
the turbulent Caucasus, a buffer zone and an extension of the Middle
East.
One of the latest arguments in the Diaspora is
that Russia is a threat to Armenia and that Moscow plans an Armenia
without Armenians. I hear these arguments from Diaspora Armenians who
live in the West and most of whom haven't visited their homeland, lack
solid information about Armenia and cannot understand that there is an
Armenia because Armenians are considered by Russians as loyal friends,
an ancient Christian people who are Russophile and have contributed to
Russia in many fields and still continue to do so. Those who want
Armenia destroyed hope Armenia becomes anti-Russian. Thus they spread
their anti-Russian propaganda.
In 2008 Russia didn’t abandon South Ossetia--one
of the tiniest nations anywhere, with no oil or other natural
ressources. Their only asset is their loyalty to Russia. In 2008, during
the August War with Russia, Georgia received arms from many Western
countries. Western private militias fought side by side the Georgian
army. At the end Russian tanks were closing in on Tbilisi, the capital
of Georgia. It was only through President Sarkozy's intercession that
the life of Georgian President Miheil Saakashvili was saved. The
Georgian leader had been called ‘son’ by U.S Secretary of State Colin
Powell while Georgia was praised as a 'model' country by the Europeans
and Americans for its intention to join the EU or NATO. At the end of
the war, Georgia was once again humiliated and as a result of the war
Georgia lost Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
In recent centuries Georgia has survived thanks to
Russian protection. But this fact is no immaterial to Georgians.
Millions of Georgians live in Turkey. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan's family originated in Georgia. Georgians who live in Turkey are
Islamized and only a few can speak a sprinkling of Georgian. If a
conflict emerges between Turkey and Georgia these Georgians will side
with Turkey because their Sunni faith keeps them loyal to Turkey.
Samuel Huntington stated that religious or ethnic
affiliation shape peoples’ perception of different conflicts. Why, for
example, was NATO member Greece unenthusiastic about the bombing of the
Serbs by NATO forces in 1999? The reason is simple: Serbs, like the
Greeks, are Orthodox Christians and have an affinity to the Byzantine
Empire just, like the Greeks. To which civilizational group does Armenia belong?
Are we western like the British or Islamic like the Libyans? As Eastern
Christians we belong to the Orthodox world headed by Russia. Russia is
the only superpower which cares about the fate of Eastern Christians,
just as it cares for the wellbeing of Syrian Christians.
International relations are, in general, based on
interests. States have long-term agendas; they follow them right or
wrong. But what if states also have a subconscience and memory? Syria is
home to a Russian naval base in Tartus, a city on the Mediterranean.
People can say that it's because of the base and arms sale that Russia
doesn’t abandon Syria. I agree. But let’s look back to the 1990s when
the Soviet Union broke apart. People mocked "Evil Empire" Russia. People
said it was "Bangladesh with nuclear weapons". Even the tiny Chechens
defeated them and created their own independent state. Even "Slavic
Orthodox Brother" Bulgaria, which also owes Russia its independence from
the Ottomans, declared Russians were no more welcome. Sofia joined NATO
and became a member of the European Union. Experts predicted that
following the Chechens' victory more secessionist nations would emerge
within the multinational Russian state and that Russia was doomed to
collapse.
What was the Syrian approach to Russia in those
years? They kept the Russian naval base in their country and continued
their warm relations with Mosow. I propose Syria is so dear to the
‘’Russian state memory” that Moscow will not abandon it just like
Damascus didn’t abandon Russia in the latter's vulnerable years.
Propositions to transfer the base to Cyprus (the Greek part) or the
multi-billion Saudi bribe to bring down Assad didn’t influence Russia.
It didn't compromise its friendship and rejected the ‘Libyan scenario’.
In Istanbul some years ago an Ossetian official
told me that President Yeltsin of Russia was so embarrassed by the
negative attitude of Western leaders toward Russia that he stated: "I
will find such a man [as my successor] that nobody among will ever dare
laugh at us.’’ Myth or reality? President Yeltsin, the sad image of
Russia during that country's years of vulnerability, selected Vladimir
Vladimirovich Putin to replace him in 1999. Under Putin Russia recovered
and found its place in the world. He stopped the looting of his
country, re-organized the economy, boosted the military power and
reasserted its territorial integrity. Russia rose from the ashes like
the phoenix and refound its glory. It is once again a respected
superpower. The Bear is back.
But Russia is an enigma to Armenians living in the
West. We are mostly ignorant about Russia's history and what it is
today. We know about the evil Communists, the gulags, the state atheism
of Soviet times. Most of us don't know that Moscow is the Third Rome:
after the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks Russia became the
main center of Eastern Christianity. The coat of arms of the Russian
state is the double-headed Byzantine Eagle. (Some Armenologists say that
the symbol was imported by Byzantium from Armenia). Russia is the
continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire, aka the Byzantine Empire. It
was the Byzantines (Armeno-Greek missionaries Cyril and Methodius) who
converted the Russians to Orthodox Christianity in 988. It is a country
where the cathedrals are more majestic than those of Italy.
Communist rule was a rupture in Russian
spirituality. Tsar Nicholas II wanted to reconquer Constantinople and
save the Armenians and other persecuted Christian subjects of the
Ottoman Empire. Earlier on, when the Russian army reached (1878) Hagia
Stephanos, a province of today’s Istanbul called Yesilkoy, Western
Powers such as Britain, France and Germany interfered and convinced the
Russians that the Ottomans would no longer persecute their Christian
subjects. The Russian army withdrew. We know what Sultan Abdul Hamid II,
the Young Turks, and Ataturk did following the withdrawal of the
Russians. For more than 200 years the West has protected the Ottomans
when Russia defeated them over and over. Even today no Western state
cares for the plight of Christians in the Middle East.
Saddam Hussein was an irrational and brutal leader
but Iraqi-Christians, including the Armenians, lived a comfortable life
and were not oppressed. Before the American invasion, Saddam Hussein
sent his Chaldean Foreign Minister Tarek Aziz to the Vatican. Aziz met
Pope Paul John II and begged him to act as an intermediary. The pope
tried to convince the U.S and the other members of the Western coalition
to find a peaceful solution. His efforts were in vain. Only a shadow of
Christianity remains in Iraq. Around 15,000 Armenians still live in the
country.
How can one forget the mass slaughter (1922) of
the Greeks and Armenians of Smyrna (now Izmir) by the Kemalist forces as
British and French navies, docked at the city, idly watching?
Armenians remember the French rescuing one part of
Musa Dagh’s Armenians and taking them to Port Said in Egypt. That was
the only help that we got. We were betrayed over and over by the West
and our blood fed rivers. Some Armenians would say "the Russians
betrayed us, too. They retreated from Van in 1915.’’ It was the Soviets
who retreated, not the Russians. When civil war broke out (1917) in
Russia, the Tsarist army was urged to retreat to defend the regime. The
Tsarist army lost and the Bolsheviks succeeded. If there was no
Bolshevik Revolution, Armenians would have been saved by the Russian
army and the Ottomans wouldn't have dared launch the Genocide. The
Bolsheviks killed millions of people and the majority of their victims
were ethnic Russians. Despite Lenin’s treachery, Soviet rule saved
Eastern Armenia and Armenians later acquired high positions in the
Soviet state. Nothing remained of Western Armenia.
Russian Communism is gone. Russia has a Patriarch
named Kiril who can tell to Putin during a tete-a-tete: "If you abandon
the Christians in Syria, we won’t support you anymore.” And Putin heeds
the patriarch’s advice. There's no way a Western leader would take into
consideration the opinion of a Christian spiritual leader in defense of
the Middle East's Christians.
For me, as an Armenian, Russia is the bearer of
light. The great Russian people have always defeated warrior tribes
surrounding their country and managed to create a great civilization.
They defeated the Mongols, Napoleon, the Turks, and with the help of
other Soviet republics beat the Nazis. Russians have kept the secret of
survival which the Byzantines forgot. Russia has the best missile
technology and more nuclear warheads than the United States. Russia is
the saviour of many nations (Serbs, Bulgarians, Ossetians) who suffered
from tyranny. It was the Russians who saved the Jews from Aushwitz in
1945. As an Armenian, I am thankful to this great nation.
Do Armenians of the West know of the strongest Armenian Diaspora? The strongest Armenian Diaspora is not in the Unites States or in France but in Russia. Its members are ministers, generals, billionaire businessmen, scientists, media personalities, university professors. Did the one-million strong California Armenians have a Secretary of State of Armenian origin? They had Governor Deukmejian or House Member Pashayan but they never had a cabinet minister. Russia’s current foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is half-Armenian. Russia is the talisman "kismet" of Armenians just as the United States is for Israel. I thank the Armenian government for erecting the United Cross Monument in Yerevan, symbolizing the Russian-Armenian brotherly relations which was unveiled during President Putin’s December visit to Armenia.
Do Armenians of the West know of the strongest Armenian Diaspora? The strongest Armenian Diaspora is not in the Unites States or in France but in Russia. Its members are ministers, generals, billionaire businessmen, scientists, media personalities, university professors. Did the one-million strong California Armenians have a Secretary of State of Armenian origin? They had Governor Deukmejian or House Member Pashayan but they never had a cabinet minister. Russia’s current foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is half-Armenian. Russia is the talisman "kismet" of Armenians just as the United States is for Israel. I thank the Armenian government for erecting the United Cross Monument in Yerevan, symbolizing the Russian-Armenian brotherly relations which was unveiled during President Putin’s December visit to Armenia.
Armenia has no bigger friend than Russia. Despite
Russia's selling of weapons to Azerbaijan, I have confidence in Russia's
friendship--a friendship based on self-interest, knowledge, and
sentiment. America also armed Saddam. The West sold chemical weapons to
Iraq. Americans promoted him as the leader of the Arab World. Where is
Saddam now?
100 лет назад Османская империя начала войну против России
100 лет назад, 29-30 октября 1914 года, Османская империя начала войну
против России. Германо-турецкий флот под командованием контр-адмирала
Сушона без объявления войны атаковал русские черноморские берега.
Противник напал на Севастополь и стоявший там русский флот, обстрелял
Новороссийск, Феодосию и Одессу, заминировал Керченский пролив. Это была
провокация с целью вызвать российское правительство на войну. 2 ноября
1914 года Российская империя объявила войну Турции.
Положение Османской империи накануне Первой мировой войны
«Больной человек» Европы давно уже находился в тяжелом кризисе. Особенно трудно пришлось Турции в начале XX столетия. Казалось, что нужен только один сильный удар, чтобы разрушить прогнившую насквозь Османскую империю.
Положение Османской империи накануне Первой мировой войны
«Больной человек» Европы давно уже находился в тяжелом кризисе. Особенно трудно пришлось Турции в начале XX столетия. Казалось, что нужен только один сильный удар, чтобы разрушить прогнившую насквозь Османскую империю.
В конце XIX века завершился процесс превращения Османской империи в
полуколонию великих западных держав. Турция была одной из самых отсталых
аграрных стран, чья экономика и финансы находились под контролем
Запада. Крупное землевладение сочеталось и с мелким землепользованием.
Крестьянство несло на себе почти всю тяжесть налогового бремени, отдавая
откупщикам и ростовщикам до 30-40% урожая. Кое-где сохранялась даже
примитивная барщина. При этом сельское хозяйство находилось под
контролем западного капитала. Дело дошло до того, что Стамбул и ряд
других крупных прибрежных городов получали зерно и муку из-за рубежа.
Иностранный капитал имел монополию на производство и экспорт турецкого
табака, контролируя целые сельские области. Иностранный капитал выступал
в качестве организатора и хозяина производства, и был заинтересован в
полуфеодальной зависимости крестьянства, крайне дешёвой рабочей силе.
Промышленность в правление султанов Абдул-Хамида II (1876 — 1909) и Мехмеда V (1909 — 1918), несмотря на огромные природные богатства империи, находилась в жалком состоянии. Добывающую промышленность захватили иностранные компании, главным образом британские и французские, получившие концессии на разработку полезных ископаемых. За счёт льгот концессий и крайней дешевизны рабочей силы иностранные предприниматели получали огромные прибыли, которые не попадали в турецкую казну. Сталеплавильной и машиностроительной отраслей в Турции практически не было. В начале столетия в Османской империи добывали 3 млн. пудов руды, но для местного потребления оставалось около 100 тыс. пудов. Остальное вывозили и перерабатывали на иностранных предприятиях. Металлы возвращались в виде готовых товаров. Так, в конце XIX столетия во всей огромной Турецкой империи было всего 5 литейных и железоделательных мастерских и всего 6 лесопильных предприятий. По сути, Турция была аграрной, сырьевой полуколонией Запада.
В империи было несколько десятков мелких предприятий пищевой, суконной, хлопчатобумажной, ковровой и т. д. отраслей. Кроме того, в Стамбуле было несколько военных предприятий. Большинство предприятий были сосредоточены в столице и нескольких крупных прибрежных городах. Остальные районы империи фактически промышленности не имели, обходясь средневековыми ремесленными мастерскими. При этом почти все сколько-нибудь значительные предприятия находились в руках иностранного капитала или компрадорской буржуазии. В начале XX столетия только около 15% промышленности находилась в руках национальной буржуазии. Значительной была и доля инонациональной буржуазии (евреи, греки, армяне и пр.), которая чтобы избежать коррупционного и национального давления, разорительных налогов и пошлин, принимала подданство какой-либо иностранной державы. В результате большая часть капиталов не задерживалась в Турции, доходы извлекаемые из природных богатств страны, жестокой эксплуатации трудового населения уходили на Запад, или в карманы небольшой группы компрадорской буржуазии.
Ещё в 1881 году была учреждена «Администрация оттоманского публичного долга», которая получила при помощи собственного административного аппарата собирать в различных районах империи государственные налоги и пошлины, чтобы обслуживать госдолг Османской империи. В «Администрацию» входили представители Британии, Франции, Германии, Италии, Австро-Венгрии, Оттоманского банка и местных крупных кредиторов Порты. В 1908 году её численность выросла до 10 тыс. человек. Целая оккупационная администрация, высасывающая все соки из страны. Причём этот аппарат числился на турецкой службе, на содержании казны. В дальнейшем иностранцы получили доходы от табачной и соляной монополий, сбор со спирта и гербовой сбор, право сбора государственного налога в ряде областей и городов и т. д. По сути, иностранцы стали полностью контролировать финансы империи. Иностранные банки контролировали финансы Турции. Дело шло к учреждению финансового международного учреждения, которое заменит османское финансовое ведомство. Этот процесс остановила только война и развал империи.
Западный капитал полностью устраивало внутреннее разложение Османской империи, в которой заправляли сановники, крупные феодалы и высшее мусульманское духовенство. Господство придворной камарильи, коррупция бюрократов и ничем не ограниченный произвол чиновников, включая духовенство, определяли внутреннее положение империи. Особенностью чиновничьего аппарата, включая офицерство, был крайне низкий уровень образования и культуры. Так, в 1898 году даже среди министров не было ни одного человека с высшим образованием. Повсюду царили казнокрадство, произвол и коррупция. Все чиновники, от высших сановников до мелких местных управленцев использовали своё положение для обогащения. В учебных заведениях была жесткая цензура и гнёт духовенства, которые подавляли образование, науку и культуру.
При этом устойчивость империи подрывала национально-освободительная борьба. Власти отвечали жесточайшим террором, разжиганием национальной и религиозной вражды. Идеология основывалась на панисламизме и пантюркизме. Восстания буквально топили в крови. Для поддержания целостности империи был сформирован огромный аппарат сыска, жандармерии и полиции. Была сформирована многотысячная армия доносчиков. Для подавления восстаний использовали иррегулярную кавалерию (хамидие - «принадлежащие Хамиду»), куда привлекали курдов и карапахов. Дикие всадники наводили ужас во многих районах империи, особенно на востоке. Так, в 1894-1896 гг. была организована страшная резня армян в Западной Армении. Эта бойня потрясла весь мир. Было зверски убито около 300 тыс. человек. Сотни городов и селений были опустошены султанской армией, иррегулярными формированиями, полицией и религиозными фанатиками.
Армяне составляли значительную часть населения империи и во время войн с Россией благосклонно относились к русским, особенно в Западной Армении, где люди надеялись присоединиться к Российской империи. Стамбул уже с 1880-х годов стал проводить политику геноцида. Если раньше бойни происходили от случая к случаю, теперь геноцид стал государственной политикой.
Султан Абдул-Хамид II не только использовал политику «разделяй и властвуй», натравливая религиозных фанатиков на христиан, но и взял на вооружение агрессивную идеологию панисламизма. В Османской империи множились идеологи, которые объясняли необходимость объединения всех мусульман и тюрков под эгидой халифа, которым был османский султан. Эта идеология стала одной из предпосылок участия Турции в Первой мировой войне.
При этом продолжалось усиления влияния иностранных держав на Турцию. Традиционно сильное влияние на Стамбул было у Англии и Франции. Однако в начале XX столетия их стала вытеснять Германская империя, которая постепенно поставила под свой контроль вооруженные силы Турции. Турецкое правительство посчитало, что немцы представляют «меньшее зло» и пыталось использовать Германию для укрепления армии и экономики, ослабить влияние других иностранцев. Германии нужны были ресурсы Османской империи и союзник для давления на Британию и Россию. Через турецкую территорию можно было выйти к Суэцкому каналу и Персидскому заливу.
Армянский вопрос, борьба в Македонии и Фракии, восстание критских греков были разменной монетой в большой игре. Эти события обычно использовались великими державами для усиления своего влияния на Порту. По сути, политику Порты определяли в европейских столицах. Так, в 1897 году началась турецко-греческая война, возникшая из-за восстания греков на Крите. Османы смогли разгромить греков, но великие державы заставили Порту подписать такой договор, который привёл к потере Крита. На Крите была объявлена автономия под «покровительством Европы» и высажен «миротворческий контингент». Большая часть мусульман была вынуждена покинуть остров. Крит присоединился к Греции после второй Балканской войны, в конце 1913 года.
Промышленность в правление султанов Абдул-Хамида II (1876 — 1909) и Мехмеда V (1909 — 1918), несмотря на огромные природные богатства империи, находилась в жалком состоянии. Добывающую промышленность захватили иностранные компании, главным образом британские и французские, получившие концессии на разработку полезных ископаемых. За счёт льгот концессий и крайней дешевизны рабочей силы иностранные предприниматели получали огромные прибыли, которые не попадали в турецкую казну. Сталеплавильной и машиностроительной отраслей в Турции практически не было. В начале столетия в Османской империи добывали 3 млн. пудов руды, но для местного потребления оставалось около 100 тыс. пудов. Остальное вывозили и перерабатывали на иностранных предприятиях. Металлы возвращались в виде готовых товаров. Так, в конце XIX столетия во всей огромной Турецкой империи было всего 5 литейных и железоделательных мастерских и всего 6 лесопильных предприятий. По сути, Турция была аграрной, сырьевой полуколонией Запада.
В империи было несколько десятков мелких предприятий пищевой, суконной, хлопчатобумажной, ковровой и т. д. отраслей. Кроме того, в Стамбуле было несколько военных предприятий. Большинство предприятий были сосредоточены в столице и нескольких крупных прибрежных городах. Остальные районы империи фактически промышленности не имели, обходясь средневековыми ремесленными мастерскими. При этом почти все сколько-нибудь значительные предприятия находились в руках иностранного капитала или компрадорской буржуазии. В начале XX столетия только около 15% промышленности находилась в руках национальной буржуазии. Значительной была и доля инонациональной буржуазии (евреи, греки, армяне и пр.), которая чтобы избежать коррупционного и национального давления, разорительных налогов и пошлин, принимала подданство какой-либо иностранной державы. В результате большая часть капиталов не задерживалась в Турции, доходы извлекаемые из природных богатств страны, жестокой эксплуатации трудового населения уходили на Запад, или в карманы небольшой группы компрадорской буржуазии.
Ещё в 1881 году была учреждена «Администрация оттоманского публичного долга», которая получила при помощи собственного административного аппарата собирать в различных районах империи государственные налоги и пошлины, чтобы обслуживать госдолг Османской империи. В «Администрацию» входили представители Британии, Франции, Германии, Италии, Австро-Венгрии, Оттоманского банка и местных крупных кредиторов Порты. В 1908 году её численность выросла до 10 тыс. человек. Целая оккупационная администрация, высасывающая все соки из страны. Причём этот аппарат числился на турецкой службе, на содержании казны. В дальнейшем иностранцы получили доходы от табачной и соляной монополий, сбор со спирта и гербовой сбор, право сбора государственного налога в ряде областей и городов и т. д. По сути, иностранцы стали полностью контролировать финансы империи. Иностранные банки контролировали финансы Турции. Дело шло к учреждению финансового международного учреждения, которое заменит османское финансовое ведомство. Этот процесс остановила только война и развал империи.
Западный капитал полностью устраивало внутреннее разложение Османской империи, в которой заправляли сановники, крупные феодалы и высшее мусульманское духовенство. Господство придворной камарильи, коррупция бюрократов и ничем не ограниченный произвол чиновников, включая духовенство, определяли внутреннее положение империи. Особенностью чиновничьего аппарата, включая офицерство, был крайне низкий уровень образования и культуры. Так, в 1898 году даже среди министров не было ни одного человека с высшим образованием. Повсюду царили казнокрадство, произвол и коррупция. Все чиновники, от высших сановников до мелких местных управленцев использовали своё положение для обогащения. В учебных заведениях была жесткая цензура и гнёт духовенства, которые подавляли образование, науку и культуру.
При этом устойчивость империи подрывала национально-освободительная борьба. Власти отвечали жесточайшим террором, разжиганием национальной и религиозной вражды. Идеология основывалась на панисламизме и пантюркизме. Восстания буквально топили в крови. Для поддержания целостности империи был сформирован огромный аппарат сыска, жандармерии и полиции. Была сформирована многотысячная армия доносчиков. Для подавления восстаний использовали иррегулярную кавалерию (хамидие - «принадлежащие Хамиду»), куда привлекали курдов и карапахов. Дикие всадники наводили ужас во многих районах империи, особенно на востоке. Так, в 1894-1896 гг. была организована страшная резня армян в Западной Армении. Эта бойня потрясла весь мир. Было зверски убито около 300 тыс. человек. Сотни городов и селений были опустошены султанской армией, иррегулярными формированиями, полицией и религиозными фанатиками.
Армяне составляли значительную часть населения империи и во время войн с Россией благосклонно относились к русским, особенно в Западной Армении, где люди надеялись присоединиться к Российской империи. Стамбул уже с 1880-х годов стал проводить политику геноцида. Если раньше бойни происходили от случая к случаю, теперь геноцид стал государственной политикой.
Султан Абдул-Хамид II не только использовал политику «разделяй и властвуй», натравливая религиозных фанатиков на христиан, но и взял на вооружение агрессивную идеологию панисламизма. В Османской империи множились идеологи, которые объясняли необходимость объединения всех мусульман и тюрков под эгидой халифа, которым был османский султан. Эта идеология стала одной из предпосылок участия Турции в Первой мировой войне.
При этом продолжалось усиления влияния иностранных держав на Турцию. Традиционно сильное влияние на Стамбул было у Англии и Франции. Однако в начале XX столетия их стала вытеснять Германская империя, которая постепенно поставила под свой контроль вооруженные силы Турции. Турецкое правительство посчитало, что немцы представляют «меньшее зло» и пыталось использовать Германию для укрепления армии и экономики, ослабить влияние других иностранцев. Германии нужны были ресурсы Османской империи и союзник для давления на Британию и Россию. Через турецкую территорию можно было выйти к Суэцкому каналу и Персидскому заливу.
Армянский вопрос, борьба в Македонии и Фракии, восстание критских греков были разменной монетой в большой игре. Эти события обычно использовались великими державами для усиления своего влияния на Порту. По сути, политику Порты определяли в европейских столицах. Так, в 1897 году началась турецко-греческая война, возникшая из-за восстания греков на Крите. Османы смогли разгромить греков, но великие державы заставили Порту подписать такой договор, который привёл к потере Крита. На Крите была объявлена автономия под «покровительством Европы» и высажен «миротворческий контингент». Большая часть мусульман была вынуждена покинуть остров. Крит присоединился к Греции после второй Балканской войны, в конце 1913 года.
Младотурецкая революция
Потеря экономической и политической независимости, цепь поражений во внешней политике и потеря территорий, культурное влияние Запада на образованную часть османского общества привели к возникновению волны протеста. Буржуазно-либеральные идеи привели к возникновению политического движения младотурков, которые стали преемниками «новых османов».
Несмотря на то, что султан и его приспешники жесточайшим образом давили любое проявление свободомыслия и сопротивления, устроив в стране настоящую шпионскую манию, когда людей хватали за малейшее проявление недовольства, политическое движение постепенно вызрело в революцию. Ядром движения стало офицерство, наиболее образованная часть населения и имевшая возможность знакомиться с европейской культурой и достижениями передовой мысли. Также в движение входили представители разночинной интеллигенции и учащихся военных и гражданских школ.
Так, ещё в 1889 году курсант военно-медицинского училища Ибрагим Темо создал тайную группу, целью которой было спасение родины от тирании. Эта ячейка установила контакты с единомышленниками в других учебных заведениях Стамбула. Появились революционные ячейки и за границей. Во Франции такой группой руководил сын крупного чиновника Ахмед Риза-бей. В 1892 году группу в военно-медицинском училище вскрыли. Но серьёзно к ней не отнеслись, студенты даже получили возможность продолжать учёбу.
В 1894 году была выпущена листовка от имени «Османского общества единения и прогресса». Они призывала к совместной борьбе всех народов империи с деспотизмом. Движение увеличило своё влияние в армейской и флотской среде, среди чиновников и курсантов военных училищ. Власти отнеслись к этому более серьёзно и ответили репрессиями. Многих сослали, другие бежали за границу. Однако ячейки иттихадистов (от слова «иттихад» - «единение») продолжали свою подрывную работу. Был учреждён Центральный комитет. Устав движения ставил своей целью обеспечение справедливости, равенства и свободы, прогресс страны и освобождение от иностранной кабалы. Важнейшей задачей было восстановление конституционного строя в стране.
В Европе печатали и распространяли по Турции памфлеты, которые клеймили кровавый режим Абдул-Хамида II. Султана называли «подлым» и «безумным» и даже «последователем дьявола». В эмиграции стали издавать десятки газет на турецком языке, которые проклинали режим «змеи и скорпиона». Наиболее значительные газеты издавали в Париже, Лондоне, Женеве и Каире. Также впускали брошюры и листовки, которые тайно распространяли по Османской империи. Иттихадисты считали, что конституционные реформы спасут страну от распада и раздела между великими державами. Они надеялись, что путём реформ можно спасти гибнущую османскую империю, обновить её. Движение не было единым, его раздирали противоречия и споры по будущему страны. Особенностью движения был его многонациональный состав, среди революционеров были турки, албанцы, греки, армяне, евреи, арабы, курды и др. В целом революционеров объединяла только ненависть к султану.
Первый конгресс в Париже удалось провести только в 1902 году. Но и он не привёл к единству. Так, выделилось две основные группы. «Общество прогресса и единения» Ахмеда Ризы выступало за единство империи, сохранение османской династии, единение всех народов Турции и против вмешательства в дела страны иностранных государств. «Общество личной инициативы и децентрализации» во главе с принцем Сабахеддином доказывало возможность вмешательства иностранных держав и выступало за значительную децентрализацию административного управления, предоставление больших полномочий местным властям.
Внутренние расколы и неудачные заговоры, раскрытые властями, новые волны ссылок привели к спаду движения. Новый подъём произошёл на фоне революции в России 1905-1907 гг. Лидеры младотурок призвали «брать пример с великолепных идей русской революции». Султан же усилил цензуру, чтобы остановить появление сообщений о действиях революционеров в России. Особенно Абдул-Хамид боялся восстания на флоте. В это время многие офицеры примкнули к младотурецкому движению. Власти ответили массовыми арестами, было арестовано более 200 человек, включая 5 генералов.
В 1906-1907 гг. в армии и на флоте произошло несколько выступлений против начальства. Выступления против властей произошли и в ряде крупных городов. Правительство в ряде мест даже пошло на уступки. Так, в Эрзеруме отменили некоторые налоги. В стране стала складываться революционная ситуация. Власти смогли сбить революционную волну в Анатолии, но в столице ряды революционеров только окрепли. В 1906 году в Салониках учредили новое тайное «Османское общество свободы», которое обрело серьёзное влияние в среде армейских офицеров. В 1907 году оно объединилось с «Обществом прогресса и единения». Новое движение получило название «Османское общество прогресса и единения». Оно имело два центра: внешний – в Париже и внутренний – в Салониках. Комитет в Салониках вёл активную пропаганду и вербовку новых членов в армейских частях, расположенных в Европейской Турции. Одновременно произошло сближение с национальными партиями и группами – армянскими национально-буржуазными партиями и группами, македонским освободительным движением.
В декабре 1907 года в Париже прошёл второй конгресс младотурок. Была сформирована общая программа. О будущем государственной устройстве Турции умолчали, но сказали об учреждении конституции и созыве парламента. Революция началась с Македонии. Безземелье и малоземелье, огромное налоговое бремя, произвол и коррупция турецкой администрации, религиозные и национальные противоречия сделали эту область постоянным очагом национальных и антифеодальных выступлений. Порта топила их в крови, но делать это становилось всё труднее, а давление великих держав всё росло. Неспособность Стамбула решить македонский вопрос вынудила Россию и Англию принять решение о вводе в регион войск для «поддержания порядка».
Младотурки решили, что это удобный момент для восстания, чтобы установить в стране конституцию и воспрепятствовать иностранному вмешательству в дела страны. Парижский центр рекомендовал расширить вербовку среди военных и молодежи, создать тайные ударные группы. Особенно большой успех имела пропаганда младотурок в Салониках, в среде солдат, младшего и среднего офицерского состава. Задержки жалованья усиливали общее недовольство в военной среде.
Весной 1908 г. в военных частях прокатилась волна бунтов. Летом султан произвёл перемены в командовании войск, дислоцированных в Македонии, приказал начать аресты в салоникском гарнизоне. Однако это только усилило недовольство. Революционное движение охватило почти всё офицерство. Военные не стесняясь выражали своё недовольство, говорили, что правительство ведёт страну к гибели и иностранной оккупации. К офицерам стали примыкать и местные чиновники. В начале июля 1908 года началось восстание. Первым выступил отряд Ниязи-бея. Вскоре к нему присоединились отряды из других гарнизонов. Ниязи-бей направил султану письмо, требуя прекратить репрессии, восстановить конституцию 1876 года и созвать парламент.
Султан попытался двинуть против очага восстания верные ему части, но их состав был распропагандирован младотурками. Главу карательной экспедиции убили. К повстанцам стало присоединяться нетурецкое население Македонии. Македонские и албанские националистические организации поддержали восставших. Армейские части одна за другой присоединялись к повстанцам. Выступление превратилось в массовое восстание. Султан попытался бросить против восставших войска из Анатолии. Однако все прибывшие в Салоники батальоны отказались вступить против европейских войск и повстанцев. Повстанцев поддержали тысячи вооруженных албанцев.
Власти были вынуждены проявить гибкость. Была объявлена амнистия арестованным офицерам-младотуркам. Срочно нашлись деньги для выплаты жалованья солдатам. Но остановить революцию было уже нельзя. Во многих городах Македонии младотурки провозгласили восстановление конституции 1876 года. 23 июля младотурки в Эдирне (Адрианополь) пообещали двинуть на столицу 2-й армейский корпус. Султан и правительство приняли требования революционеров. 24 июля вышел указ султана о восстановлении конституции. В указе содержалось обещание созыва парламента. По городам османской империи прокатились митинги в поддержку конституции. Из тюрем повсеместно освобождали политзаключенных. В Салониках, Стамбуле и других городах несколько дней шли огромные манифестации. Мусульмане братались с христианами. Казалось, что наступила весна свободы.
25 июля вышел указ султана об амнистии всех революционеров. Амнистировали около 80 тыс. человек - заключенных и эмигрантов. Однако радость длилась недолго. Скоро стало ясно, что султан не собирается уступать, а младотурки совсем не демократы. Попытки выступлений крестьян в Анатолии были подавлены местными младотурецкими комитетами с помощью жандармерии. Когда албанцы стали требовать автономии младотурки пригрозили бывшим союзникам артиллерией. Младотурки с помощью армии подавили выступления рабочих и железнодорожников Стамбула, Измира, Измита и других городов. Оказалось, что младотурки, по сути, продолжают прежний имперский курс. Это был верхушечный переворот, а не коренная революция, кардинальным образом меняющая политический и социально-экономический облик страны.
Генерал Норат Тер-Григорьянц: «Я предложил создать военную базу России в Армении»
Интервью ИА REGNUM
с начальником Генерального штаба Вооруженных сил Армении в
1992-1995гг., исполняющим обязанности министра обороны в 1993 году,
генерал-лейтенантом Норатом Григорьевичем Тер-Григорьянцем.
ИА
REGNUM: Здравствуйте Норат Григорьевич. Прошу Вас, расскажите о себе.
Что побудило руководство независимой Армении обратиться к российскому
генерал-лейтенанту армянского происхождения с просьбой — создать, или
сформировать, — Вооружённые силы страны?
Здравствуйте. Постараюсь ответить на этот объёмный, самый главный, на мой взгляд, вопрос.
Первое.
Сложная военно-политическая обстановка в регионе, и в частности —
развязанная война агрессивного государства Азербайджан против армянского
народа в Нагорном Карабахе (Арцахе) с целью его выдворения, уничтожения
и захвата указанной территории древней Армении. А также не утихающие
провокации, и бомбёжки азербайджанской авиации вдоль границ Армении,
из-за чего страдало население, живущее в приграничной зоне.
Второе.
Видимо руководство Армении с целью спасения положения и исключения
сказанного выше, выбирало по миру военачальника — профессионала в
области военных наук. Вот я и попал в их список, и, конечно, я благодарю
тогдашнего президента Армении Тер-Петросяна и министра обороны Вазгена
Саркисяна за оказанное мне доверие, которое позволило мне заниматься
созданием Вооружённых сил и управлением ими совместно с другими военными
и политическими деятелями Армении и Арцаха. Это для меня была огромная
честь и огромное доверие — являться составной частью в спасении страны и
народа — жителей Армении и НКР, от второго турецкого государства на
данном театре военных действий, от страны, которая продолжила политику
геноцида старшего брата. Так было сделано в Турции в 1915-23 годах,
когда турки уничтожили 1,5 млн армян, а остальных изгнали со своей
территории и создали своё государство на костях и богатстве армян. Вот
точно так начал действовать шовинистический Азербайджан, но уже в 1990-х
годах по отношению армян в Сумгаите, Баку и теперь приступил к
завершающему этапу — захвату Нагорного Карабаха. И что делать? Опять
допустить геноцид армян на нашей земле? Вот и было принято историческое
решение со стороны руководства Армении — создать самый главный институт
государства — Вооружённые силы для отражения агрессии и освобождении
наших территорий, в ответ на их наступление.
И почему именно меня
избрали? Видимо потому, что я военный — профессионал в этой области. И
служил в ВС СССР, прошёл все армейские должности, закончил все военные
образовательные ВУЗы на отлично и участвовал почти во всех крупных
конфликтах и даже войнах, которые были развязаны против моей страны. То
есть, имел определённый боевой опыт. А с уходом СССР со сцены, произошли
страшные события на постсоветском пространстве, и особенно на южном
Кавказе. Для интереса могу доложить своё прохождение для убедительности:
Я,
Тер-Григорьянц Норат Григорьевич, генерал-лейтенант Вооружённых сил
СССР и РФ. Родом я из Владикавказа, Северо-Осетинской Республики. Я
потомок бывших граждан Османской Турции. Мои родители были родом из
турецкой Армении, и во время Геноцида армян в Турции 1915-1923 годов,
они смогли спастись. Под прикрытием частей Кавказского фронта, а точнее
армянских формирований, они смогли целым родом дойти до Северного
Кавказа (из Эрзрума, Вана и Карса) и здесь их, беженцев, приютили власти
Осетии. Спасибо доброму, дружелюбному осетинскому народу за это. После
окончания средней школы я был призван в Вооружённые силы СССР в 1955
году. После трёх лет солдатской службы поступил в Военное гвардейское
ульяновское танковое училище им. В.И.Ленина. По завершении учёбы, в 1960
году приказом министра обороны мне было присвоено воинское звание —
лейтенант. Так с 1960 года я начал свою уже офицерскую службу:
Северо-Кавказский военный округ — г. Новочеркасск — командовал танковыми
подразделениями — танковым взводом, танковой ротой, стал начальником
штаба танкового батальона, а затем командиром танкового батальона, но
уже в Забайкальском Военном округе. Здесь я служил Родине около 8 лет.
В
те годы была очень сложная военно-политическая обстановка с КНР. Ведь
Китай тогда был враждебно настроен против СССР и требовал земли русские
от Урала и до Дальнего востока. Именно поэтому в этом регионе были
сосредоточены огромные силы нашей армии. И конечно были там и стычки. В
1970 году меня направили на учёбу в Москву, в Военную академию
бронетанковых войск. После 3-х лет учёбы, в звании подполковника я был
командирован для прохождения дальнейшей службы в Южную Группу войск — в
Венгрию, где я прослужил 5 лет на должностях командира танкового полка,
начальника штаба дивизии и 2 года командовал 93-ей гвардейской
мотострелковой дивизией в составе Варшавского договора. После 5-ти лет
военной службы в Южной группе войск, меня отправили на учёбу в Москву в
Академию генерального штаба, после окончании которой, получив
образование уже в стратегическом масштабе, в 1980 году я был направлен
на службу в Туркестанский военный округ — на должность первого
заместителя Начальника штаба военного округа. А через пару недель, был
отправлен в Афганистан, где шла война. Там я, в составе 110 тысячной
группировки ВС СССР, прослужил 3 года в должности первого заместителя
командующего армией — начальника штаба 40 армии.
Как участник этой
войны, я в составе наших войск выполнял приказ Родины по оказанию
интернациональной помощи афганскому народу, защищая его от варваров —
радикальных исламистов, которые оснащались средствами вооружённой борьбы
со стороны США, КНР, Пакистана, Ирана, Саудовской Аравии. Они имели ту
же цель, которую они имеют сегодня в Сирии и Ираке. Возглавляя штаб —
мозг армии, мы планировали, организовывали, координировали, управляли и
руководили боевыми действиями против этих врагов. После 3-х лет службы в
Афганистане меня приказом министра обороны ССС, отправили в Москву для
прохождения дальнейшей военной службы и назначили на должность
заместителя начальника Главного штаба сухопутных войск вооруженных сил
СССР, тогда же мне было присвоено воинское звание генерал-лейтенанта.
Одновременно
я занимал должность начальника организационно-мобилизационного
управления Сухопутных войск ВС СССР. Служба в армии здесь продлилась до
1992 года, так как в начале 1992 года я получил приглашение руководства
Армении — прибыть в Армению для того чтобы приступить к созданию ВС
республики. Я написал рапорт на увольнение из ВС, и несмотря на то, что
мне нужно было служить ещё 5 лет, приказом МО РФ я был уволен на пенсию и
срочно, в августе 1992 года, приехал в Ереван. Там, после разработки
Концепции строительства ВС и утверждения на совете безопасности РА, мы
приступили к созданию войск страны. Вместе с моими боевыми товарищами и
политическими деятелям мы создали мощную армию, боевая подготовка шла
круглые сутки.
И скажу вам в заключение, — отказавшись от
должности министра обороны, я был назначен на должность командующего
Вооружёнными силами Армении, в последующем возглавил Главный штаб ВС РА.
Мы создали мощную, боеспособную, оснащённую, морально устойчивую армию
на научной и регулярной основе. И эти регулярные Вооружённые силы
провели контрнаступательную армейскую операцию на горном театре военных
действий и изгнали противника с нашей армянской земли, из Карабаха. Наша
армия разбила азербайджанскую армию и защитила народ Арцаха от
геноцида, защитила честь и достоинство армянского народа и сейчас
защищает всех армян. Она должна быть в постоянной боевой готовности и
сейчас, ведь сегодня президент Азербайджана заявляет, что даже Ереван и
Зангезур это их земля. После моей службы армянскому народу, с августа
1992 по 1995 годы, я подал прошение верховному главнокомандующему —
Левону Тер-Петросяну с просьбой освободить меня от занимаемой должности в
ВС Армении в связи с окончанием выполнения поставленных боевых задач и
разрешить покинуть пределы Армении. Получив разрешение я, с чувством
исполненного долга, после 4-х лет моей службы в Армении, вернулся в
Россию, на Родину, где я родился и живу сейчас со своей семьёй.
ИА REGNUM: Вы были знакомы с Левоном Тер-Петросяном до вашего приезда в Армению?
Да,
я однажды встречался с ним в 1990 году в связи с тем, что количество
призывников из Армении в ВС СССР резко снизилось. Такой процесс тогда
шёл и в некоторых других республиках — особенно на Украине и в
Прибалтике. Тогда мы с начальником Главного штаба сухопутных войск СССР
отправились в Армению, где встречались с Левоном Тер-Петросяном. Он
тогда сказал, что эти молодые люди нужны ему в Армении, и он не может
позволить себе отпускать их на срочную службу в ряды ВС СССР. На это я
ему ответил, что он заблуждается, так как служба в армии даёт Армении
возможность получать готовый военно-обученный резерв. В итоге мы смогли
прийти к компромиссу, — призыв возобновлялся, но призывники, по
возможности, отправлялись в части недалеко от Армении. По большей части
их стали направлять в учебную дивизию в Грозном, и в последующим они
служили в разных родах войск ВС РФ. До этого я был в Армении ещё один
раз — незадолго до землетрясения. Тогда 127-ая мотострелковая дивизия,
базировавшаяся в Ленинакане (Гюмри), была поднята мною по учебно-боевой
тревоге и передислоцирована в Грузию для прохождения фронтовых учений и
проверки боеспособности войск Закавказского военного округа. Сейчас на
фондах этой дивизии, по моему предложению в 1992 году, находится 102
военная база в Армении.
ИА REGNUM: Как вы относитесь к
соглашению о прекращении огня, вступившему в силу 12 мая 1994 года?
Принимали ли вы участие в его подписании?
Я считаю, что это
отвратительный, бездарный документ, который ни в коем случае нельзя было
подписывать. Именно из-за него до сих пор не решён конфликт, а
Азербайджан, вооружаясь за счёт нефтедолларов, продолжает угрожать
Армении и НКР войной, и периодически устраивает стрельбу на границе. В
подписании я не участвовал, и вопросами этими заниматься меня не
приглашали — тогда я был на командном пункте, центре боевого управления.
ИА REGNUM: Приезжали ли с вами из России другие офицеры для того, чтобы помочь?
Нет.
Я предлагал некоторым товарищам поехать, но сначала они ответили, что
приедут тогда, когда я уже буду в Армении, и в них будет реальная нужда.
Но когда «нужда» появилась, некоторые, ссылаясь на политические и
другие факторы, отказались. Но, ряд офицеров приехал и с честью выполнил
свой долг.
ИА REGNUM: Есть много слухов и рассказов о том, что
министр обороны России Павел Грачёв оказывал всяческую поддержку
Армении. Правда ли это?
Грачёв был очень порядочный человек и
справедливая личность, и на тот момент олицетворял РФ. Он тогда
неоднократно приезжал в Армению, где я познакомил его с Вазгеном
Саркисяном, и между ними сложилась настоящая мужская дружба. Он видел,
что мы жертва в сложившейся ситуации и всегда старался нам помочь и
словом, и делом. Нельзя сказать, что помощь была какая-то очень большая,
но он всегда старался содействовать нам хотя бы словом, что уже было
немало. По сути, на тот момент нам больше всего нужны были боеприпасы,
их мы тогда получали самыми разными путями, Грачёв тоже нам несколько
раз в этом помог. К сожалению, 7-ая полевая армия СССР, стоявшая в
Армении, имела лишь полковые запасы боеприпасов, а 4-ая полевая армия
СССР, дислоцированная в Азербайджане, имела запасы боеприпасов вплоть до
стратегических (десятки тысяч вагонов).
ИА REGNUM: Сейчас всем
известно, что в Армении находится 102-ая база РФ. Есть ли ваш вклад в
её создание? Было ли в начале 1990-х обоюдное желание Армении и РФ её
создать?
Почти сразу после моего приезда в Армению мы
заговорили с руководством Армении о том, что же делать со 127-й
мотострелковой дивизией Закавказского военного округа РФ,
дислоцированной в Гюмри. Надо сказать, что тогдашнее руководство не
горело желанием оставлять российских военнослужащих в Армении,
придерживаясь позиции «пускай уходят». Я тогда сразу настоял на том,
чтобы эту дивизию удерживали в Армении, обосновав это тем, что Армения
стала независимой страной, на тот момент не входящей ни в какие военные
блоки, и при этом имеющая границу с далеко недружелюбной Турцией и войну
с Азербайджаном. Поэтому я сразу стал настаивать на том, чтобы на месте
127-й дивизии была создана военная база, прикрывающая границы Армении.
Особого желания ни с той, ни с другой стороны не было. Москва была не
очень заинтересована из-за сложного финансового положения и блокады
Армении почти со всех направлений. Я тогда объяснил, что Турция сможет
без особых проблем уничтожить Армению одним махом, так как никаких
серьёзных войск у Еревана не было. РФ же сохраняла возможность
защищаться от НАТО на дальних рубежах, сохранив единственную союзную,
буферную страну в Закавказье. Я был назначен председателем комиссии,
занимающейся вопросами организации этой военной базы, и договорённость в
итоге была достигнута. Тогда же у нас шли переговоры с генералом армии
Николаевым, командующим пограничными войсками России, в результате чего
уже в 1992 году была достигнута договорённость о том, что 50%
пограничников в Армении являются представителями ВС РФ, а другие 50% ВС
Армении. Позже, к 1995 году, на переговорах с Павлом Грачёвым была
достигнута договорённость о переброске на аэродром Эребуни
истребительной авиации.
ИА REGNUM: Развивали ли вы военные связи с другими государствами?
За
время моей службы в Армении, кроме формирования ВС, мы также успели
заключить договор с Грецией об обучении там наших офицеров, причём
бесплатно. Также был заключён договор об обучении с Россией, на платной
основе. В итоге, к сегодняшнему дню подавляющее большинство офицеров в
Армении обладают академическим образованием хорошего уровня.
ИА
REGNUM: Почему вы ушли из армянских вооружённых сил? Предлагали ли вам
остаться, занять более высокие должности, например, министра обороны
Армении?
В 1995 году, как было сказано ранее, я написал рапорт
Левону Тер-Петросяну с просьбой уволить меня из ВС, так как, на мой
взгляд, я выполнил свои задачи. Мне предлагали остаться, но я посчитал,
что мой долг выполнен, и я даже отказался от поста министра обороны.
Правда, ещё 8 месяцев я оставался на должности 1-ого замминистра
обороны, для того, чтобы ввести в курс дела нового министра обороны —
Сержа Саргсяна, чью кандидатуру я тогда поддержал. И вот, к концу 1995
года я покинул Армению, и покинул с чистой совестью. Кстати, и.о.
министра обороны я всё же некоторое время исполнял — в 1993 году, когда
Вазген Саркисян покинул свой пост и был назначен государственным
министром, а новый министр Вазген Манукян ещё не занял свой пост. Вазген
Манукян — тоже оказался очень порядочным, разумным человеком, большим
патриотом, который внёс свою лепту в победу нашей армии. Я считаю, что мне очень повезло, что для выполнения вышеуказанных
задач выбрали именно меня, и я горжусь тем, что так произошло. Что меня
окружали Патриоты Родины и своим поведением они и меня превратили в
мощного патриота армянского народа и Армении с Арцахом. Спасибо Левону
Тер-Петросяну, Вазгену Саркисяну, Вазгену Манукяну, Гагику Арутюняну,
Гургену Далибалтаяну, генералу Андриасяну, президентам сегодняшней
Армении и НКР, — героическим патриотам Страны. Офицерам, солдатам,
служащим, фидаинам — в лице Манвела Григоряна и народа армянского — за
то, что в ту трудную минуту мы все создали единый кулак и в единстве
вышли победителями в этой войне. Так надо действовать и сейчас, чтобы
наши государства процветали, и чтобы армяне, живущие на чужбине
возвращались на Родину. И царство небесное тем, кто жизнью своей защитил
мой народ и страну от агрессоров.
Честь имею!
Regarding the little known Russian involvement during Armenia's 1918 war of liberation:
Shoulder to Shoulder in Armenia during May 1918
By Hrant Sarkisov
May
26, 1918 marked a New Era for the Armenian people, era of
Independence after more than five hundred years of subservient stateless
existence. That day, the day of Battle of Sardarapat is the real
Independence Day for Armenians. Therefore for us the words INDEPENDENCE
and SARDARAPAT are nearly synonymous. Sardarapat is a small spot on
the map of Armenia, spot that would have remained unnoticed if it
hadn't become the symbol of the great victory, symbol of the glorious
hour for Armenian nation, turning point in the modern Armenian
history when we proved that we regain our capability to fight and win
the battle. Sardarapat, village called in the name of wall built by
the governor of a Persian province. Sardarapat… Sa – Ardar – Pat.
This is a fair wall. So it sounds in translation from Armenian into
English. Probably it was not just a coincidence that this battle took
place exactly here. There is truth in it. Here people rose as a wall
in the name of eternal truth, the freedom, in the name of life and
independence. People remember their heroes. People remember everyone
who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Armenians not sparing their
life in the name of truth, and brotherhood. Speaking about Sardarapat
let us first look at the theatre of operations where the miracle of
Sardarapat became possible.
During the first world war Russia waged successful military campaign against Turkey on the Caucasian front. Before ceasefire concluded in December of 1916 many cities of Western Armenia, such as Van, Sarikamish, Erzerum, Trapizond, Artvin, Bayazet were liberated. A little more and the Turks would have surrendered. But the destiny disposed differently. After the October revolution bolsheviks who came to power signed the Brest-Litovsk separate treaty with Triple Alliance states according to which the Russian armies were withdrawn from Caucasus. Territories liberated by the Russian army were to be given back to Turkey.
Withdrawal of Russian troops from the Caucasian front (because of revolution more resembling exodus) began in December of 1917. That was putting Armenians in terrible situation when extended frontline got defenceless. The Armenian army corps had been urgently formed with the active assistance and participation of Russian officers and soldiers. Many of them stayed in Armenia helping to defend the country. For example, during the period of Erzinjan fights and the battle of Erzerum the command over the first Armenian infantry brigade was carried out by Russian army colonel Morel.
Despite the intense fights in the Western Armenia between Armenian forces and Turkish army Turks were rapidly advancing. Erzinjan fell on February 12, then followed Baiburt, and Erzerum. On February 24 Turks occupied Trapizond and Mamakhatun. The threat of Turkish invasion in Transcaucasia, beyond the line agreed in Brest-Litovsk Treaty, became very real. At that time Chicherin, Minister of foreign affairs of Russia, sent a telegram addressed to the German ambassador in Tiflis of the following content: "The Turkish army is advancing towards Batum, Kars, Ardahan, ravaging and killing the civilians. The responsibility for the further destiny of the Armenians is assigned to Germany, for the Russian armies were withdrawn from the Armenian areas at Germany's request. Now constraining the Turkish armies from usual excesses is up to Germany."
Policies of Transcaucasian Federation's government resulted in loss of Kars. The chairman of Transcaucasian Federative Democratic Republic's government Mr. Chkhenkeli ordered Lieutenant-General Nazarbekov, commander of the Armenian corps, hand over the city to the Turks without fight for all that the general himself was categorically against that decision as his armies had a real opportunity to repel Turks' attack and to keep Kars fortress area for more than a month. The objections of the commander of the corps were rejected, and the city and the fortress of Kars that had all resources to stand against the enemy at least for a month was given up with almost no resistance.
Then Turks occupied Alexandropol (Gyumri), and were advancing their large forces towards Karakilis and Erivan (Yerevan). The historical battle took place in the environs of Sardarapat, on the approaches to Erivan, where the Turks were stopped and defeated. The Russians, Greeks, Yezidis fought together with Armenians. The hastily formed First special horse regiment under the command of Sergeant-Major Zolotarev fought with a special courage. (In Cossack formations the rank of sergeant-major was equal to the rank of lieutenant-colonel). A famous Soviet commander Marshal Baghramian fought under Zolotarev's command who made Baghramian non-commissioned officer in the first squadron of the regiment. "He was an efficient, exigent and skilled commander", the marshal would write later about Zolotarev in his memoirs.
Under his command in the battle of Sardarapat the regiment successfully attacked the Turks from the limits of the Kerpalu (Arshaluis) and Kerdukli (Armavir) villages, and destroying Turkish detachments advanced to the Kamishlu (Eghegnut) railway station and liberated the village and Sardarapat railway station. Partisan infantry regiment that consisted of the Cossacks and Armenians under the command of Colonel Perekrestov distinguished in the battle of Sardarapat. The Cossacks caught the Turks by surprise suddenly appearing before them. Captain Shneur was appointed the Chief of staff of Sardarapat detachment. Together with the commander of detachment, General Daniel Bek-Pirumov, he directly participated in the battle.
One of the heroes of the campaign was General Movses Silikov, cadre general of tsarist army, and commander in chief of the Erivan group of the Armenian forces. Besides concentrating the main forces of the group in Sardarapat detachment he properly deployed them and ensured success of the whole campaign. Silikov, udin by origin, appealed to the Armenian nation calling all men and women to stand up for protection of their country. Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Baghramian in his memoirs wrote about Silikov: "I can not pass over in silence the outstanding merits of Major-General Silikov in routing Turks in the environs of Sardarapat in the spring of 1918. I am strongly convinced that Silikov was the most gifted commander among the Armenian generals of that time. As other generals and the majority of senior Armenian officers, he did not know the Armenian language, and had no sufficient notion of the people, its fighting traditions and specific traits of the personnel in national army." Thanks to General Silikov the Sardarapat operation was carried out successfully.
Three hundred yezid horsemen led by Jahangir agha also contributed to the victory, as did two squadrons of Russians who participated in the battle of Sardarapat under the command of Zemliak. Captain Bort headed the Armenian detached shock regiment created in Alexandropol. General Baratov, Lieutenant-Colonels Spitsin, Kafiev, Efremovich, Khmelnitskiy, Khelminskiy, Kablitskiy, artilleryman Ensign Klich, Captain Sakellary and many other Russian officers also participated in the battle of Sardarapat. Groups of volunteers were formed not only in Armenia, but also in Russia. A regiment of 500-600 bayonets under the command of Colonel Samartsev, part of Andranik's division operating on Karakilis line, was sent to Khnus front.
Among those who arrived from Russia to fight against Turkish aggressors, there was also Siberian Armenian company. In March, 1918 in Tiflis Andranik took command over the company which later became a part of the Armenian detached shock regiment. Three brilliant Russian officers were among the staff of the company. Lieutenant Kolmakov, one of its commanders, wrote in detail about this company in the series of articles titled the "Historical Armenian company." Articles were published in 1919 in several issues of "Nashe Vremia" Baku newspaper. "It was a company of 210 Armenian prisoners of war, - writes Kolmakov,- voluntarily surrendered to us in fights with Turks and for unknown reasons evacuated by our government to Siberia, as if in gratitude for their sympathies to Russia." Kolmakov, a Russian patriot fond of the Armenian people and appreciating its fidelity to Russia voluntarily joined the company and arriving in Tiflis joined the formed regiment. Later he joined Andranik's detachment.
Kolmakov participated in many battles, he was fighting side by side with Andranik. He wrote: "Andranik's detachment was encircled, Turks had captured the railway station. It was extremely dangerous situation but someone had to stop Turkish attack and ensure the evacuation of civilians from Kazanchi, Shnshtap, Chiftali, Guyullibulakh and other villages where fierce fights were going. Andranik himself on a lathery horse headed the fight with a naked sabre. Having slightly reined in the horse, the general commanded: "Forward! Follow me! Hurrah!" And he galloped forward fearless as always. We followed him. The Turks rained bullets and shells, but that could not stop us: Andranik was with us. There was Turkish cavalry. It couldn't endure our raid and ran away in panic. Turks were defeated. But Andranik didn't pursue them for a horde of Turks still approached us both from the front and flanks. He ordered all villages to evacuate for our group of three thousand fighters had to occupy a part of the front several thousand versts wide".
The days of the battle of Sardarapat, Andranik's division took up the main thrust of the Turkish army protecting a part of Karakilis-Tiflis road. He held the forces of Vekhib pasha who was intending to transfer the forces to Sardarapat. The Armenian army had to repulse also newly formed Azerbaijan Republic attacks that hankered after the Armenian lands. It is necessary to note here the outstanding role of General Denikin. Azerbaijan and Georgia on June 16, 1919 concluded a treaty against Denikin's Voluntary army and Armenia. In reply Denikin concluded a secret military pact with Armenia. The Republic of Armenia with its forces formed the 7th corps of Denikin's army. On September 9, 1919 Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the South of Russia issued an order: "In view of hostile attitude of the Azerbaijan authorities to the Russian army and in view of perfidious encroachment of the Azerbaijan armies upon Armenia's lands I command all officers of the Russian service in the Azerbaijan Army to leave the ranks of that army."
In 1919 Armenia was supported practically only by the Voluntary army. Denikin sent to Erivan some arms from his poor stocks. The hope for restoration of united Russia didn't abandon the Armenians and the Dashnak government did its best to help Denikin's army. After gaining independence Armenia didn't receive the expected support from England, thus the idea of American support came to the fore. President Woodrow Wilson promised to help but the Senate counted up the possible expenses and decided that supporting Armenia would cost American tax-payers 151,2 mln pounds within 5 years. That was too costly, and in reply to Wilson's appeal to their humanism the senators answered: "We don't want to get involved in European affairs even for humanitarian reasons".
In 1920 after the defeat of the main forces of Denikin Army Armenia again remained face to face with the Turks. The indifference of the Entente states to the destiny of Armenia amazed Russian emigres. "Even Bolshevik Russia is a better protection for Armenia than their official patrons from the Entente", wrote Miliukov. History repeats and teaches us time and again. At the beginning of the century we were unable to reap the fruits of our victory. The events of 1917-1920 should make many our politicians look on current events with a different perspective. Similarities are striking. Those who fought and shed their blood for the Armenian independence forever will remain in the memories and the hearts of grateful Armenians. From generation to generation their names will exemplify the heroism, humanism, true brotherhood, and genuine internationalism.
Source: http://armenia.ru/
Israel Ori
Israel Ori: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Ori
Hovsep Emin
Hovsep Emin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Emin
Mkhitar Sparapet
Mkhitar Sparapet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mkhitar_Sparapet
Davit Bek
Davit Bek: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bek
Hovsep Emin
Hovsep Emin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Emin
Mkhitar Sparapet
Mkhitar Sparapet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mkhitar_Sparapet
Davit Bek
Valerian Madatov
Valerian Madatov: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerian_Madatov
Mikhail Loris-Melikov
Valerian Madatov: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerian_Madatov
Mikhail Loris-Melikov
Mikhail Loris-Melikov: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Loris-Melikov
Ivan Aivazovsky
Ivan Ayvazovsky: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Aivazovsky
Khachatur Abovyan
Khachatur Abovyan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khachatur_Abovian
Orbeli Brothers
Joseph Orbeli: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Orbeli
Levon Orbeli: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Orbeli
Orbelian Dynasty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbelian_Dynasty
Artyom Alikhanian: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artyom_AlikhanianAbraham Alikhanian: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Alikhanov
Gevork Vartanian
Gevork Vartanian: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gevork_Vartanian
Marshal Ivan Baghramyan
Marshal Ivan Baghramyan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hovhannes_Bagramyan
Aram Khachaturyan
Aram Khachaturyan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aram_Khachaturian
Victor Hambartsumyan
Victor Hambartsuamyan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Ambartsumian
Artem Mikoyan
Artem Mikoyan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artem_Mikoyan
Anastas Mikoyan
Anastas Mikoyan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastas_Mikoyan
Arthur Chilingarov
Arthur Chilingarov:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artur_Chilingarov
Sergei Lavrov
Sergei Lavrov: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Lavrov
Margarita Simonyan
Margarit Simonyan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margarita_Simonyan
I wish you all a very happy Sarikamish.
ReplyDeleteOne thing we know well are the liberal types in their attacks against Putin and all who seek closer relations with Russia, but in Russia's media sphere I have noticed a certain trend of attacking Putin.
ReplyDeleteThe liberal failed, so now the bets are on the "nationalists" to get Putin out of the Kremlin.
I am noticing these people everywhere now. Commenting on youtube, news sites, and popular blogs that cover the events in Novorossia.
Now its "zhid-Putin" (kike-yid for english equivalent) betrayed everybody, has sold Novorossia down the river and so on. Russians in Russia don't have any rights, mongrel immigrants taking over everywhere. So on... and so forth...
Basically, these rats waited for the euphoria after Crimea to settle down, for difficult situation to settle in (ruined infrastructure in the Donbass, lots of people killed, maimed, displaced) and they squek out of every corner.
Given the general "debate" tactics and the terminology they use, I can only assume that is is an organized effort. The liberal types are out, they are hated and they are on the defensive -- so now the "patriots" and "nationalists" take center stage.
They also don't have any solutions. I recently watched an anna-news debate betwwen Strelkov and Boris Mironov (opposition type). Well Mironov was all over the place, Putin is responsible for the ethnic cleansing of Russians in in Chechnya, Putin could have changed the economy for self-reliance but didn't, Putin broke agreements with Ukraine. Everything is Putin's fault.
Strelkov asked, so "what are you proposing? you want to take revenge against the president?" That was left without an answer, for none of Russia's problems did this individual have a solution -- only blaming Putin for every woe as if Putin is the almighty himself.
Same thing with Armenians, whether its the "liberals" or the "nationalists" -- pay attention to reactionary emotional blather, jew-hating and that the ruling elites are all of course, "kikes", arrogance and delusions of grandeur outside the realm of real possibilities.
Russia is a very large. Russia is a multi-ethnic society. Russia can be torn apart via ultra-liberalism. Russia can be torn apart via far-right extremism. Western powers have used the ultra-nationalist types in parallel with ultra-liberal types in Russian society. Isn't Western support for Pussy Riot and Alexei Navalny enough proof of this? Go to an extreme right group website like Stormfront or VNN and look at their Russian section. As far back in time as you can go you will find an army "nationalistic" Russians spewing vitriol against Putin. We have seen more of the liberal types in Russia only because they outnumber the far-right extremists types.
DeleteWhat I am saying is they have both sides covered, and Moscow has an uphill battle.
Closer to home: We have Armenians that directly blame Putin every time a "dark" Armenian gets beaten up or killed in Russia by right wing extremists. We have Armenians that blame Putin because he is liberal enough to allow Russian Muslims to build Mosques. How can Putin ever win? After twenty years of pushing liberal/globalist ideals upon Armenian society, now that Armenia is a full member in the EEU they are beginning appeal to Armenians' nationalistic senses. I suspect this approach will gain momentum in the coming months and years...
Skhara highlights an interesting strategy long used by the west. The Anglo-American-Jewish alliance will use whatever tool is convenient at the moment to strike its enemy, and then discard those tools like a used napkin when the enemy has been defeated (like the Kurds at the end of the first war of aggression against Iraq in the 1990s) or outright abandon those tools when the plan fails (like Georgia in August 2008). Same with liberals and right-wingers. The problem in the case of nationalists is that oftentimes they are impudent, uneducated idiots who can barely see past their own noses, let alone make strategic calculations; hence the "nationalist nutjob" phenomenon that Arevordi has identified. Usually these nationalists are just simpletons who are angry but lack the education/intelligence to place the blame for the poor state of their countries at the responsible parties (almost always the west). Nationalists often also have extremely unrealistic expectations, and dangerously overestimate their own individual and national capabilities (e.g. "Armenians can take on Turkey and Azerbaijan all by ourselves" or "Putin should have just ordered a genocide in Chechnya and militarily occupied all of the former Soviet and Warsaw pact nations")
DeleteAnother manifestation of the west's varied weaponization of nationalism is the way German National Socialism ("Nazism") is framed. According to the west it is the ultimate evil when it appears in Germany (where they were trying to protect Germany from the Marxist threat), but when Baltic or Ukrainian Nazi collaborators/wannabes come up then all of a sudden the west expresses respect and sympathy because they were "trying to protect their countries from the Marxist/Soviet threat". It's because Baltic and Ukrainian "Nazis" fanatically hate Russians more than they are capable of caring about their own nations, while Nazism in Germany would focus the Anglo-American-Jewish occupiers of Germany rather than Putin's Russia. Same with Poland, nationalism is under attack in western Europe and EU vassals like Greece because it threatens their multicultural and mass immigration plans, but welcomed in Poland because Polish nationalists fanatically hate Russians. Same with Georgian nationalists, and to a much lesser degree with certain Armenian nationalists.
And same with the nationalists in Russia, easily manipulatable idiots who think they are doing something noble by gathering in packs of five and stabbing Central Asian or Caucasian migrants on the subway at nighttime, and who believe Putin is destroying the Russian Federation because he is not as extreme as Hitler or Genghis Khan. At the end of the day these idiots are the mirror-image of the gay rights activists and Pussy Riot sluts, too stupid to see the irony of marching shoulder-to-shoulder with pro-western ultraliberal activists against Moscow. Such stupidity deserves no pity, the Kremlin should and will crush these scum.
And of course both Pussy Riot and Alexei Navalny are supporters of Maidan. If anyone remembers the attempted "Maidan" in Moscow on Bolotnoj square where liberals, homos, neo-nazis, feminists, skin-heads, jews, all joined together to scream about how horrible Putin is. A circus freak show is what it was.
DeleteThere is always a button to press with whoever something happens to be important in their own simpleton understanding of the world.
Just recently in Lugansk there was a disturbing killing that took place of a commander of one of the guerila batallions of Lugansk Peoples Republic. Alexander Bednov (call name "Batman"), was killed in an ambush along with 6 of his bodyguards. This has some importance because his group is the only "recon-guerilla" type group that is well know and they put out a lot of videos of decimated armoured columns of their enemy, clearing towns and villages of the enemy, and so on. There was some conflict with the Lugansk authorities, but some mysterious entities just killed Bednov in a mafia-style hit.
So without knowing all the fact, the blogosphere lit up with accusations specifically at Putin -- that it is Putin, Putin's henchmen and so on.
What you describing probably is not that different in Armenia: play both sides against the middle.
DeleteHowever, one could make the case that Russia's problems really come down to having an oligarchical form of capitalism that wants to be Western, or at least offers no difference. Along with that comes the professional class who love all things Western. So what are you fighting and why? Many argue that the Kremlin's strategy for quite some time has been what might be called convergence with the EU. Now that war has been declared, what is the message to give the troops?
Eurasian
Eurasian,
DeleteI agree. Western power lies in its highly addictive pop culture and materialistic life style. The 1990s started a precedence in Russia because the Soviet system had failed miserably and the Western system looked larger than life. As a result, Russia's gates were opened wide to all kinds of Western influences and operatives. By the 2000s, with Putin at the helm, Moscow did its best to come to some form of balance between the Western way and the Russian way. Russia's political/financial/military elite, including Putin and company, would have preferred to enjoy the benefits of both words. This was a flaw in Russia that the West recognized. When it seemed that Putin's Russia was succeeding somewhat in maintaining the equilibrium between east and west, the West decided to pull the run from under Moscow's feet. Now, Moscow is faced with a massive task to redo about twenty five years of damage. The task wont be easy or mess free.
Although Russians do suffer terribly from Westernmania, we Armenians have a worst case of it. What's more, we Armenians do not have our Putin equivalent.
Again, I'd like to remind the reader: If we yearn to speak their language, listen to their music, watch their movies, worship their currency, posses their products, live in their lands, learn in their insinuations and get our news from their sources... how can we ever think of them as our enemies?
This, in a nutshell, is why an American official can get up on a press podium in Washington and start an uprising in a far away country merely by calling for it. In the big picture, it is we the sheeple that give them the Western political system their destructive power.
I hope all of the regulars here had a great New Year's Eve with their friends and families. Thanks for contributing to this blog; it's remarkable what a great medium of change for ideas and knowledge this place has become. And thank you Arevordi for putting in all of the work that you do in order to keep this blog an updated and quality place to learn. I'm looking forward to the Eurasian Union taking off in 2015; in general I think things look promising for Armenia due to the wise policies undertaken earlier during the Kocharyan and Sargsyan presidencies starting to pay dividends, but the world at large is getting tenser and riskier.
ReplyDeleteBelow are various interesting articles. The titles are enough to get the gist of the article in most cases:
Putin: First CSTO humanitarian center will open in Armenia
http://news.am/eng/news/245501.html
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Classified Evidence: US Soldiers Raped Boys In Front Of Their Mothers
http://www.mintpressnews.com/classified-evidence-us-soldiers-raped-boys-in-front-of-their-mothers/200160/
The war-crimes of the self-described world's "policeman" are numerous and disgusting. Yet Paruhi Hayrikyan and other opposition traitors regurgitate ad nauseum every word of criticism which American diplomats and -controlled media have to say about our Հայրենիք or our allies like Russia, Iran, or Bashar Assad.
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Russians Rage Against America
http://observer.com/2014/12/russians-rage-against-america/
Frankly I'd be shocked if "only" "75% of Russians do not believe that their country is responsible for the events in Ukraine". Is a quarter of Russia's population retarded?
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Abe Foxman's son marries partner in same-sex wedding
http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.634396
I'm glad to see this piece of trash's family being afflicted with the poison he and his kind have been spreading to their host nation for years. Like all parasites, in the end these people are self-destructive.
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Ted Cruz is billed as a Passover vacation attraction
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/ted-cruz-is-billed-as-a-passover-vacation-attraction-113870.html
Cruz and his fellow Israel-worshippers are devoid of even an iota of dignity. If this is the quality of politician that American-level economic success, free media, and democracy result in the more rational segments of the democracy now(!) activists in Armenia and the diaspora have some serious soul-searching to do regarding the type of system they want for Armenia.
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Ukraine in ‘full-blown financial crisis’ – National Bank head
http://rt.com/business/218735-ukraine-crisis-central-bank/
Gazprom confirms Ukraine settled $1.65bn gas debt
http://rt.com/business/217247-ukraine-pays-debt-russia/
Idiots, they could have been a founding member of the Eurasian Union, had large amounts of their debt forgiven, maintained sovereignty over Crimea and Novorossiya, and gotten the same energy they are paying for now at a discount minus all of the terrible death and destruction.
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Սերժ Սարգսյանն ու Ռոբերտ Քոչարյանը քննարկել են ՀՀ նախագահի թեկնածուի հարցը․ «ՀԺ»
http://www.epress.am/2014/12/24/%D5%BD%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%AA-%D5%BD%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A3%D5%BD%D5%B5%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%B6-%D5%B8%D6%82-%D5%BC%D5%B8%D5%A2%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%BF-%D6%84%D5%B8%D5%B9%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%B5%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%A8-%D6%84%D5%B6.html
I don't know how reliable this is, but it says President Sargsyan and former President Sargsyan have discussed Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian as a potential candidate for the next president.
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Armenia Claims To Have Retaliated Against Azerbaijan For Helicopter Shootdown
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/71466
No official details from either Armenia or Azerbaijan.
Thank you for your indispensable participation here, Sarkis.
DeleteI got a kick out of watching this "debate":
ReplyDeletehttp://news.yahoo.com/video/report-white-house-working-outreach-204942640.html
If you want to see the definition of banality -- there it is! The banality of the anglo world media establishment.
That was a pretty humurous article "Russians rage against America". The "Pindos" part -- that term has spread like a wildfire all across the post-Soviet space and is pretty much the coloquial expression when referring to Americans. Un-official Russian conversations don't use the term "Americans" any more. Its pindossy. Apparently the Russian peacekeeping troops in Bosnia and Hercegovina picked up the term as this is how the Croats and the Serbs referred to the Americans. Russians decided that the term described perfectly the "armed to the teeth but 'cowardly' " American forces.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a comment on liking all things "western". Indeed, when in Rostov I observed the things you would typically see in sheeple behavior in the US. I was at a 'mall-type' facility with a "food-court" and saw women with their kids sitting there and chowing down on the poison like fried chicken and french fries. Kvas is a fantastic drink and certainly cutting out coca-cola for Kvas would be a win for Russia's economy and for the health of the public -- it is a drink that balances PH, electrolytes, packed with vitamins and minerals, quenches thirst and hits the spot when you feel hunger. So yes Putin, get rid of Coca-cola and promote Kvas.
I agree, and it's not just Coke that should be shunned in favor of national alternatives. I'd like to Russian airlines start using Russian civilian aircraft again for medium and long haul flights. It is wrong that Russia should be dependent and held hostage to Airbus and Boeing when Russia is a space-faring nation - look at the damage western sanction against aircraft parts did to Iran's air safety record. Additionally, Russians should ditch Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo in favor of domestic companies like Yandex, Mail.ru, Kaspersky, and others who have their servers and data centers in Russian territory. It's a sad fact that any project affiliated with western partners will be compromised ideologically, as is the case in the Russian-edition of Wikipedia.
DeleteThere are other technological areas where Russia should divorce itself from western companies, like cell phones and tablets. Instead of paying premium prices to US-based companies like Apple, and indirectly funding Washington in the process, for backdoor-laden devices, Russians could look to domestic start-ups (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/business/international/russias-first-smartphone-goes-on-sale.html) or to Asian alternatives (https://www.techinasia.com/2013-list-new-asian-homegrown-smartphone-brands/). Of course it would be even better to see made-in-Russia microchips and operating systems used in these products because Windows, OSX/iOS, Android, and various Linux distributions are almost certainly compromised.
And of course there are social areas as well, the most obvious of which would be ignoring Hollywood's movies (which almost always inserts some stereotypical negative image of Russia in its films) for domestic cinema. In this regard, both Russia and Armenia need to force its domestic producers to stop copying American pop culture and actually create worthwhile alternatives which educate and uplift the local populations - I'm targeting Armenia's "crime drama" shit specifically for criticism. Fortunately there are also bright spots, like the WWI documentary Svediatsi found, RT, the Armenian Njteh film and others. But focusing on educational/documentary mass media is not enough, because it's the mass media of entertainment which most people start to imitate and get their social norms and values from.
ps apart from Pindos, I don't understand why Russians don't openly call the Europeans and Americans faggots and pussies in general conversations. If I was Russian, I'd laugh at every European and American male I came across and constantly point out that they have become so feminized, castrated and flabby under "freedom and democracy" that their women have to turn to third world immigrants or lesbianism to experience satisfaction. It's only right because western Europeans are so quick to insult Russia/Putin, but better Russia's "undemocratic and intolerant society" than the sick, dying nightmares that western European societies have become. Those pathetic losers in Europe deserve every kind of insult after the servileness they have demonstrated to the US over the past decade on every issue of significance.
Skhara,
DeleteFrom what I recall, you had first gone to Armenia as a child fleeing the pogroms in Baku. You then lived in Russia for some time. Currently, you reside in the US. Your biography makes your take on political matters very valuable, in my opinion. So please share your overall impressions/observations from your trip to the region.
And probably buckwheat for breakfast instead of corn flakes. I have from credible source that it worked well in keeping in check symptoms of Parkinson's disease and depression (due to the high content in dopamine).
DeleteRomAn
@Sarkis -- I generally agree with you, but concerning the tech and computer stuff -- Russia does have the know how for domestic, I was convinced of that myself, but the problem is global standardization. It makes it difficult for both Russian systems integrators and end users of systems if they go their own. It would take a long time to work the global market or to make these systems so similar to their competitors in the west, that users can switch from one to other without missing a beat. Its not just microsoft type stuff. I work in Controls Engineering, and Russia mostly makes use of German systems, and North American based Rockwell. There are a lot of cheap Chinese automation systems, but even the Chinese developed their state of the art high speed rail system based on the Siemens controls platform. The other problem right now that Russia has is that that unlike the empire of west with a billion people, that can provide the labor to develop and maintain these systems, Russia critically lacks the worker force and the skilled cadres to execute. After Yeltsin's "capitalism" took, there is a whole generation of young people who's were educated in the wrong professions when it comes to developing systems and infrastructure. I've communicated with some people who went to school in the 90s and 2000s in Russia and Ukraine, and their professions are mostly: financials, managers, laywers, paralegals, marketers... That brings up a question: where are the system's designers, the egineers, the factory equipment operators, the electricians, the mechanics? I looked into what my peers in Russia tend to make, and found that these are very smart people, very capable, but make anywhere from 4 to 6 times less than I do. In Rostov, a controls engineer makes a month as much as a cop. Kind of a bunch of crap if you ask me for people to go through difficult and stressful schooling and they continue to work in a very challenging field, but get paid the same as a cop. There is of coarse still a problem of a lot of low-level type corruption, obviously Putin is not one who could deal with it, there is just too much of it on the lower echelons.
Delete@Arevordi:
Yes that's right. Family fled Baku in 1989. Some things I remeber was a major shock, shake-up after the Sumgait events, deployment of the army and military police who patrolled on practically all bus stops, subways, and major prospects. The city we stayed at in Armenia was Hrazdan. On my trip just recently, we stayed with relatives at that exact same apartment which was a little surreal to me. I remember everything being much larger than it really is- (but I was small then, so I suppose things looked bigger). Was stricken by obvious signs of poverty. 1989 this was still the Soviet Union, but today I saw a lot broken roads as well as private mansions (no such mansions existed in 1989). One impression I got was that even in the small and landlocked Armenia, there is potential -- but I feel that potential can be realized with downright despotism (enlightened despotism). Took a trip to Stepanakirt from Hrazdan (have some friends there) - had some fresh blackberries on the way and was a little bit disturbed by how much organic blackberries cost in a supermarket in the US, and in eastern Armenia and Artsakh they are snacks for cows. Plenty of agriculture in Armenia, where a sound economic policy could make Armenia an exporter of all those berries, plums, pears, lamb meat, cow meat, and milk products to Russia. So I have some hope at least that these projects can start to make way over the years in the Eurasian Union.
We need to remind ourselves that Europe is a continent under American-Judaic occupation. Europe and its vassal states are not sovereign; therefore their populations are most likely to be eviscerated, faggotized, deracinated ,debauched, etc. It is not their fault, a vanquished nation, a vanquished continent ends up the way it is now. Furthermore the occupation powers are exerting sophisticated leading edge technologies and boring their indoctrinating techniques on fraudulent and pseudoscientific theories to back up and incrust spurrious dogmas on a vanquished and headless populace. I was listening to an interview by Nune with the premier of the "Western Armenian territories". The man's lofty dissertation came unstuck when in a moment of self exhilaration he postulated that citizenship of Western Armenian is open to "all". One does not have to be Armenian or descended from Armenia. If that is the case I would like to remind the gentleman that he can collect numerous applications for citizenship from the continent of africa, without much effort. If the gentlemen thinks that an IC of Justice will redeeem those territories on account of the " number of citizens" these virtual teritories have, good luck to him. Hypothetically speaking he can easily amass 5m new citizens from Zimbabwe, who gladly will apply for citizenship in exchange for a corn on the cob. This is a tragicomedy. Also what is preventing Turks from applying for his WesternAm citizenship , if it is open to all ?. It is game , set ,and match; turks become citizens of WA ( the gentlemen made it abundantly clear that they can not discriminate on grounds of religion, race, or political affiliation for the granting of citizenship, based on the human rights doctrine espoused by the UN.) and the gentleman can go and make his claims to Nazeritin Hodja. Once you apply the insensate ruling of No discrimination, you have had it, because you are applying discrimination not against others but against your own people.
ReplyDeleteI thank Arevordi for posting about Sarikamish every year. Many Armenians are clueless about this very significant battle. I was one of them until I found this blog.
ReplyDeleteAs the blog mentions, Armenian culture (as well as scientific fields) has flourished during Imperial Russia and post-WW2 Soviet Armenia. Armenia and Armenians need access to many resources in order to exert their talents. In order to acquire those resources we either have to control huge chunks of lands (become a superpower) or become allied to a superpower and be part of an economic-military union (EEU-CSTO). There is no other way for Armenia, or any other small nation, to prosper.
Every country is part, or is trying to become a part of a regional economic union. The Europeans have one, the North Americans have one, the Latin Americans have one, the Africans have one, the East Asian countries have one, why shouldn't the Eurasian countries not have one?! Why should Russia be blamed for creating an economic union, and why should Armenia be blamed for joining it?! To those who claim that Armenia should have chosen the EU, it's safe to tell them good luck convincing turkey, France, Britain and the rest to guarantee Armenia's and Artsakh's territorial integrity, to give us affordable energy and weapons, to help preserve our culture without invading and assimilating it with turkish/western garbage.
Coming back to Sarikamish and to the Armenian volunteer corps. This may be one of the few periods in recent history where Armenians actually took the right decision and prepared warriors. But I would like to give the readers a small historical context on what could have happened had the following not occurred:
I suppose most of you know a famous Armenian fedayi called Hrayr Tjokhk. What we know about him is mainly his guerilla wars against the turks and his martyrdom at the well-known battle of Surp Garabed church in Mush. Hray Tjokhk had a different plan. Instead of starting to fight the turks with only a handful of fedayi groups and hiding the mountains of Western Armenia, the ARF should focus on educating the people, the villagers and make them understand that the only way to liberation is through armed struggle. Hrayr Tjokhk basically suggested the party to wait for now, get the backing of the people, and only then organize a big liberation campaign. It is well-known that when an army, or an armed group, has the people on its side, victory and better results are more guaranteed.
The party at the time did not agree. It is also said that General Andranik was so mad that he slapped Hrayr Tjokhk for what he said. General Andranik was the complete opposite of Hrayr Tjokhk. The former is a mad-man fighter (equivalent to today's Jirayr Sefilian) while the latter was a strategist/diplomat (equivalent to Komandos Ter-Tadevosyan).
I shared this small piece of information in order to show how much potential Armenians had, and, if planned carefully, not only would the Armenians had organized more successful guerilla wars, but that also would have encouraged Russia to back us directly or indirectly.
Anyways, enough of the could have, should have, would haves. Let us know our mistakes of the past, as painful as they are, and stop repeating them.
You are welcome, enker,
DeleteI couldn't agree with you more on your comments. General Andranik is in many ways a symbol of our pride as well as symbol of our flaws. We need nationalistic leaders with a clear world view and a clear understanding our people's abilities - as well as our people's disabilities. We need pragmatic leaders with a healthy understanding of international relations and history. We need opportunistic leader that are ready to exploit a superpower like Russia for Armenia benefit. Sadly, we have not produced many such leaders. Today, what we have are low quality officials that sit back and allow Russians to run the entire show and Western-backed mercenaries that are doing their best to turn Armenia into Turkish brothel. The past one thousand years has bred us into being self-hating peasants and petty merchants.
PS: I agree with you in a larger context. But please don't compare a nutjob like Jirayr Sefilian with a highly regarded general like Andranik. Although I have some fundamental problems with the general's character, Jirayr is not worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF5BU9t3ans
ReplyDeleteMilitary culture and Russians go together like hand and gloves.
Greetings to Armenian friends. Constantinople will be a Christian city again one day.
Arevordi,
ReplyDeleteI agree with EVERY statement that you made. Keep up the great work! If only one in a thousand of our sheeple would care and read your work, Armenia could become truly independent. As it is, I'm afraid it's only a dream.
Cheers
Many good things have started with a dream...
DeleteSome videos of European media debates about Russia and Putin
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BimDAGGfPh8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB2H0BHLAEE&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF4a8s_LLII
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glIEvFHe34Y
@Skhara
ReplyDeleteI think it does not make sense for Russia to focus on electronics/tablets etc.
It is more efficient to just buy them from China, that's what the Russian-Chinese deal is about, get hard currency and chinese commodities. Russian engineers and designers better focus on cutting edge military research and production. Good muscles is key to a nation's stability.
Production can take place in India and China. I would also like to see Armenia as center of hi-tech military research, we have brain muscles.
@RomanianAnonymous
Excellent tip on Buckwheat (it is gluten free which makes it much more easy to digest than corn or other grains likewheat). I usually soak them overnight,in the morning I just put the buckwheat in a blender with some honey, apple, berries or whatever flavor, very tasty and rich in nutrients.
Happy New Year to everyone. Remember, individual health is the foundation for our nation.
Doctors take care of sick people, healthy people are taken care of by Nature.
This is a video of a Russian festival. At minute 2:55 there is one Armenian who is famous in Russian circles for his healthy age (95 years old) and his diet (eating only raw food)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RWHfeNMlJA
PS: This is the best political blog out there and most comments are of super high intellectual caliber, that makes it hard for common people to interact seeing such well informed discussion. When we have such calibers, it is normal that trolls and shills will stay away, like vampires in the light :) keep it up
Aroutin
I agree with you Aroutin. While I agree with Skhara and others here that Russia needs to do all it can to develop "gadgets" domestically, people don't realize just how difficult it is to start such an industry - and make it competitive. Profit, after all, is still the name of the game. I also think Russia needs to primarily concentrate on exploiting its natural resources, developing its heavy industry and make sure it maintains its procurement of cutting-edge military technology.
DeletePS: Hippocrates's words "let food be your medicine and medicine be your food" rings truer now than ever before...
@Anon, re:Buckwheat,
DeleteThank you, glad to be of service. Another tip, seeds of buckwheat applied on accupressure points in Sujok therapy.
Just finished reading the commentary, it has become a very important tradition to wish us all Happy Sarikamish. In this day and age when anti-russian hysteria is becoming the norm and our own traitors are ready to blame Russia for everything bad happening in the country it is more than ever important to poke them in the eye and remind them that if no Russians there would have not been Armenia today. Basically by the end of 18th century what remained from once powerful Armenia was half islamized regions on the last breath. If Russians haven't decided to come south fight Turks and Persians and in the process revive Armenian spirit I highly doubt that anything would have left of us by the end of 19th century. Armenian life as an independent national cultural, scientific, economic or political was almost non-existent in 17-18th centuries. What do we have to show for those time periods? We were dying as a nation and we can't thank enough Russians for making a decision to look South even for their own geopolitical reasons. But today Russians are not even asking for that, they want to be respected for the deeds they did, many Russians died in Armenian lands. I have no words to describe people who call themselves Armenian and are full time Russophobes. Unthankful bustards, what mother gave birth to such a parasite? Probably turkish.
ReplyDeleteAs I have always said, had Ivan not come down to the south Caucasus some two hundred years ago, Armenians today would be living lives not very much unlike Yezdis of the Middle East. Had Ivan not come down to the south Caucasus our Russophobes today would be herding goats or making donkey saddles somewhere in eastern Turkey or norther Iran.
DeleteAlthough many "proud" Armenians are not emotionally mature enough or intellectually honest enough to realize it, it has been the Russian that helped us Armenians to rediscover our identity and our dignity. It is the Russian that has given us the opportunity to develop our God given talents. It is the Russian that created the right sociopolitical conditions in the south Caucasus for an Armenian state to exist. It is the Russian that provided the security umbrella under which Armenians used to turn a desert into a modern republic. It is the Russian that is continuing to provide Armenia with a lifeline.
It does not matter why the Russians do it. What matters is that they did it and they are continuing to do it. Instead of fear mongering about the growth of Russian influence inside Armenia we should be rejoicing. We should be using our close friendship with the Bear as an opportunity to strengthen Armenia. Instead, many of us are playing with Armenia's very existence with our pursuit of silly fantasies, similar to as self-destructive peasantry trying to burn down their village to save it from monster that only exist in their minds.
If Bear ever took its attention away from the south Caucasus one day (as it happened back in 1917) the Wolf will devour Armenia the very next day - and not even a million of our big talking nationalist nutjobs will be able to save her. I am astonished at how little Armenians have understood from history. I am astonished at how politically illiterate we continue to be. And I am actually frightened at how powerful many of us think we Armenians are. Reminds of the cat that looked in the mirror and saw a lion. God forbid this cat ever decides to go out into the wild to play with lions...
Real Armenian nationalists understand the Russian factor in the creation of an Armenia in the south Caucasus. Real Armenian nationalists understand the Russian factor in maintaining the Armenian state today. Real Armenian nationalists seek to deepen and strengthen Russian-Armenian relations. Real Armenian nationalists try to use Russia as an opportunity to strengthen Armenia. This is what Armenian nationalism should be about. All those who claim to be nationalist but work to weaken Armenia's ties with Russia are actually enemies of the Armenian state whether they realize it or not. As far as I'm concerned, Russophobes in Armenian society are either mentally disturbed idiots or Western operatives - or a combination of both.
Simply put, an Armenian cannot be a Russophobe and an Armenian nationalist at the same time.
Sadly, going forward, we can all expect to see nationalism get hijacked by Western powers. They will use nationalistic sentiments in Armenian society (e.g. calls for independence, freedom, national dignity, pride, etc) against Armenia's membership in the EEU. We are already seeing the process begin. Preparliament extremists are living proof of what I am talking about.
Thank you for reading, TK. I genuinely appreciate your input.
@Arevordi,
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding us some essential facts. The situation that obtained on the Caucasus front in 1916 does not suggest that Russia, despite her reverses, was far from being defeated. Even on the eastern front 1916 was a year of successes (the Brusilov offensive regained much of the ground lost in previous years, the tactics and equipment of Russian Army improved).
The successes in the Caucasus could not have been viewed with equanimity by the British (who maintained a very duplicitous relation with Russia - it is clear for instance that the Gallipoli campaign was secretly meant to prevent the Russians from occupying Constantinople). The main goal of the War, the elimination of the Tsar, the breaking up of the Russian Empire and the creation of a Jewish state on its ruins in Ukraine, Poland, Baltic, seemed as remote as ever. It was imperative to activate the fifth column inside Russia. Money from the Jewish- American bankers began to rain on the revolutionary agents (Trotsky, Lenin&Co). Less known was the contribution of the British "Allies" :
"Trotsky in his book My Life tells of a British financier, who in 1907 gave him a "large loan" to be repaid after the overthrow of the Tsar. Arsene de Goulevitch, who witnessed the Bolshevik Revolution firsthand, has identified both the name of the financier and the amount of the loan. "In private interviews", he said, "I have been told that over 21 million rubles were spent by Lord [Alfred] Milner * in financing the Russian Revolution... The financier just mentioned was by no means alone among the British to support the Russian revolution with large financial donations." Another name specifically mentioned by de Goulevitch was that of Sir George Buchanan, the British Ambassador to Russia at the time. (See Arsene de Goulevitch: Czarism and Revolution, published by Omni Publications in Hawthorne, California, no date; rpt. from 1962 French edition, pp. 224, 230) ...
In Russia prior to and during the revolution there were many local observers, tourists and newsmen, who reported, that British and American agents were everywhere, particularly in Petrograd, providing money for insurrection. On report said, for example, that British agents were seen handing out 25-rouble notes to the men at the Pavlovski regiment just a few hours, before it mutinied against its officers and sided with the revolution. The subsequent publication of various memoirs and documents made it clear, that this funding was provided by Milner and channeled through Sir George Buchanan, who was the British Ambassador to Russia at the time. (See de Goulevitch, p. 230) It was a repeat of the ploy, that had worked so well for the cabal many times in the past. Round Table members were once again working both sides of the conflict to weaken and topple a target government. Tsar Nicholas had every reason to believe, that since the British were Russia's allies in the war against Germany, British officials would be the last persons on Earth to conspire against him. Yet the British Ambassador himself represented the hidden group, which was financing the regime's downfall". ("He had developed a strong bond with the Tsar, Nicholas II, and attempted to convince the Tsar that granting some constitutional reform would stave-off revolution" - in today parlance 'regime change'- in other words blackmail)
The assassination of Rasputin (by the British Secret Intelligence Service) was the signal for the start of the troubles.
*Alfred Milner (of the Round Table of Cecil Rhodes) was a member of the five-person War Cabinet of Lloyd George and in January 1917 led the British delegation (with Henry Wilson as chief military representative and including a banker and two munitions experts) on the mission to Russia to "boost the morale". Incidentally Milner was also a chief author of the Balfour Declaration of 1917 although it was issued in the name of Arthur Balfour!
RomAn
RomAn,
DeleteThank you for the provided information. You made a very interesting point regarding the British landing at Gallipoli. Is it your personal opinion or have you seen/heard it expressed elsewhere? It certainly makes sense. The Anglo-American-Jews world order (i.e. Western alliance) has always been duplicitous towards Russia even during times when they have needed Russia as an ally. I don't know if you have had a chance to see it yet but I have some valuable information in this four years old commentary about the role of Jews in Bolshevism -
Stalin's Murderous Jews & the Bolshevik Revolution (July, 2010): http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/2010/11/im-glad-that-gruesome-story-of-katyn.html
@Is it your personal opinion or have you seen/heard it expressed elsewhere? (Gallipoli)
DeleteLet's say that it became my personal opinion after I've seen it expressed elsewhere!
The source is a "forgotten" book published for the first time in 1938, but which had numerous reprints (I mentioned it in other posts), to which I returned recently, in the context of the renewed accusations that Russia actually is the real culprit for starting WWI because of her imperialistic ambitions (among which the occupation of Constantinople):
BREST-LITOVSK. The forgotten peace. March 1918, by J. W. Wheeler-
Bennet.
I will give you the exact quotation (p. 6-8):
"The desire for peace manifested itself even earlier in
certain higher Government and Court circles. On September
10, 1914, Count Witte, recently returned from France,
expressed to Maurice Paleologue, the French Ambassador,
his conviction that the wisest course for Russia was to
"liquidate this stupid adventure as soon as possible ",
since a victory for the Allies would mean the triumph of
democracy and the proclamation of republics throughout
Central Europe. " That means the simultaneous end of
Tsarism. I prefer to remain silent as to what we may expect
on the hypothesis of our defeat." 2 This attitude was
shared by the ultra-conservatives of " The Union of the
Russian People " (the organization of the Black Hundreds)
and the pro-German element about the Court.
Thus, by the beginning of 1915, the Tsar was faced
from all sides with a growing desire for peace : from the
Left because of sheer war-weariness and an increasing was still possible. A dynastic peace was urged upon the Tsar for the preservation of the autocratic principle The
problem of peace had become dominant in Russia.
Nicholas II was himself loyal to the cause of the Entente, and he had it within his power to renew the war enthusiasm of the masses. A concession to the moderate
elements of the Left and Centre during 1915 or 1916 would
have had the effect of restoring confidence between the
people and the throne ; but the Tsar's besetting sin of
weakness, combined with a lack of confidence in his own
judgement, caused him to listen to the counsel of the ex-
treme Right rather than to that of the would-be reformers.
The result was a series of desultory and unrelated
attempts to negotiate a separate peace with Germany,
carried on through financial and commercial agencies,
through the King of Sweden, and through the Grand Duke
of Hesse, brother of the Tsaritsa. 1 These attempts were
aided and abetted by the German agents who poured into
Russia and sought to foster the cause of peace by play-
ing upon the nervous sensibilities of the Conservatives,
emphasizing the danger of revolution from within and of
the betrayal of Russia by her Allies. Britain, it was alleged,
was planning to deprive Russia of her legitimate spoils
of war by keeping Constantinople for herself and creating
a new Gibraltar at the Dardanelles. France and Japan were
said to have agreed to this move, the latter at the price
of the promise of expansion into Manchuria. This so
disturbed the Russian Government that at the Inter-
Allied Conference at Chantilly, in November 1915, the
Russian representative advised most earnestly the abandon-
ment of the Gallipoli campaign. Moreover, the autumn of
1915 had seen an important step towards a Russo-German
understanding. The Tsar, against his better judgement
and under pressure from the Empress and her circle, removed from the position of Commander-in-Chief the Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolayevitch, whom the German
Crown Prince has described as the chief obstacle to a separate peace, 1 and himself took the supreme command of his armies".
I add another quote from Wheeler-Bennett (pp.18-19):
Delete"In January 1917, when the proximity of the Palace
Revolution was a common conversational topic at the
dinner table of the British Ambassador (Buchanan!) in Petrograd, the
only uncertainty being whether both the Emperor and the
Empress would be killed, or only the latter, Lenin was
dejectedly informing a youth meeting at the Zurich Volkshaus that " we of the older generation may not live to see the decisive battles of this coming revolution ".
Beyond the disciplining of his followers in their doctrinal
wanderings there was no preparation for the great Day ;
no thought had even been given to a possible return to
Russia in the event of revolution. Lenin, in Zurich was as
completely unexpectant of the March Revolution as was
Lord Milner after four weeks sojourn in Petrograd, for, at
the moment when the latter was reporting to his colleagues
in the British Cabinet : " I have formed the opinion that
there is a great deal of exaggeration in the talk about
revolution " l (February 1917), Lenin was writing to his
sister : " Our life goes on as usual, very quietly ... it is still
very cold. . . . News from you comes very slowly."
The days dragged on in weary sameness. Lenin com-
pleted the draft of a book on education which a Swiss
publisher had commissioned. He needed more money. . . .
Suddenly the monotony of the exiles' life was broken.
On the afternoon of March 16, 1917, Krupskaya was wash-
ing the dishes after their frugal meal, as Lenin gathered
the papers into his portfolio preparatory to returning to
the library. There was a sound of hurrying feet upon the
stair ; their friend Bronsky broke, breathless, into the
room, waving the small thin sheets of a special newspaper
edition. " Haven't you heard the news ? " he panted.
" There is Revolution in Russia ! "
" I don't remember how we finished the day ", writes
Krupskaya".
But Lord Milner certainly knew more than Lenin!
Was Milner a Jew or a mason ? The round table was composed by masons and Jews.
ReplyDeleteThe Simon Vratzian and his coterie had diificulties in handling genera andranik. What are your fundamental problems with the Generals character, Arevordi ?. The human being is flawed with imperfections. What matters are his robust and strong traits. I had the honor to meet Simon Vratzian in Buenos Aires in 1964. When questioned about General Andranik , Simon evaded the topic, however Simon was in his eighties by then. The impression he left to his listeners was a mixture of remorse and contrition when the generals name was raised. The general should have rounded up those scholarly intellectuals and take charge himself. History might have turned differently , maybe.
ReplyDeleteAs a general or as a warrior, I recognize Andranik's greatness. However, he was too emotional and politically too naive. According to a biography I read some time ago by a well respect Armenian scholar, there was an episode when General Andranik gathered a military force and moved against Yerevan because of some political dispute. Remember that we are taking about a time when Armenia's barely existed. A time when all had to rally around the flag if Armenia was to be salvaged. Andranik's move was thwarted by General Drastamat Kanayan. Had it not been for Drastamat's negotiating skills there could have been a clash between Andranik's troops and Drastamat's troops. But I guess my biggest disappointing with Andranik was his decision to leave Armenia for sunny California. In other words, when things did not go his way, unlike his colleagues Drastamat and Njdeh, Andranik didn't want to play.
DeletePS: Also, isn't Andranik known for making a comment something to the effect of: "I don't have a nationality, my nationality is the nationality of the oppressed"? If he said something like that, how can I ever respect the man as an Armenian nationalist? What if the Turk was the oppressed? Would he be on their side instead? I see a deep sense of political naivety in General Andranik.
The Bolshevik revolution was a replay of the French one of 1789. During the French mob uprising, a strong king would have quashed the riots and routed the organizing grey cells. Luis XVI vacillated, hesitated and it proved disastrous. Likewise the bourbon king, the Romanovs were not uncompromisingly ruthless to suffocate the uprising. Why were these alien malcontents able to obtain permission to enter Russia and instigate the insurrection? Was the Tsarist secret services asleep, or perhaps infiltrated ? A streak of complacency ? Certainly if Stalin had been in the Tsars shoes, the Marxists would have been museum artifacts. The exercise of power is an art. To acquire power requires exemplary skills and political acumen, to maintain and perpetuate power requires political sophistication and the ruthless application of the disciplines guaranteeing power. Power is not an ornament. This should not be interpreted as negativism on the part of the Romanovs. It only goes to prove that a small cohesive minority with ruthless determination and inured to the application of violence can achieve success against a larger but utterly disorganized and disconcerted opposition.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Jews...
ReplyDeleteI am almost certain that the assassinations of the French Jews at that pseudo-journalistic agency in Paris was a Mossad oppression, perhaps in tandem with French intelligence.
I saw the coverage on CNN early this morning and I was thinking: This looks nothing like all the other "lone wolf" attacks Muslims have carried out in desperation or because of their mental illness; this attack seems too well organized; the attackers were too well armed (specially for a country like France); they executed their task very professionally; they were not suicidal as Muslim attackers tend to be; and... what's with all the cameras on the roof feeding pictures to news agencies?
During real attacks no information - including surveillance video - is immediately released to the public by the authorities. We saw this in Australia.
I then went to Russia Today. During their coverage of live events out of Paris they were posting information by a journalist on site that had an Israeli name. In other words, there seemed to have been a Israeli Jew feeding live information and photos. Then I went back to CNN to see what was happening. I caught an Arab looking pedestrian being interviewed by a journalist. He said, I'm paraphrasing: "I was walking by. I saw some people on the roof taking pictures. Then a car drove up, people got out and started shooting."
Let's recall that back in September 11, 2001 a group of young men in New Jersey were filming the attacks on the twin towers. They were arrested by the FBI when worried locals sent complaints to the police. Afterwards, it was leaked that the group of men were Israelis and that they may have had Mossad connections. Some time later those arrested were quietly released and they returned back to Israel.
PS: The attackers in Paris may or many not have been actual Israelis. As I have said, it's very easy to get Muslims to do whatever you want these days...
But aren't all (ISIS, Al-Qaida, Nusra) Mossad operations?
DeleteThe best short answer to your question would be: Not all terror attacks in the West are carried out by ISIS, Al-Qaeda or Nusra. There are some attacks which are carried out by deeply disgruntled or mentally ill individuals. The previous one in Australia was one such attack in my opinion. The kinds of attacks you are referring to - high viability false flag operations carried out by a state - does not necessarily have to be exclusively a Mossad operation. Although the 9/11 attacks had heavy Jewish involvement, it also had American and Saudi involvement. Depending the location or the event in question, such operations can involve the secret services of the US, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel, Pakistani and Qatar.
DeleteToday's attack in Paris seems too well orchestration. The gunmen were very professional and they were very well equipped. The people on roofs with cameras were also very suspicious. Why was it done? To spread further fear and hatred of Muslims and Middle Easterners. To generate sympathy for Jews. To bring Westerners and Jews closer together. To get France deeper involved in the "war on terror"... There are a number of underlying geopolitical and sociopolitical reasons why they would carryout such an operation. They really seem to be pushing a "Judeo-Christian" agenda for Europe. Most, if not all, of Europe's far right groups (including those in Ukraine) now seem to have some form of a Jewish connection. Needless to say, most if not all of Europe's most liberal movements also have Jewish connections.
On spot Arevordi,
DeleteThe goal seems to pit European against Muslims. To draw support of the West for Israel at the expense of building up despise towards Palestinians.
Once a Sunni Arab was asking me, why is the Sunni Muslim blood so cheap? Why that many Sunnis may die without teh media bothering to cover about the news? I answered him with a question, who does Israel occupy? Palestinians. What is the religion of Palestinians? Sunni Islam. So the Zionists are on full onslaught to demonize everything related to Sunni Islam.
Aroutin
A very timely article by Pepe Escobar -
DeleteWho profits from killing Charlie? http://www.atimes.com/atimes/World/WOR-01-080115.html
Dear Arevordi,
ReplyDeleteSome folks are discussing your article on facebook, I thought I bring this to your attention.
The poster is conflicted about your ideas and wants some discussion over it. If he's so conflicted, why not ask directly here so Arevordi gets a chance to answer his concerns with further elaboration?
His name is Karén Tonoyan and he's the admin if I'm not mistaken of this group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/PanArmenianYouthAlliance/
It boasts with 1700 members, not bad.
His comment to the article was as follows
"Ahh so many good, relevant, timely and necessary points clouded by such deluded, narrow-minded, and plainly hypocritical vitriol
-- I am so conflicted about the author of this blog
Anyone wish to have a civil, positive, constructive, and non-insulting discussion?"
Dear Anonymous,
DeleteI do not have a Facebook account, nor do I particularity care about what people say about me or my work. This is my blog and it contains my world view. I am not in any position of power so no one needs to fear anything I say. If people like what I say, it's wonderful. If they don't, that's their problem. If Karen has specific questions - and he can articulate them intelligently - he can come here and ask them. I will gladly answer them all. But I am not going to change what I say or how I say it to make anyone happy. And I also don't like going over the same old thing every time a new comer decides to come here and get into a pissing contest with me. My work is very straight forward. I have a message to convey and that message is unmistakable for I repeat it often. People either love me or hate me. If the poster in question is "conflicted" about my work then he or she has either not read all of it or simply does not understand it.
PS: At the end of the day, I don't want people to recognize me. I don't want people to like me. I don't care if people hate me. I simply want people, especially those living in Western societies, to start thinking about topics I raise and comments I make. If people are discussing the content of this blog, I'm a happy man.
Analysis regarding Turkey, possibility of new forming Russia/Iran/Turkey alliance. It also makes case about Azeries losing from this new reality.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.regnum.ru/news/polit/1882801.html
"Had Turks gathered at the Armenian border and hurled insults at Armenian mothers Armenian men would have gone to war and resurrected Tigran the Great's empire in doing so. But people are screwing with Mother Armenia on a daily basis but that's ok because the typical Armenian male in Armenia today is more interested in protecting his family member's vaginas from foreign intrusion then in protecting his motherland from foreign invasion. In the big picture, this general indifference towards the homeland is the underlying factor to many of Armenia's fundamental problems today and it is more-or-less why we have Preprliament type freaks running around with impunity inside Armenian society."
ReplyDeleteThis has to be the quote of the year LOL!
@Stalin's Murderous Jews & the Bolshevik Revolution (July, 2010)
ReplyDeleteI read it at its time. It convinced me of the seriousness of your blog.
RomAn
I'd be careful with that Stalin's Jews article. It plays on the "evil Stalin" proganda and frankly is full of extreme exaggerations and flat out falsifications. Stalin's jews are his jews that played a roll in the development fancy war toys that set Russia to the heights of power that it reached.
ReplyDeleteThe negative aspects of "bolshevism" and who called themselves "bolsheviks" is actually Trotskiism and that is the foreign element engaged in the subversion of Russia that is tied to the British empire.
Also don't romanticize too much about the "white movement" the "whites", these were precisely the "russian elites" who were ok to sell interests of Russia as a civilization to the west so long as they were not bothered in their rule over the peasants.
Also here is a little factoid about the "Iron Curtain". The "Iron curtain" was erected by Churchill, not by Stalin. This was a reaction to Stalin's rejection of Brenton Woods and the declaration of independence of the Soviet Union's national currency - the ruble.
Immediately after Stalin's death, Khruschev put the ruble under the dollar therefore setting off the chain of events that ultimately killed the mighty power. The height of Soviet power reached in the 1970s was due to the baseline momentum set forth by the Stalin regime and in spite of blubbering idiots in Khruschev and Brezhnev. Stalin was in many ways, the resurection of the Russian empire. In the Russian language there is a word "gosudar' ". It doesn't have a good English translation, maybe "ruler", "sovereign" -- Well Stalin, before Putin was the last effective sovereign that Russia had. It wasn't "USSR", or bolsheviks under Stalin's watch -- it was the Russian empire resurrected only to be taken into degradation again.
Skhara, I am in full agreement with everything you have said. Until a few years ago I had never bothered to seriously considering the world/environment Stalin had lived in. Most of my life I simply assumed he was a bloodthirsty monster because I had been bombarded with anti-Stalin propaganda all my life. In different ways we are all victims of propaganda. But I evolved. Although I cannot call myself a Stalin fan, I no longer think he was a monster. He certainly was no angel, but only a Stalin figure could save Russia from total disintegration and collapse during at very dark period in time. Stalin had inherited a bloody mess (made by Jews), but he turned it into a Russified superpower by the time of his death, which I am now certain was an assassination. I think Stalin rise to power at the time was a supernatural occurrence (i.e. a historic role he was 'destined' to play independent of his will and despite his physical and intellectual abilities). With that said, the article about Stalin's Jews has value in that it's a Jew writing about the Jewish role in Stalin's bloody era. And what do you mean by saying "don't romanticize the White movement"? Are you referring to David Duke's video? Again, it's the content, the information provided that is important. Never mind the delivery mechanism. We are adults here, we can read in between the lines.
DeleteStalin was certainly not the paranoid despot inventing plots in order to get rid of his opponents, as painted by the Trotsky gang and the Dewey Commission (officially the "Commission of Inquiry into the Charges Made against Leon Trotsky in the Moscow Trials"). There is an growing certitude after the opening of Soviet archives, that Trotsky and his gang were guilty as charged. ("Evidence of Leon Trotsky collaboration with Germany and Japan", by Grover Furr@http://clogic.eserver.org/2009/Furr.pdf).
DeleteWhy was he turned into a rabid "antisemite" at the end of his life?
Rom An
What Skhara meant by the White movement is the White Russian movement that was led by the likes of Denikin, Wrangel and Kolchak.
Deletehttp://www.workersliberty.org/story/2013/05/15/how-stalin-destroyed-communism
This article above kinda explains the bona fide socialists' viewpoint of how Stalin 'destroyed' communism which in reality he was purging the Trotskyite elements of Bolshevism. The current EU, as Vladimir Bukovsky had described, is fast becoming a new Soviet Union but with a Trotskyite flavor instead of the Stalinist flavor we know too well. Back in the early days of the Cold War, you had figures like Francis Yockey who saw a Soviet occupation as the 'lesser evil' to the American consumerist culture that is being introduced to Western Europe, and there were people like Otto Remer (guy who foiled Operation: Valkyrie) who also preferred Soviet occupation to an American one (even if he fought against the Soviet Union in the first place). Other than that, many Trotskyites would describe Stalinism as some sort of "Red Fascism". Before I end this comment, take a look at this article.
http://inconvenienthistory.com/archive/2014/volume_6/number_1/stalins_german_nationalist_party.php
It also describes how Stalin was thinking of integrating ex-Nazis into what was then the former East German state.
Jerriko (Not logged in)
Ok. If that's the case, how was I romanticizing the Russian White movement?
DeleteArevordi, I want to clarify a couple of things: the "white movement" specifically that I am talking about - I am referencing one of the conflicting sides of the Russian civil war 1917-1922. - not David Duke stuff. Also, I wasn't pointing to your article when I commented about romanticizing the white movemet. I was commenting a general approach that some take to color the red movement as all-evil while the white movement as moral, righteous, and godly. Nothing could be further from the truth. There were well-meaning people on both sides of the fence and there were bastards on both sides, and Russian people should not allow that kind of history to repeat where this fratricidal war set Russia back decades. Right now 1917 is repeating in Ukraine.
DeleteSo hope that clears it up.
By the way there is an interesting historic parallel -- When Stalin took control, the cadres he was surrounded by were all Leninists/Trotskiists and Stalin had to deal with them and was working them, using them, and playing them off against one another -- But he couldn't attack and destroy them all at once as they would have united against him.
DeletePutin is analogue to Stalin but with modern methods and techniques, and the former would be Yeltsinists/Oligarchs/Berezovsky.
Jerriko mentioned Francis Parker Yockey. I found out about Yockey when I read through a separate forum Arevordi had sent me demonstrating a bunch of "White Nationalist" trailer trash who were insulting Armenians and praising Turks. Yockey expressed some very anti-Armenian viewpoints in his book "Imperium: The Philosophy of History and Politics", penned under the pseudonym Ulick Varange, such as:
Delete-"Less than half a century later, extra-European armies are moving freely about Europe, armies containing Negroes, Mongols, Turkestani, Kirghizians, Americans, Armenians, colonials and Asiatics of all areas."
-"The sacred soil of our Culture is occupied by armies of Barbarians and distorters of our Cultural instincts and heritage. Once Rollo, William of Normandy, the Hohenstaufen, Coeur de Lion, de Bouillon, the Teutonic Knights, Rainald van Dassel, Gustav Adolf, Wallenstein, Alba, Cromwell, Richelieu, Turenne, de Saxe, Frederick the Great, Pitt, Napoleon, Bismarck, trod this soil. Today, as I write, it is occupied by Kirghizians, Mongolians, Armenians, Turkestani, Sengalese, Negroes, Americans, Jews."
Yockey and others like him examplify a particular type of failure, the uneducated American White Nationalist that has an extremely poor understanding of history outside of his trailer park. I'm glad the Jews destroyed Yockey, because ultimately people like him are useless or even harmful to the movement.
Communism was started by Jews because they saw a weak spot in their host societies which they could exploit, namely the pitiful state of the newly emerging working class which the Industrial Revolution had created. Jews do the same thing with all flaws which naturally occur in their host societies, such as spearheading feminism where there was some oppression of women (although nothing existed in the west that was as bad as that which exists in the rest of the world), or spearheading the labor union movement where workers were mistreated, or preying on other flaws such as the market for slaves, pornography, drugs, etc. It's their parasitic nature. Meanwhile, their destructive movements attracted the most dispossessed members of society, such as the desperate peasants and workers who rallied behind Bolshevism, and who then died in large numbers in the mess that followed in the quarter-century after 1917.
DeleteThere's no doubt that the Jews used Bolshevism to destroy their Romanov enemies at a moment when a weaker Romanov was in power. But like all movements Jews start or spearhead, they were a minority and thus lacked the demographics to maintain control forever, and eventually the situation gave rise to a man like Stalin who swept the Jews away.
It's interesting to look at Stalin's closest and longest-lasting advisors. One was Lavrenti Beria, all research I have done on him leads me to conclude that he was a complete piece of shit. The other was Anastas Mikoyan, who seemed much more professional and humane than Beria.
In any case, I consider Stalin the rebirth of the Russian empire, and the founder of the tradition where the leader in Moscow is the world's most powerful man. Stalin held that position, Brezhnev held it, and now Putin holds it in a resurrected Russian state.
By the way I remember reading that while he was a Georgian, by the time Stalin took control he had become a Russian nationalist for all purposes. He ruled with an iron fist until age 74.
It was also worth noting that Mikoyan himself actually initiated the condemnation of Stalin's rule, not Khrushchev, as the world believes. Surprisingly, he, along with Kaganovich, Voroshilov and Molotov managed to survive Stalin's purges and came out OK. Beria, I'd say he was notorious for his sexual perversions.
DeleteWith regards to Stalin acting like a Russian nationalist, here's a passage from Kerry Bolton's book "Stalin: The Enduring Legacy":
"The purging of these anti-Stalinist co-conspirators was only a part of the Stalinist fight against the Old Bolsheviks. Stalin’s relations with Lenin had not been cordial, Lenin accusing him of acting like a ‘Great Russian chauvinist’.[10] Indeed, the ‘Great Russians’ were heralded as the well-spring of Stalin’s Russia, and were elevated to master-race like status during and after the ‘Great Patriotic War’ against Germany. Lenin, near death, regarded Stalin’s demeanour as ‘offensive’, and as not showing automatic obedience. Lenin wished for Stalin to be removed as Bolshevik Party General Secretary.[11]"
The funny part about Yockey is that people like George Lincoln Rockwell (the father of modern Neo-Nazism) had detested his ideals as a neo-Strasserist ideology since he (Rockwell) stuck to his Hitlerite Nazism.
I hear the French capital is in shock. Shock ? What were they expecting ? The French should have realized by now that making a homeland for foreigners within their homeland is a perfect recipe for biological disaster, social schism, violence and ultimate disaster. No one should be in shock. They should expect it and instead of lachrimose tears of " Je suis charles", raise to the challenge and wrest the country back from its alien owners. The islam colonization has gone far beyond tolerable levels. The point of no return might have been reached. Now it is a struggle as to who will own the land. Naturally, the land, the nation's fortunes will be in the hands of the Juifs, but the indigenous french is under menace of being relegated to the bottom of the ranks, and be replaced by the foreign flood. If you switch on French tv, you can not escape the question as to whether you are watching a " French" channel or a bastardized negroid arabesque ( islamic) channel. More of this type of aggression is in the pipeline. This is not a terror attack, juif Hollande, this is splitting asunder the erstwhile French nation and wrecking her heritage and biological basis, which by the way is an integral part of Juif-Franco political agenda. And what is more interesting is that the flood of afro-asian invaders continues in crescendo. Nothing to be surprised about.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, as a people/civilization, the French and the British are filthy degenerates. I am a great admirer of European/western civilization. I am also an admirer of Nordic races, not for their "blonde" looks but for their natural/genetic abilities in establishing very efficient and powerful nation-states. The French, the British, Swedes and Hollanders (Dutch) are no longer part of western civilization and culture in my opinion. Germans to their credit are still somewhat hanging on, although barely. The outcome of World War One and Nazi Germany's total defeat in World War Two got us to this point. However, the western world's political/financial elite's (Anglo-American-Jewish elite) experiments (social engineering) in Europe and in the US will backfire on them once the gullible but orderly white/Christian population of the western world gets thoroughly bastardized by dysfunctional third worlders... Anyway, in the big picture, I welcome the bastardization and eventual demise of the French and the British. The two have sown enough bad karma around the world to last a thousand years.
DeletePS: Americans are also barely hanging on. I say this because there is a lot of heightened political awareness in the American heartland. Which is why the political establishment is going after them with gun laws.
The reactions of the media to the Charlie thing are what you may have expected: a condemnation of Islamophobia and of Marine Le Pen!
Delete"One German newspaper critic warned the novel could be seized on by anti-Islam protesters in Dresden as proof they are right to voice concern.
Laurent Joffrin, editor-in-chief of left-leaning French newspaper Libération, argued that the novel "will mark the date in history when the ideas of the far-right made a grand return to serious French literature".
"This is a book that ennobles the ideas of the Front National," he added.
Alain Jakubovitch, president of the anti-racism group LICRA, said: "This is the best Christmas present Marine Le Pen could wish for."
(@http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11329625/Islamophobic-Michel-Houellebecq-book-featured-by-Charlie-Hebdo-published-today.html)
Isn't that proof enough that Jews and Muslims are in cahoots? To declare that the native French are the real enemies of France.
But what's new? Historically they have been accomplices in the oppression, exploitation, enslavement and massacres of Christians. I remind the words of the Armenian chronicler Ghewond (7-8 Century):
"First [we shall discuss] those called Amir al-Mu'mnin [Commander(s) of the Faithful]. Muhammad (Mahmet) [ca. 570-632] died after exercising power for twenty years. In the eleventh year of the [reign of the] pious, God-pleasing Emperor Heraclius [610-641] of Byzantium, [Muhammad] was succeeded by Abu Bakr [632-634], 'Umar [634-644], and 'Uthman [644-656] [who ruled] for thirty-eight years. As long as the God-crowned Heraclius was living, [the Arabs] did not dare to conduct raids against Judaea, because [Heraclius'] reputation for bravery was widespread, and he terrified them. Thus [Heraclius] held the rule of Judaea and Asorestan until the end of his life.
Once Heraclius' son [Constantine III, 613-641] had come to rule in his father's stead, the Lord awakened the spirits of malevolent men so that through them the blood of Christians would be shed in vengeance, because we had sinned before the Lord God. [The Arabs] began to form brigades and mass troops against Constantine's realm, against Judaea and Asorestan, having for support the command of their law-giver, that sower of darnel, to "Go against the countries and put them under your rule, for the plenty of the world has been given to us for our enjoyment. Eat the meat of the select ones of the countries, and drink the blood of the mighty." The Jews were their supporters and leaders, having gone to the camp at Madiam and told them: "God promised Abraham that He would deliver up the inhabitants of the world in service [to him]; and we are his heirs and sons of the patriarch. Because of our wickedness, God became disgusted with us and lifted the scepter of kingship from us, subjecting us to the servitude of slavery. But you, too, are children of Abraham and sons of the patriarch. Arise with us and save us from service to the emperor of the Byzantines, and together we shall hold our realm." [The Arabs] were encouraged further hearing this, and went against Judaea".
Well, aren't they the descendants of Abraham?
RomAn
Check out this BS sob story...
ReplyDeleteBetter yet, don't and warn your friends about it.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30718551
I saw it yesterday. I thought, how typical... Thanks for posting a link to it.
ReplyDeleteThe West seems to be doing the carrot and stick routine with Baku. They are threatening Baku with a Maidan if it gets too close to Moscow, which is why Azeris raided Baku's Radio Liberty office. They are also using different levers such as this BBC article to sweet talking Baku into staying close with the West. I think Aliyev is in a very serious predicament. This makes him somewhat dangerous in my opinion. I think there is a good chance the Artsakh dispute will be settled this year...
Thank you for reading.
Bravo to the Russian Armenian community and thank you Mr. Putin
ReplyDeleteChris Bohjalian Receives Award in Moscow: http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/01/08/chris-bohjalian-receives-award-in-moscow/
Arevordi,
ReplyDeleteThe section in your entry where you quote few Russian statements about Armenia then top it off with the story about Russia threatened Turkey with a war in 1992 is very powerful stuff. Thank you for compiling this kind of info. I think you said somewhere that former ambassador to Canada Ara Papyan denies the story is true.
Arto1
The Artsakh dispute can be resolved when Alyev launches an attack, his army is repulsed, thrown back and his oil fields come under threat of bein overun. Then the dispute can be closed.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand it can drag on and on, in a kind of perenial status quo. The status quo favors Artsakh. Alyev needs to carefully consider how he'll move over to the offensive. If he attacks Armenia, he 'll get scolded and condemned on the diplomatic front and it is a highly risky option because it might involve the Russian army base . If he attacks Artsakh there will be silence all around, until a week has gone by and voices for a ceasefire begin to be trumpeted.. Attacking Artsakh is one thing, but conquering the mountainous territory it is another chapter. Alyev knows very well by now with the latter option the stakes are very high, and it will get him nowhere but to abject failure. Artsak is an impregnable military fortress. Alyev;s army is not large enough, today, to the extent of having the capacity to succeed in an enterprise of such a magnitude , conquering the mountain fortress. Blunders are committed in the most incredible of manners and circumstance. Alyev is risk averse,unlike Shaskavili, and it is expected he'll blunder some time along the way. The situation needs to be understood also that there can be no friendly relations with the bi headed state until historical grievances are redressed, and that can take a couple of generations into the future.
Is Armenia potentially looking to keep an exit strategy as an option out of the EEU?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_armenia_and_the_eurasian_economic_union_the_view_from_yerevan387
http://www.armenianow.com/news/59493/armenia_european_union_agreements
What makes you think that, Hakop? Because an American agent working in Armenia and an American operation in Armenia are suggesting it?
DeleteThe Armenian government is doing an excellent job of moving closer to Russia while maintaining healthy ties with Europe. The strategy is to turn Armenia into a hub between the East and the West. Theoretically speaking, because of the political West's problems with Russia a lot of the transactions between Russia and Europe can go through Armenia. With that said, I see nothing wrong with Armenia having an exist strategy out of anything. There must be contingency plans for everything. Despite my abashedly pro-Russian sentiments I do not advocate Armenia putting all its eggs in one basket.
Guys the French attack WAS A HOAX for all the thing Arevordi mentioned plus this:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD5EfBFcsxI
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=98f_1420759102
I want to see proof of who was killed inside the magazine office. The masked shooters were not the terrorist, they were special forces and they framed the other people just like they framed Oswald.
Thank you for the links, Anonymous.
DeleteJust this morning I was thinking about looking for the actual, non-censored footage of the policeman's killing because even in the blurred picture there did not seems to have been any indications of blood. Once shot through the head with an AK-47 the blood would have to have pooled around his head and there would have to have been pieces of this skull and brains all over the sidewalk. That the shooters were special ops members and that the Muslims in question were patsies is fully plausible. Once the brothers were on the run I did not for one moment think they would have been taken alive - which would be the best thing to do because they would be a source of vital information as to how they got their weapons and who put them up to it. Needless to say, the patsy has to die. Do you have any information on the other case in Paris?
Here you have some info on the other case in Paris:
Deletehttp://jssnews.com/2015/01/07/photos-exclusives-jssnews-les-terroristes-de-charlie-hebdo-ont-abandonne-leur-voiture-devant-un-restaurant-casher
(JSSNews.com est un webzine (magazine online) mais aussi un magazine papier « JSSNews » – d’opinion, créé en Israël. Il a été fondé par Jonathan-Simon Sellem en 2008 dans le but d’apporter une information israélienne en français, de la part de journalistes et d’experts qui connaissent parfaitement le Proche-Orient.).
In the Edition du Samedi 10 Janvier 2015 we read:
"Est-ce un « hasard » si la voiture s’est arrêtée ici ? Les terroristes ont-ils tenté d’écraser des gens sur la terrasse (au vu de la manière dont la voiture est parquée, c’est envisageable) ? Est-ce un simple « accident » ?
En tout cas, ils n’ont pas fait usage de leurs armes (à notre connaissance) contre ce restaurant. Il faut donc, bien évidemment, prendre cette information pour ce qu’elle est (des clichés cachés par la presse) et ne pas tirer de conclusions hâtives. Si les terroristes avaient voulu faire un carnage ici, ils l’auraient probablement fait avec aisance".
Very interesting the comments. One of the commentatores wrote:
Charly Chalom Lellouche Répondre
7 janvier 2015 a 19:52
Ils se sont arrêtés trop vite devant un resto Casher
Ca y est abbas et fabius vont crier « c’est un coup du Mossad, vous voyez, juste avant de changer de voiture, ils sont aller manger dans un resto casher!! »
It would appear that the attack against a Jewish objective was a part of the plan which, for some reason, was not completed and the "antisemitic" slogans could not be activated. It seems very likely that the siege of the kosher supermarket at Porte de Vincennes was mounted immediately with the convenient killing on the spot of the assailant who had nevertheless the time "during a conversation with local French media during the hostage crisis, Coulibaly (to) claim [that] he choose the supermarket because it was Jewish and said he was part of ISIS, according to CNN", and the mandatory "address to the nation just a few hours after the standoff ended, French President Francois Hollande denounced the hostage takeover of the kosher shop as "an anti-Semitic act." " as reported by JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS \ 01/09/2015 22:26.
Things become curiouser and curiouser,
RomAn
An article called Israel is helping Azerbaijan to get ready for war. and the talk is about another war.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.regnum.ru/news/polit/1882950.html
Do you have an english equivalent of the article?
DeleteRegnum stopped producing English language articles several years ago. You can translate the article via Google Translate.
DeleteWhat happened in France yesterday and today was a false flag operation.
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing felt very fake and orchestrated, similar to the murder of a British soldier by a black Muslim two years ago in Britain. But what first aroused my suspicion about the attacks in Paris was seeing the following on CNN: An Arab looking pedestrian was being interviewed by a French journalist. The pedestrian said, and I'm paraphrasing: "I was walking by. I saw some people on the roof. Then a car drove up, people got out and started shooting."
Is it normal in Paris for people to hang out on roofs in the winter?
Let's recall that back in September 11, 2001 another group of people were filming the attacks on the twin towers as it occurred from a roof top in New Jersey. The men in question were arrested by the FBI when worried locals called the police. Afterwards, it was leaked that the group of men were Israelis and that they had Mossad connections. Some time later the arrested Israelis were quietly released and they returned back to Israel.
And now that I think about it, Paris is one of the most congested cities in the world. Why wasn't there any automobile traffic on the street at the time of the shootings?
Simply put: The attacks in Paris - as well as the mass media spectacle over the deaths at Charlie Hebdo - seemed too well orchestrated and are thus highly suspicious. The alleged gunmen, if they were indeed the two bothers, were very well armed. This is highly suspicious because the brothers were well known to the French authorities as Jihadi extremists, one of them had even been arrested previously. They were also known to have traveled to war zones in the Middle East. The two were even reported to have been on the US government's no fly list. Moreover, assault rifles are very difficult to obtain in France.
Also, how were the masked gunmen identified so quickly by French police? Because one "accidentally" left his identity card in their getaway car? Bullshit.
According to all reports, like the Tsarnayev brothers in the US, the Kouachi bothers were being monitored by French security officials. If they really did what we are being told that they did, they were setup by their handlers. Finally, the people running around on the roof as the shootings were taking place was also very suspicious.
Just this morning I was thinking about looking for the actual, non-censored footage of the policeman's killing on the sidewalk across the street from Charlie Hebdo's office because even in the blurred picture there did not seems to have been any indications of blood. If shot through the head with an AK-47 bullet at point-blank range, the blood would have immediately pooled around the policeman's head and there would have to have been pieces of this skull and brains all over the sidewalk.
Well, it now seems as if the "execution style murder" of the policeman on the sidewalk is indeed fake. Please review the links below.
If these videos have not been doctored, and I have no reason to believe that they have been, I think they pretty much solve the case. The attacks in Paris was a false flag operation. In my opinion, the gunmen could have been special operation troops and the Kouachi brothers were the patsies (convenient scapegoats). I did not for one moment think the brothers would have been taken alive - which actually would be the best thing to do because they would be a source of vital information as to how they got their weapons and who put them up to it. Needless to say, the patsy has to die. Anyway, judge for yourselves -
France Cop Shooting: http://deepinsidetherabbithole.com/France_Cop_Shooting.html
Terrorists shoot officer in Paris during terrorist attack at Charlie Hebdo: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bc6_1420632668
France False Flag Shooting - Man in bullet proof vest watches: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUuYSft1fOw#t=75
Why did they do this?
DeleteOnly France's "deep state" (i.e. the state within the state) can provide a comprehensive answer to that question. In my opinion, the attacks in Paris were carried out to: rekindle the memories of 9/11 but this time amongst Europeans; setback the recognition of a Palestinian state which was gaining momentum in France; spread further fear and hatred of Muslims and Middle Easterners to make it easier to kill Muslims and Middle Easterners with impunity; generate deeper sympathy for Jews during a time when anti-Israel sentiments and boycotts are gaining momentum in Europe (Jews are again martyrs for western/European values!!!); bring Westerners and Jews closer together; get France deeper involved in the farcical "war on terror"...
So, as you can see, there are a number of underlying geopolitical and sociopolitical reasons why they would carryout such an operation. Moreover, they, the Western elite, really seem to be pushing a "Judeo-Christian" agenda in Europe recently. Most, if not all of Europe's far-right groups (including those in Ukraine) now seem to have some degree of Jewish connection. Needless to say, most, if not all of Europe's most liberal movements that have been importing Muslims and other third worlders into Europe also have Jewish connections, but that is another topic.
In others words, on the one hand you can find Jews encouraging Europeans to open their hearts and their homes to Muslims... On the other hand you can find Jews trying to convince Europeans that Muslims are the enemy... And as we saw with the smut peddlers at Charlie Hebdo, there are also Jewish interests inciting Islamic extremism inside Europe. There is a clear agenda - an Anglo-American-Jewish agenda in my opinion - to pit Christians against Muslims in Europe.
What is their ultimate end game? I don't know. Only the deep state knows that answer.
Arevordi,
DeleteExcellent analysis, as usual. It had been noticed immediately that the shootings came immediately after Netanyahu expressed his "disappointment" with the support of France for the Palestinian state.
"Amedy Coulibaly, the hostage taker who killed four people and wounded four others in a kosher supermarket in eastern Paris on Friday, called BFM-TV before he died to claim allegiance to Islamic State, saying he wanted to defend Palestinians and target Jews" (@http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Kosher-Supermarket-attacker-claimed-IS-bonds-wanted-to-target-Jews-and-defend-Palestine-387267 - REUTERS, JPOST.COM STAFF \01/10/2015 01:48.
You could notice that JP which I quoted in the previous post did say only that "Coulibaly claim [that] he choose the supermarket because it was Jewish and said he was part of ISIS, according to CNN". In the last issue of JP there appears of a sudden Palestine!
@Most, if not all of Europe's far-right groups (including those in Ukraine) now seem to have some degree of Jewish connection.
I am inclined to say that they have been taken over completely.
RomAn
Arevordi,
DeleteI don't have any other info on the other incident yet. But no doubt this was a false flag by the French and the Jews. There is more evidence http://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/162726-francia-suicidio-policia-charlie-hebdo#.VK__zbzgSUM.facebook
Take a look at the following video clip. The journalist's slip of the tongue is very curious but he could very well have simply misspoken. So, disregard what he says. The real question that this video clip brings up is: The policeman that was shot did NOT bleed. Why is there blood on the sidewalk?
DeleteBlood Placed on Path Because of Blood Shed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNKcLouMcYw
The Paris false flag was particularly a sloppy one. But apparently that does not seem to matter much. Looking at the public reaction around the world, the sheeple seems ready to believe anything. Thirteen years ago the attacks on 9/11 showed the deep state that as long as they have control over mainstream public media (television, print, radio and internet) they can fool the sheeple into essentially believing anything: Which is why we continue seeing these types of sloppy false flag operations. We can therefore expect similar operations to occur periodically - until the sheeple in the Western world wake up and stop believing the deception.
DeleteHere is an angle to the story I totally agree with
Deletehttp://www.veteranstoday.com/2015/01/10/darkmoon-the-paris-massacre-they-had-it-coming/
Anonymous @ January 10, 2015 at 12:18 PM,
DeleteHere is an English-language article covering that topic - a French investigator working on the Charlie Hebdo case has apparently been "suicided".
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150111/1016754353.html
This is starting to look like it was planned to be a Euro 9/11. Arevordi and RomAN have pointed out how incredibly sloppy and suspicious this has been, there are plot holes as bad as the whole Building 7 fiasco in the 9/11 attacks. This makes me wonder if the ones who planned this attack in a rush? Was this the event that was supposed to scare Europeans into begging for NATO/US protection from the Islamic nightmare, hastily put together when the original plan of frightening Europeans from Russian nightmare failed because Putin and company refused to be baited?
A useful analogy to the right-wing in Europe is the controlled right-wing in the US. True right-wing groups in the US have been eliminated from the mainstream, they have been replaced with Christian-Zionist war-hawks/chicken-shits. You will never find a Republic who says something conservative like "let's not get into another war in the middle east we cannot afford," instead you will hear "God wants us to destroy Israel's enemies, so let's bomb Syria and Iran." I guess since Christian-Zionism is unpopular in Europe, the plan is to create a divide using false-flags with Judeo-Christians on one-side, and "Islamic terrorism" on the opposing side. Israel will be upheld as a shining example of a nation bravely persevering against daily Islamic terrorism.
Europeans may or may not be smarter than Americans on the whole, and hatred of the Jew and his lies has a deep history in Europe. But today's Europeans are such pussies that I suspect this false-flag will succeed in its objectives. Eurotards are almost certainly going to rally behind their made-in-china EU flags.
Watching people fall for this entire staged event is surreal. They've been carefully set up and they are being deceived. It's like a repeat of the controlled coverage of the liberation of Crimea as it was distorted in the western press, or CIA War Creation Al-Quada and the 9/11 false flag and how it was manipulated to usher in the invasion of Iraq.
Bibi was crowned King of Europe today. That procession we witnessed in Paris was a neonazi one. Not the jackbooted variety, but the brainwashed masses following mass murderers who claim to be their saviors variety. The nazi's used violence against their own populace, these new nazis use violence against entire governments. What we witnessed was a Zionist victory parade. We are witnessing racist-facists for the 21st Century - militant Zionists helping Europe set up a police state and leading a war of genocide against Palestine.
DeleteFlonerd
It was sad to read in that Lasha Darkmoon article that the more gullible Europeans are responding to this incident by calling for "death to Iran, Syria, and Palestine." How idiotic and sheepish can people be? The evidence is widely available that their own governments are the creators of militant Islam, from founding Al-Quade in the 1970s in Afghanistan, right down to Libya and Syria today. At this point in time you'd have to try to actively avoid hearing/reading the unpleasant truth in order to be in the dark re who makes terrorism possible.
DeleteYatsenyuk declared on German TV that "we must all remember how the USSR invaded Germany and Ukraine in WW2" and "no one has a right to revise the outcome of WW2". This guy is on drugs.
ReplyDeleteThis whole things really makes no sense whatsoever. How obnoxious, how blatant can a lie be? What's even worst is the total silence about this in Western power centers. Isn't this similar to a leader of a nation claiming that the Holocaust did not happen? My only guess is that they may be trying to outrage Russians. I say this because I think they are still trying different things to get Russians to overreact and get drawn into the fight in Novorosiya.
DeleteIt's a whole other story between dead Catholics and Muslims, and dead Orthodox Christians. I heard about a movie that was made in Turkey (with Australian help) that tells a story of 'evil' Greek 'occupiers' terrorizing Turkish civilians, but there is silence from the West when it comes to dead Armenians, Greeks, Serbs, Assyrians and Russians.
DeleteThis I believe, is a growing and disturbing trend with sinister purposes. My main guess is that the West is indirectly committing genocide against Orthodox Christians because they still believe in the West/East split and that the Eastern Orthodox world is 'disobedient' and 'rebellious' against the 'civilized Roman Catholic and Protestant West'. I can also guess that the silence on the part of the West is also connected to Jewish hatred of Orthodox Christianity in general, and I must remind everyone here about some quote written by a buffoon, something about "the West must get over their fear of Turkish Islam or be held accountable for accommodating Russian power'
This disturbing trend continues with a news about Russian and Serbian cemeteries being vandalized in Australia, plus some idiot drew Ustashe symbols in front of a Serbian Orthodox Churchin Phoenix, Arizona. I have come to a dreaded conclusion that Yatsenyuk et al have not only lost their sense of humanity, but that they are no longer considered human beings to me. I'm sorry for writing this passage, but I could not help but possess a sense of hatred for these bastards.
I think in the case of Yatsenyuk, he is just a mental midget and he really does think like this.
DeleteSkhara, Yatsenyuk is not just a mental midget, physically he is a shrimp. It's hard to find a purer example of rat-faced jew phenomenon than this "Ukrainian" leader.
DeleteJerriko, it's always been a clash of cultures between the west and Russia on several fronts: Atlantic v. Asiatic, Protestant/Catholic v. Orthodox, mostly Germanic v. mostly Slavic, feminized v. masculine. The westerners like to see themselves as kings of the hill, but they know very well that in case of war Russia would crush them all even if Russia was at half-strength, and this creates severe psychological issues for the west that manifests in anti-Russian behavior. As we have seen, when it serves their interests the hypocritical "democracies" of the west won't think twice about allying with and using the worst regimes in the world. Turkey fits the bill perfectly in their regional anti-Russian campaigns in the Black Sea and the Caucasus .That's why every western power gunning for "master race" status allies with Turkey against Russia, such as the British and French during the Crimean War, the Germans during WW1, and the Americans from the Cold War until today. If hypothetically America collapsed tomorrow and its role was replaced by any other western power, the new power would soon make the same geopolitical calculations. In the process, the west won't lose any sleep over dead Armenians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Romanians, or whoever else they have to sacrifice to prop Turkey up.
So no need for you to apologize or feel bad, you just recognized the reality and decided not to sugarcoat it. And yes, Orthodox Christianity is the true enemy of the Jew, you'll never see the Orthodox Christian equivalent of "Vatican II" or "dispensationalism", so expect no mercy on Orthodox Christians from the Jew-controlled western media and foreign policy centers. It's fine though, there is no love lost among Orthodox Christians towards Christ-killers. But when you add Jew-control to the other, independent reasons the west hates Russia, the situation becomes dangerous.
If I recall, Arevordi wrote one blog mentioning Norman Schwartz (yes, the same man who wrote Two Faces of Islam with the passage of "Slav-Orthodox assault on vulnerable Muslims" and "Europe must get over their fear of Turkish Islam") about it and not surprisingly, Schwartz is mentioned in such a negative light.
DeleteSo if any Russophobic monkey has the guts to say that we should be ashamed of supporting Russia and Vladimir Putin, my appropriate response should be "better PUTLER than the ZHIDS". BTW, this sentiment tells it all:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4299673,00.html
Infamous Rabbi Baruch Efrati actually cheered for the "Islamization" of Europe as "punishment" for the pogroms, expulsions and genocides. If karma still exists, then the "Islamization" of Europe will actually backfire horribly, resulting in more European Jews being killed, this time by Muslims. Blowback can be such a pain.
Found this old clip with Yeltsin:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEhkqz7JE4E
Here he says: Bill Clinton dared to press on Russia. For a minute he forgot what is Russia and that we have a full arsenal of nuclear weapons. Who does he think he is to dictate to the world how to live. Multipolar world is how we agreed with China - we will dictate to the world how to live. Interesting...
Yeltsin obviously had some pride for Russia but his personal greed, and low intellectual quality had their results.
Pride does not get you far in politics. The man was an idiot.
DeleteFor those keeping an eye on the Ukraine front. I am finding that Poroshenko has some semblance of practicality to him. He does have his oligarchical/business interests to consider so he is falling out from under complete American control. On the other hand, Nalivaichenco (the security chief) and Yatsenyuk are under complete American control. So we may in the near future see another Maidan against Poroshenko now.
ReplyDeleteThe revolution really does kill off its young children, eh? I won't shed tears if the Chocolate King is dethroned, but with the idea of Yatsenyuk as President of Ukraine would be far more terrifying.
DeleteOn a slightly different topic:
ReplyDeleteUnder different circumstances I would not bother highlighting police brutality in the US, but the Empire takes every chance it can to send in its agents provaceuter inside Armenia to create a need for police in Armenia to respond to their hooliganism, and then the Empire exploits that response and publicly tries to humiliate Armenia. Not that Armenian police are perfect, but the US has weaponized the very fact that Armenia is an emerging society and uses that weapon to try to destroy our nation in order to further its own twisted, colonial agenda in the region. So therefore every act of police brutality in the US is fair game at exposing the Empire's hypocrisy. Below is a short article from Paul Craig Roberts, as well as the important YouTube links from the article which shows a psychotic Montana traffic cop shooting two separate people on separate occasions, without provocation, and after screaming at them like lunatics. Anyone interested can, with 5 minutes of research, find dozens of similar videos.
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2015/01/10/police-threat-high/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VTKyVgjW-c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41mbUNWZASc
http://steeringlaw.com/police-misconduct-videos/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOiQ_sY9wt0
I demand that the Russian or Armenian governments begin a "Police Brutality Around that World Annual Report" and highlight this issue in the USA. Or at least I demand they tell the Americans to fuck off next time Washington accuses either country of "police brutality."
This article is a must read:
ReplyDeletehttp://russia-insider.com/en/2015/01/11/2324
Dugin about how Soviet leaders were cheated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKoip-KVNdQ
Arevordi
ReplyDeleteYou should be very careful with what you say. Vineyard Saker blogs have been under attack: http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/
There is no freedom of speech.
How about this? benefits for the west from France events are quickly adding up.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zdnet.com/article/europes-answer-to-terror-attacks-on-free-speech-is-to-double-down-on-internet-censorship/
There's a quote attributed to Voltaire which says "To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize." Now I do not particularly care for Islam or Muslims, but I do not see all Muslims as enemies. I think as long as they remain in their own nations, they should be left to themselves. But the globalists are hellbent on flooding Europe with Muslims, and they inciting them to terrorism by purposely provoking them. Which brings us back to the quote: no surprise that spitting on Mohammed, or Jesus for that matter, is "free speech" by current western standards, but you lose your job and go to jail if you take any action some hypersensitive jew finds "offensive."
ReplyDeletehttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/B62d46vCQAACaw6.jpg
2009 - French cartoonist Sine on trial on charges of anti-Semitism over Sarkozy jibe
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/4351672/French-cartoonist-Sine-on-trial-on-charges-of-anti-Semitism-over-Sarkozy-jibe.html
Here's another thought: If Armenians had as much "chutzpah" as the Jews, then the day after the attacks in France were over our priests and community leaders would have made some outrageous, nonsensical, self-serving statements like "this is France's punishment for reneging on its promise to criminalize Armenian Genocide denial, as well as for past cooperation with Turkey." Of course, that level of arrogance - which consequently leads to such a people being naturally despised wherever they go - is beyond Armenians. No surprise thought that a few Rabbi's are gloating over this as "punishment for the hollowhoax."
Arevordi,
ReplyDeleteDo you know about the terrible news from Gyumri?
Longtime reader
I was sick to my stomach when I first read about it earlier today. This is a terrible tragedy and the deranged beast who did this crime should be put away for life or executed. I am glad they caught him. Russian and Armenian officials now need to make an example out of him not only because of the severe barbarity of his crime but also because of the damage he caused to Russian-Armenian relations. Unfortunately, but quite predictably, this tragedy will be shamelessly exploited by Armenia's Western-led political opposition for political purposes for a long time to come... We live in a sick world.
DeleteSee the outrage and desire for punishment/retribution Armenians feel after a Russian went on a killing spree in Armenia? Well that's exactly what the Russians felt after 18 of their citizens were killed by that Armenian driver in Russia a year ago. The same assholes who criticized the driver's harsh treatment will now be calling "death to Russians" all over the Internet.
DeleteExample of our self destructive peasants
DeleteThis is second time Russian Army stationed in Giumry (free of charge and on Armenian's country budget), first time two armed officers gone on killing spree back in 1999, they have shot unarmed civilians, two of them was killed many wounded, now this one! Entire family is murdered, the day the Eurasian Union started to "work", so in my opinion we need to first get emotions out, second no Extradition to Russia like previous criminals, get investigation done, without prejudice and bias. After which make sure no one else, but Armenian Military Court /Tribunal to take charge of this trial! Anyone involved in this Crime Against Armenian Family Must be brought to Justice in Armenia by Armenian Military and criminals have to serve jail time in Armenia Only! Please don't jump on conclusions and get all the facts right, this family blood yet to dry, people blame everyone and everything! In My opinion this terror act designated to make everyone to believe that Russia is the only savoir of the Armenian Statehood, or NATO is only answer to Armenian statehood, so pick and chose! I've been born in City of Giumry! And this is for me serves one purpose to guarantee the Russian presence in Armenia, what many Armenians opposes in Diaspora and in Armenia. Independent Investigation, after the capture of this accused a live will tell what in reality happened, if he get's killed or commit suicide, then blame goes to Secret Services pf two countries!
http://rt.com/news/221883-armenia-murder-russian-serviceman/
The human oddity ( judging by his photograph he looks like a psycopathic killer) should be executed forthwith. We need to understand what, how , where, and the circumstances surrounding this dastardly tragedy. What was he doing outside the barracks ? Why was he carryng a weapon outside the barracks ? Was it loitering in town ? This is outrageous, and it raises many questions about soldiers outside their army base, armed and without anything to do, lumbering around aimlessly. The sentence will be passed, a deranged deserter, a madman that went undetected by the army's security screen and it ends in a orgy of murder of an entire family.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteThere has always been a lot of good interaction between soldiers stationed at the 102nd military base and Armenian civilians. Generally speaking, relations between the two sides have been very warm. Even after two drunk soldiers open fire on civilians about fifteen years ago killing two men if I recall correctly, the base continued to maintain very warm ties with the surrounding community. The interaction between military personnel and civilians is a positive thing. It's actually excellent PR for both sides. The last thing you want to do is to alienate foreign soldiers from the people that surround them by erecting barriers between them. The last thing you want to do is isolate soldiers from the people/culture they may be called upon to protect in time of war.
Something obviously went terribly wrong this time. Could this be prevented? I don't know.
I don't know why the soldier did this. I don't know how he did this. Was he on guard duty in the middle of the night and decided to go off base with his weapon? I do not know if the murderer was on psychedelic medication (a serious drug problem leading is mass killings amongst Americans). Was he mentally ill? Was it a crime of passion? Is there something more sinister behind this crime? I don't know. I don't even know if something like this could be prevented. Like I said, it's a sick world and sick people will find ways to do what they want to do. With that said, however, this incident has to be thoroughly investigated and security procedures at the base have to be thoroughly reviewed.
Anyway, I do not want to politicize in any way what happened in Gyumri. What we need to do is mourn the dead, especially the young ones, and demand from Armenian and Russian officials make an example out of the criminal.
How often do those incidents occur between Russian soldiers and Armenian civilians? It wouldn't be as bad as the incidents back in my native Philippines, such as:
Delete- The Subic rape case involving one Filipino woman and four US marines. (This happened back in 2005)
- The Jennifer/Jeffrey Laude case, involving one transvestite and one US marine (this happened recently as October 11).
In this case the VFA is very controversial as Filipinos often see it as an intrusion on their sovereignty (especially if the guilty party is not subject to trial under Philippine law and can be tried under US military law). There are protests against the VFA in favor of junking it. So while we have our own set of self-destructive peasantry in the Philippines, they're even worse than the Armenian population (I know it too well, having experienced these things up close) because they lack a sense of genuine nationalism.
Jerriko (not logged in)
From what I've read the soldier was on guard duty that's why he was carrying a weapon and at around 5/6 am he left the base unseen.
Delete"Anyway, I do not want to politicize in any way what happened in Gyumri."
I agree and hope it wont get politicized. However I'm sure the anti-Russian idiots in our society will use this to further their agenda.
In this case a good move by the Russian authorities (if they can make an exception) would be to let this criminal be trialed in Armenia.
Lernakan
Some wise words by our defence minister:
Deletehttp://www.aysor.am/en/news/2015/01/13/Seyran-Ohanyan-No-need-to-politicize-Gyumri-killings/893041
Coming back to what I said, I understand that you can't make exceptions when it comes to the law. At the very least he should get the maximum penalty in Russia for what he did...
Lernakan
Could possibly be a false flag operation?
ReplyDeleteThere is a remote possibility that the young soldier was somehow made to commit those murders. But a false flag? By Armenians or Russians? For what purpose? I don't think so.
DeletePrecisely NOT by either Armenians or Russians. For what purpose? To poison the atmosphere. Look what the Russkis do to US! How could you call them friends? ETC...
DeleteThere are Armenians and Russians who work for western intelligence.
DeleteI looked at Russian news sites with commentary to see how people are mostly reacting this news.
Most reactions are shock, condemnation, but also caution -- some are saying that to be careful and wait for the investigation and that something does not seem very clean here. So those are the typical reaction. But there are opportunists in play who will attempt to poison the atmosphere.
Who would have put up this murderer to carry out the murderous acts ? And for what purpose? To stress and strain interethnic relations ? or raise antipathy ? I don't think an individual act like this, though barbarously barbaric, can dent the relations. The fellow was insane , this was the act of a psychopath and a sadist . He may not get the capital punishment he so deserves, but confined to a mental asylum instead, for medical science to probe his brain and study him as a guinea pig in a controlled laboratory environment. .
ReplyDeleteI am inclined to believe that the soldier somehow snapped. However, it is very plausible that Turkish/Western interests would have somehow been behind this horrible incident. The soldier's background, personal connections and mental state need to be thoroughly investigated. However, if such a connection is found it may not be revealed in official statements.
ReplyDeleteI have always suspected that mind altering psychedelic drugs have become weaponized in recent years. Such drugs can make susceptible people carryout assassinations and cold blooded murders. We have seen drug related atrocities carried out by US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact, of the epidemic of mass killings taking place in the US in recent years, most of them have been carried out by people on psychedelic medications. I have always wondered how many of the killings in question were actually covert government experiments. I also suspect many of the Jihadis that go on killing rampages periodically are also under the influence.
Let me remind you that this is not sci-fi. Such drugs have been worked on by psychiatrists and biochemists for decades. Nazis worked on them. The Soviet Union worked on them. Naturally, the successors of the Nazis and the Soviet Union, the Anglo-American-Jewish world order, has been working on mind altering drugs for a long time. Such experiments have given rise to theories called the "Manchurian Candidate".
Science is at a point where anything is possible these days. The only question is: How far have they gone?
Well put Arevordi. I think there is something very strange about his act to massacre an entire Armenian family because the guy was at the base for only few weeks. What can make him do something like this what motivation can he have? This big hit to Armenian-Russian relations comes at a very bad time. Armenian Russophobes are allover the facebook.
ReplyDeleteLongtime reader
Russophobes are myopic hunchbacks, or treacherous sell outs. Only political naives and ingenues can hope that Armeno-Russian relations will suffer as a result of this individual criminality, which is of national concern. However the incident points to the internal infrastructure of the army base and the ineptness in the management of the military compound. What type of recruits are stationed in that base , good disciplined soldiers or deserters material and substandard levels of soldiering. The background of this criminal was dubious, according to reports, he seems to have been turfed out from other army compounds for indiscipline , and he ends up in Gyumri . He was supposed to have been on duty as a guard and he abandoned his post. A case of desertion. For a soldier to desert it means he is unbalanced and psychologically frail. Psychologically disturbed individuals are high risk, unpredictable and liable to criminality. I have no time for Russophobes, they are treacherous at best and pathetically dangerous at worst. These gaggle of provocateurs run on emotion, whose strings are pulled by outsiders, marionettes and dirt cheap puppets they are.
ReplyDeleteTo me, Russophobes are hardly human to begin with. Unfortunately, a whole good chunk of the Russophobes are either Poles, Balts, Ukrainians, Finns, Hungarians, Romanians and Turks (the first four because of their long history under Tsarist rule plus in Finland's case, the Winter War, the fifth because of 1956, the sixth because of Ceausescu's anti-Soviet stance and Romania's insistence that it is a Latin speaking country surrounded by Slavic states, and the sixth is a natural enemy of Russia), as well as Brits, French, Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, and most importantly, Jews. Five out of six of these people make up the Anglo-American portion (and would also be a natural enemy of Russia), the French because they too had played an anti-Russian role during the Napoleonic War and the Crimean War, and Jews because of the enmity between Jews and Orthodox Christian Russians. (it is also worth noting that the very same Jews who are Neo-Cons descended from Jewish immigrants fleeing from Tsarist pogroms). So my only wish is for all kinds of Russophobes to die a horrible, painful death ten times stronger than cremation.
Deletehttp://www.tomatobubble.com/id768.html
ReplyDeleteThe running mormon joke known as glenn beck attacking Russia, Vladimir Putin, and Orthodox Christianity in general. The article above starts off painting a clear picture of beck getting on his knees for zionists before his Russophobic rant - just like every mainstream journalist, historian, or official is required to do. beck's twisted, bullshit explanations of the history of Eastern Christianity contain about as much substance as mormon founder joseph smith's fables.
But, in a very superficial way, beck gets close to the truth of the matter. Russia does represent Orthodox Christianity, and it should in deed "send a chill" down the west's spine. But not because Orthodox Christians are "evil, heretic, or overly aggressive" as beck would like his idiotic audience to believe - even though the Russian faithful have proven that they will not shy away from using physical force to crush western agents promoting immorality inside Russia (see http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/02/07/the-25-most-shocking-anti-gay-stories-from-russia-so-far/) - but rather the west should be afraid because the west has been merged inextricably with zionism and no longer is part of the Christian/traditional/European/Aryan/White world, and zionism and Orthodox Christianity are predestined to be enemies. One must eventually crush the other. Look at it as a clash of civilizations or look at it as plain good versus evil, either description works.
http://asbarez.com/130720/protesters-demand-hand-over-of-russian-soldier-to-armenia/comment-page-1/#comment-9392073
ReplyDeleteAfter scuffling with Armenian security forces, they broke through a police cordon to approach the base’s main checkpoint located in the city’s outskirts. The protesters were stopped there by more lines of riot police and about two dozen Russian soldiers standing behind them. Organizers of the protest pleaded with the mostly male and young crowd not to clash with them.
What an alarming development. I don’t like what I’m about to say, but it needs to be said: If these overly-emotional Armenian peasants had tried to enter the Russian base and cause trouble, then their elimination would have been justified, and in fact necessary for state security. Yes, the murder of that family by the Russian soldier was an extremely horrific and totally unnecessary occurrence, and I want to see the criminal punished (in fact I am torn whether I want to see him executed or whether he has legitimately lost his mind and needs to be locked away in an insane asylum). But in the grand scheme of things, one innocent family becoming victims of such a fate does not give Armenians the right/duty to destroy the Republic of Armenia by attacking the military base. In the end I’d rather see a handful of the stupider or more gullible members of Armenian society be made an example of than see all of Armenia subjected to a second Armenian Genocide because we asked the Russians to leave (not that Russia would ever leave anyway but still…)
This looks to me like it was dangerously close to a replay of the March 2008 scenario where rioters in Yerevan – who may or may not have had justifiable reasons to be discontent with their status and living conditions in Armenia – had to be gunned down in order to disperse the frenzied crowd before they burned all of Yerevan to the ground. The US has planted the seeds of Russophobia deep within Armenia. The Russian base literally saved Armenia from a legitimate threat of Turkish invasion as recently as 1993 onwards to present day. Yet nothing but the bases dirty laundry is aired, as we recently saw when the western-controlled media tried to incite protests against the Russian base after Russian border guards killed two Turks attempting to illegally enter Armenia.
I don't have a facebook account, but apparently talk around the English-speaking Armenians is "Putin ordered it" according a friend who asked me to explain the situation after seeing her Armenian friends from college making such baseless allegation. I set the record straight with her, but I'd hate to imagine how ugly the anti-Russian venom is at the moment on the controlled social-media platforms... But to hell with the meaningless Armenian-American community, I want to focus on Armenia. I suppose it will not be too long before there are new riot attempts organized by paruhi hayrikyan and the other assholes. Maybe the long-faded star raffi hovannisan will try to regain credibility by issuing some stern "warning" to Russia. It's quite disgusting watching these vultures try to capitalize on the deaths of the innocent family members.
Sarkis, the people's outrage is justified. I am glad they took to the streets. Something as horrible as this incident cannot be taken lightly. Those that need to be silenced by security officials are the Western-funded jackals in Armenia. The people on the street, at least in this case, isn't the problem. The problem is the mercenaries amongst the people. As soon as this incident took place a bunch of Western funded opposition activists jumped into their cars and went to Gyumri for the sole purpose of inciting Russophobia. It's sickening that there are low lives trying to capitalize on this tragedy by politicizing it.
DeleteI don't disagree with anything you said Arevordi, it's just that I'm looking at this as practically as possible. Any event in Armenian politics at this point in time which involves Russia will be 100% guaranteed to bring out the western agitators, as was the case here. An event of this magnitude, as you have said, it is a major opportunity those jackals haven't had since 2008. Nature abhors a void, so even if the protests had started out as justified it was a foregone conclusion that the western interests would hijack the movement very soon, as was the case early on in other nations. So with that said, even though these people are justifiably mad, if there exists a potential for major upheaval it needs to be nipped in the bud.
DeleteLike you stated in the past, "If there is a cause, legitimate or illegitimate, that could be used to undermine a targeted political system, we can be sure that Washington's operatives are there to organize, fund, encourage and sometimes instigate. It is very unfortunate that the political West has made genuine
activism in Armenia a very dangerous affair for the vulnerable republic."
You are also correct today when you point out that the Armenian government is also largely at fault because it has failed in its duty to make sure that these agitators don't have a voice on the public forum. That is the government's main domestic security job at this stage of Armenia's development: to ensure a safe and stable society. While it is true that the Armenian government has largely weakened the mainstream opposition inside Armenia, the fact remains that the dangerous ideological subversives, media outlets, social networks, and NGOs still have free reign and influence which keep the country one bad event away from collapse. Russia is also to blame for letting its strategic partner in the South Caucasus be saturated by western agents, the Kremlin should expect repeated attempts at a "Ukrainization" or "Serbianization" of a natural ally like Armenia as long as the security situation is not improved.
BTW I do not at all take the tragedy of the family lightly. My mother happens to be from Gyumri, so this incident in many ways hits close to home. I just want to see the tragedy minimized, resolved peacefully and in a just way, and put in the past; having angry citizens marching trying to break into the Russian base set the stage for a much greater tragedy, that's why I want to see stability restored immediately and any thoughts of attacking the base destroyed from the public mindset.
Միքայել եպս. Աջապահյանի խոսքը Գյումրիի սպանդի զոհերի հոգեհանգստյան արարողության ժամանակ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLWdamCI5CA
ReplyDeleteHere is how Ajaparyan sent people home. Listening to his words it appears that provocation was organized by people from Yerevan. Zaruhi was in Gyumri too. that bitch can't loose a chance to meddle. When are they gonna lock her up for good?
Deletehttp://news.am/arm/news/247993.html
Damn that was a pretty intense speech by Ajaparyan. Thanks for that link T.K.
DeleteI hope the security services noted the people that refused to leave.
The animal was in the base less then two months, goes on a killing spree and tries to escape to Turkey. Because of what he did Armenian Russian relations are damaged, Armenians are up in arms against the 102nd base. I don't think what happened was a random crime.
ReplyDeleteArto1
I suspect it could have been turkish intel work.
DeleteI don't think he was that deranged, someone in the base would have noticed that he is a total kuku. Another option could be that he had way too much alcohol. given that he is from Siberia, they are used to drinking moonshine in bottles. when they get to almost deadly dose of 0.4 bac that can make them to hallucinate (belii goryachka).
Russia's 102nd base is arguably the most important military factor in Armenia. The base acts as a tripwire against an invasion from Turkey. By securing Armenia's western borders, the base also allows the Armenian military to concentrate its limited resources against a more manageable enemy, Azerbaijan.
ReplyDeleteI would go as far as saying Armenia exists today because of the 102nd base.
With that said, however, whoever or whatever was behind this horrible atrocity in Gyumri scored a major success against the 102nd base. This was a major success as far as damaging Russian-Armenian relations for many-many years to come. This was a major win for those who have been seeking to undermine Russian-Armenian relations and drive a wedge between Moscow and Yerevan.
We all know that generally speaking Armenians are overly emotional, politically illiterate and very family oriented. You want to seriously piss-off an Armenian and make him do irrational, self-destructive acts, mess with his family. You want to see an Armenian go insane and turn his environment upside-down, mess with his family. Whoever or whatever was behind this massacre knew our people's weaknesses well. The assault was thus directed against the Armenian family.
Now, all of Washington's shameless lemmings in Armenia will be enthusiastically exploiting this horrible tragedy toward self-serving political ends. Now, Turks and Azeris will be impatiently watching to see how destructive Armenians can get. Once more, I blame the Sargsyan's "complimentary politics" for the volatility in Armenia because it has allowed Armenia to become saturated by Western-led mercenaries during the past twenty years. Consequently, predictably and alarmingly, we are now seeing a growing trend of Russophobia amongst the new generation of Armenians.
If Russophobia goes mainstream within Armenian society, Armenia's very existence will be at risk. And every single one of the anti-Russian protesters - or rather stupid assholes - seen in the following video would be the first to flee to Russia as soon as the first Turkish army division crossed the Arax river -
Քաշքշուկ ՌԴ դեսպանատան մոտ. ՌԴ դրոշն այրելու փորձը ձախողվեց: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7ePWpgFNpM#t=97
I agree with everything you said Arevordi.
DeleteI am following the Russian media and comments, seems like many are sorry and grieve with us. Here is a in dept article, the best so far about the event. and i like the fact that the author emphasizes the need for Russia to pay more attention to Armenian interests (re Azeri weapon sales) and explains how important that base is for Russian military strategy. He also mentions that there is S400 in Armenia which i can also confirm.
http://vz.ru/politics/2015/1/15/724479.html
I dont think this was a regular crime, this was a blood coup against Armenian Russian friendship.
DeleteArto1
Shakaryants interesting choice of words
Deletehttp://arka.am/en/news/incidents/family_killing_case_shouldn_t_affect_armenia_s_relations_with_russia_and_eurasian_economic_union_pol/
Take a look at this:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM5z7VT3yJk#t=27251
The comments section is absolutely flooded with "Ukrainian freedom fighters", encouraging fellow "Armenian freedom fighters".
I am beginning to become more convinced that this is indeed a provocation and Armenians should be prepared for more to come.
The story of this soldier is a very strange one and given the history that came out, it smells of a level of corruption that this individual was in the military in the first place. He was mentally unstable, attempted suicide in the past, attempted to desert before - and was still handed a weapon and put on duty. Drug effects is a plausable theory, and the jihadis that Arevordi mentioned were spoken of by Syrian Arab soldiers in the film "the Syrian Diaries". One sergeant spoke of individuals that they wounded many times but they kept going and after capturing them they had no idea what was going on.
Here is one commentary from one "Armenian freedom fighters"
ReplyDelete'Armenia has a stupidly pro-russian regime. Armenia doesn't need Russia since security from Turkey is guaranteed by EU and NATO since Turkey is more dependent on them anyway. Russia brings nothing to Armenia other than drunkedness, corruption, etc...
в Армении тупо проросийская власть. Если Лукашевич остаивает интересы Белорусси перед Россией и делает это умно и смело, то в Армении Саргсян человек тупой и ограниченный, положил Армению к ногам России и взамен ничего не требует. На самом дела Россия не нужна Армении, так как безопастность от Турции с таким же успехом обеспечивает ЕС и НАТО. Турция завист от ЕС и НАТО куда больше чем от России. Россию же уже и Люксембург не боится. Союз с Россией затормаживает развитие Армении, так как ни иранского газа Армения не может получать сколько желает, так как Россия не позовляет, ни технологий, ни инвестиций ни организации. От Росии идет лишь пресупность, коррупция, и бардак, и пьянство. Теперь же в России национализм со всеми признаками фашизма, и так называемый солдат союзника убивает семью из 6 человек, и убивает еще и младенца штыком. Немцы не делали такого в ВМВ. На хрен сегодняшняя Росия не нужна ни Украине, не Арммении, ни Белоруссии ни кому вообще. Такая Россия должна быть разрушена, ибо злости в России будет все больше, и национализма также. Я убежден что все это понимают в ЕС, и в рукоовдстве Америки. Так что у Америке есть задача - в конце концов разрушить Россию через исламистов. Туда ей и дорога! Любовь же Армении к России противоестественна. Она выгодна лишь властям Армении, которые сущестуют за счет России. Власти Армиении вороватые монополисты, и для них ЕС не идеал, а Россия - самое то. Они получают дешевый газ и перерадоют его дороже и так бедном народу. И Россию и власть Армении надо из Армении гнать!
Show less
http://asbarez.com/130781/gyumri-protesters-clash-with-police-at-russian-consulate/
ReplyDeleteHonestly what the hell kind of reporting is this? I did not read past line 1, when they wrote "Hundreds of angry Gyumri residents clashed with police on Thursday evening, as a peaceful demonstration at the Russian consulate." I know that advanced political concepts are difficult for people to understand, but "angry protestors clashing with police" does not belong in the same sentence as "peaceful protest." They're pulling the same shit they pulling in their reporting of the Syria regime change operation. By their logic you can argue "a rape broke out when a man forced himself onto a woman as part of a Romantic date..." These people are being led by the usual, western-funded suspects, who like cockroaches have scurries out of their holes and are again trying to set Armenia up for a violent revolution.
While the situation is tense, I hope everyone here realizes that we must not let the ara manoogians, preparliaments, kevin abrahamians, zaruhi bozstanjians and other whores unfairly exploit and profiteer from the murder of the Gyumri family to push their anti-Russian bullshit, and in the process destroy Armenia.
-----
http://news.am/eng/videos/1069.html
Look at this video. The lady is upset that PreParliament called for a march in front of the Opera and the police "violently" removed the protestors.... she says this behind a line of those allegedly "violent" police officers. Bullshit. And pay attention to the police officer explain to the citizenry that the police are only interested in controlling the situaion because they are aware a few armed assholes are mixed in with the crowd and prepared to start trouble, much like drugged out freaks were mixed in to the crowd in March 2008.
And listen to the protestors screaming like spoiled sluts and calling the police "turks" while the police calmly remove them from the scene. These people don't give a fuck about the family that was murdered, they are out serving foreign interests or pushing their own pro-NATO agenda.
The protesters are asking the criminal psychopath be handed to the local authorities. A core of trouble makers are using the protest to vent their anti-Russian propaganda. The authorities have given short shrift to this malingerers. The criminal needs to be disposed of one way or another, swiftly and rapidly. To engage in extensive "investigations" profiling and delaying the end of this subhuman can only keep anger and fury simmering and bring more genuine protesters out onto the streets and provide a field day for malcontents and fifth columnists.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty clear this tragedy has been successfully hijacked and exploited by the west's mercenaries. Out of respect for the memory of the deceased family alone I'd like to see the instigators of this politicization be arrested and sentenced, not to mention the danger these people pose to Armenian security.
ReplyDeleteThe next week or two will be very tense and critical. I don't know what will calm the majority of the people down, perhaps a speedy beginning of the trial for the criminal. I don't really give a damn what the English-speaking losers in the Armenian Diaspora will say, but I wonder what could happen in and around Armenia:
-Azerbaijan, still feeling good about downing the helicopter in November and yet under pressure from declining oil prices, could decide to launch a couple of fresh attacks against Artsakh. Naturally Baku will fail militarily, and then try to blame the incidents on Armenia allegedly trying to shift public focus. Naturally the Armenian opposition in Yerevan will support Baku's claims.
-Maybe Russian border guards will kill a few Turks on the border, and the opposition will express sympathy for the Turks... Speaking of Turks, I wonder if that orange-haired opposition freak will write a letter begging the Turks to help "liberate" Gyumri from Russian occupation. We all know perfectly well that such sentiments exist in the bottom layers of Armenia's opposition.
-This is a longshot, but perhaps some provocateurs will either attack a random Russian in Armenia or a random Armenian in Russia hoping to add fuel to the fire. I'm sure they can easily find a few skinheads in Russia and whip them into a frenzy with videos of the Russian flag being burned.
-It goes without saying the usual suspects in Yerevan will be busy. Whatever they put together I'm sure Armenia's riot police can handle, but the poison from their actions will linger on for years. The big opposition names must be salivating right now (jon hughes, richard giragosian, raffi hovannisian, preparliament, alik arzumanyan, Armenia's homosexuals, and the other scum)... I suspect the opportunist LTP may issue a more Russia-sympathetic statement to take the wind out of rival oppositionist sails, as well as to get back into the Kremlin's good graces.
-Watch out for the US embassy in Yerevan making provocative statements to meddle in this tragedy.
-Lastly, I guess Armenian-Americans will march to the NATO tune and demand "Russia out of Armenia." Fortunately Russia's government takes the Armenian-Americans about as seriously as the American and Turkish governments take them, so whatever...
All of this potentially being done without any regard or respect for the memory of the victims.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_dheisyvsY
ReplyDeleteAt 4:05 you can see somone hanging off of branch trying to break it off and use it as a weapon. At 5:25 the punk hits the Armenian officer over the head with the large branch he has broken. In the USA the police would have maced, tazed, arrested, and then badly fucked that guy up. Afterwards he would face jail time for assaulting an officer and vandalizing public property. Instead, around 5:35 the Armenian officer calmly talks to the guy and tells him what he did was wrong.
The guy at 4:49, 7:01, and the end of this video looks like he is either crazy or drugged out. For those that do not understand Armenian, at 4:49 he tells the cops "know that you are 'suckers' (essentially meaning "cocksuckers") to Lennakantsis (meaning Gyumri residents, taken from the Soviet era name of Gymuri "Leninakan")" and towards the end of the video he tells the police "otherwise I will personally fuck them." The Armenian police have commendable patience, restraint and professionalism. All of that riot control training paid off.
A reminder in case anyone missed it of how a real democracy handles rowdy citizens:
Police Shooting in Billings Montana 4/14/2014 (DashCam Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41mbUNWZASc#t=1m
Levon Barseghyan is one of the main trouble makers in Gyumri and Preparliament is one of the main trouble makers in Yerevan. Given this historic opportunity, Armenia's Western funded political opposition is buzzing with activity. These people need to be rounded up and placed into jail, at least until passions settle down. But, Sargsyan's government does not have the balls. Times like this I wish Kocharyan was back at the helm.
ReplyDeleteOur self-destructive peasantry is once more ready to burn down our village to save it from imaginary monsters.
Arevordi you are right when you say the 102 base is the most important military value target in Armenia but you forgot to say that the south caucasus is now also more important to turks and Europe because of Azerbaijan's oil and because of the crisis between Europe and Russia. I dont care what any one says this massacre was a plot against Armenia and Russia. Pre-parliament agitators have to be arrested and thrown out of the country the motherfuckers are playing with Armenia existence. Enough!
ReplyDeleteՊերմյակովը պատասխանատվության կենթարկվի Հայաստանում: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUdpsebmpJk#t=34
ReplyDeleteԳյումրիի դեպքերը սադրանք է Ռուսաստանի դե՞մ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qxb0QF19Bh0
Murder of Gyumri family is ‘deliberate provocation’ (video) http://en.a1plus.am/1203953.html
Armenia’s enemies could take advantage of situation: http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/01/16/tevan-poghosyan/1561399
Anti-Russian hysteria around Giumry tragedy in interest of Armenia-Russia relationship opponents only: http://arka.am/en/news/politics/anti_russian_hysteria_around_giumry_tragedy_in_interest_of_armenia_russia_relationship_opponents_only+-+ex-ombudsman/
“Sorry, Armenia”-Russian presses start apologizing: http://armenpress.am/eng/news/790591/“sorry-armenia”-russian-presses-start-apologizing.html
You all must have read by now about the invitation from erdogan to our honourable President Serzh Sargsyan to visit turkey for the commemoration of the battle of Gallipoli. The turks, quite coincidentally, chose to commemorate the events on the 24th of April.....
ReplyDeleteOur honourable President Serzh Sargsyan replied on the same day. His reaction was to the point and very well argumented.
Please read his reaction below:
“Dear Mr. President,
I received your invitation to participate in the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli battle.
Truly, the World War I is one of the most terrific pages in human history that claimed the lives of millions of innocent people and left the fate of many others broken.
Participating in the battle of Gallipoli was Armenian artillerist of the Ottoman troops, Captain Sargis Torosyan, who devoted his life to the protection of the Empire and was awarded military honors by the Ottoman Empire for his deeds. Meanwhile, the wave of massacre deliberately planned and perpetrated by the Ottoman Government did not spare even Sargis Torosyan. Among the 1.5 million Armenians killed in the Genocide were his parents, while his sister died in the Syrian Desert.
As a result of this unprecedented massacre Raphael Lemkin coined the term “genocide.” It was the unpunished genocide that prepared ground for the Holocaust, as well as the genocides in Rwanda, Cambodia and Darfur.
You say the battle of Gallipoli was a unique example of friendly relations born in war for not only Turkey, but also the whole world, while the battlefield is a monument to peace and friendship reminding about the bitter legacy of the war. Leaving aside the importance of the Gallipoli battle or Turkey’s controversial role in the First and Second World Wars, it is necessary to remember that peace and friendship should be first of all based on the courage to face own history, the historic justice, as well as the complete, not selective, acknowledgment of the universal memory.
Unfortunately, Turkey continues the traditional policy of denial and “improves” the tools of distortion of history year by year. For the first time it will celebrate the anniversary of Gallipoli battle on April 24, while it started on March 18, 1915 and continued into late January, 1916, and the allies landed and started the battles on April 25. What purpose does this pursue, if not diverting the attention of the international community from the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide? Meanwhile, before initiating the event, Turkey had a more important commitment before its own people and whole humanity, i.e. the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.
Therefore, I would advice you not to forget to file a message of recognition of the Armenian Genocide to the world by commemorating the 1.5 million innocent victims. It’s the duty of everyone to pass the real undistorted history to the generations, thus preventing the reoccurrence of such crimes and preparing ground for the rapprochement between nations, especially neighboring nations and for further cooperation.”
P.S. Your Excellency, a few month ago I invited you to Yerevan to commemorate the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2015. We usually don’t accept being hosted by the invitee without receiving a response to our invitation.”
Lernakan
None of us thought highly of richard giragosian. It's well known to us that he is one of the cia's assets in Armenia. Unbelievable as it may sound this piece of filth has stooped to a new low.
ReplyDeletePlease read his thoughts about the so-called invitation from turkey:
http://www.rferl.org/content/armenia-turkey-gallipoli-massacre-genocide/26798079.html
"If and when the Armenian leader responds, however, Giragosian says he hopes Erdogan's offer will be "duly noted, welcomed, and appreciated."
"Despite the fact that Sarkisian is probably not even intending to accept the offer, the invitation should be welcomed," he says. "But that's idealistic. In reality, we should expect a deafening silence from the Armenian side. And perhaps, in some ways, a diplomatic missed opportunity."
This guy needs to be dealt with ASAP and anyone associated with him as well
A somewhat positive development I've noticed is that he doesn't really get much airtime anymore by the leading channels. Not surprisingly, his comments mainly appear on the cia funded media: armenianow and radio free liberty.
Lernakan
Frankly Erdogan's attempts to distract Sargsyan with the commemoration of Gallipoli's battle is seriously disgraceful, knowing that he still denies what happened.
DeleteIt is also a very stupid move by Erdogan. I am sure international representation at the genocide memorial will be much wider and higher ranked level than Gallipoli event. Erdogan has set himself up in a trap. I don't think many like to go and celebrate Gallipoli with Erdogan. By choosing April 24 he risks celebrating with Azeries and Pakistanis.
DeleteSee the link below for a somewhat better translation of the President's reply:
ReplyDeletehttp://armenpress.am/eng/news/790596/president-serzh-sargsyan-responds-to-turkish-president%E2%80%99s-letter-invitation.html
Lernakan
Very interesting interview with Gen Horat Ter Gringoryants. He was responsible for creation of Armenian Army and 102 Russian base. Was Commander of Army from 1992 to 1995. Pay attention to his answer about peace agreement signed in 1994. He said he had nothing to do with that shameful agreement and would have never signed it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.regnum.ru/news/polit/1885317.html
Very interesting interview indeed. It's absolutely fascinating that he had to convince Russians at the time to keep troops in Armenia. I think the man was destined for this task at such a crucial time in Armenian history. It is precisely due to pivotal individuals such as him that we have an Armenia today. Thank you for posting this article. I added it to the blog.
DeletePS: I find it quite repulsive that CIA agent Paruyr Hayrikian gets credited for creating the Armenian army.
Тигран Манасян. Операция «Пермяков», или Попытка поссорить Армению с Россией: http://regnum.ru/news/polit/1885443.html
ReplyDeleteДенис Дворников: "Беда России в привычке говорить с соседями через губу — «Да куда они денутся!?»: http://regnum.ru/news/society/1885346.html
If Russia wanted to exploit the situation in Georgia's Samtskhe-Javakheti province, there's no better time than now: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/01/russia-caucasus-georgia-armeni-2015114111654383153.html
ReplyDeleteThat would be absolutely fantastic. Even though we have seen American power in Georgia weaken recently, the fact remains that the country is still saturated by western interests and Georgians working for western interests. Georgia at this point is a total loss and will remain a problem for the Kremlin. Liberating Javakhk would, as the article explains, resolve several issues for Armenia and Russia:
Delete-further weakening of Georgia and further crushing of its NATO hopes
-restoring the Russian base in the region near the border with Turkey which was closed in 2007
-strengthening the bonds between Russia and Armenia
-securing Russia's role in the South Caucasus and denying Turkey any role
-bringing the BTC and Baku-Kars railway under control
-further isolating Azerbaijan (the main alternate fuel source for Europe)
-posing a direct threat to Tbilisi which is on the border of Javakhk
-liberating an Armenian population on Armenian lands, dotted with Armenian Churches and Armenian schools
I had to laugh at the authors claims of "The West can make it clear to Russia that further meddling in Georgia's domestic affairs could lead to additional sanctions." It reminded me of:
http://s54.radikal.ru/i143/0808/b3/ab5d91e1abbd.jpg
The author needs better map-reading skills, though. He says "Secondly, and more importantly for Russia, bringing the region under Moscow's influence would make a land corridor between Russia and Armenia, via South Ossetia, one step closer." Connecting South Ossetia to Javakhk would still necessitate occupying Tblisi and the rest of Georgia. Still not a bad idea though.
Top level leaders in Russia have been silent about Gyumri. Why don't they show support. Why don't we see top level delegation flying to Armenia? If the murders in Gyumri was not the work of one crazy monster is there a chance the Russian government was involved? I don't think so but I want to give all possibilities a chance. Is there anything Russia could gain by committing this massacre? Anything?
ReplyDeleteI agree that the Russians are failing at getting their message across. They need to be more active in Armenia. Relying on Armenians' understanding that the base necessary to keep the Turks out is obviously not an acceptable approach.
DeleteAs to the thoery that this was a Russian operation, that makes no sense because such an operation would obviously only produce one result: Armenians becoming furious with Russians and growing distrust of the Russian military presence. Usually clandestine operations are designed to make your side look good, not to make your side look time barbaric monsters to be hated and wished to be removed.
Cui bono (to whose benefit) was this massacre? Clearly it only benefited the anti-Russian freaks inside Armenia who pounced at the opportunity to politicize this event.
Since Gyumri is in the headlines, let's take a look one of the foreign operations based there. Most people think that the Russian military base is the only major non-Armenian entity in Gyumri, but actually there is an "opposition" controlled television station named Gala TV. This shady operation serves gained some notoriety when it broadcast a speech during the regime change attempt back in 2008 by free agent traitor Levon Ter-Petrosyan. LTP's speech, unsurprisingly, was a thinly veiled call violence and a coup d'état. The authorities were right to deny that son-of-a-bitch Levon airtime back then, proven by the very serious damage his failed color revolution produced including ten deaths, serious property damage, a poisoned political atmosphere inside Armenia for years, an excuse for the west to put pressure on Armenia to further western interests, a united call by the Turks and Azeris and Raffi Hovannisian to place international sanctions against Armenia, an excuse for Azerbaijan to launch the 2008 Mardakert skirmishes and then blame the deaths/injuries on Armenia allegedly trying to divert attention, and lastly the general anti-Artsakh (Karabakh) bigotry that flowed through LTP's entire campaign.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I recall reading a while back that Gala TV "entered into a partnership" with the George Soros Operation "Open Society Foundations - Armenia." So basically we have a Jew/globalist funded TV network in the rather tiny city of Gyumri - which just so happens to host one of the very few Russian military installations outside Russia - pumping out the type of nation-destroying crap one would expect from a Jew/globalist TV network. It's hard to find English-language links, but here is a release by another subversive journalist group that involves Gala and the other fronts:
http://www.ypc.am/bulletin/t/42272/ln/en
The fact that there exists an Open Society Armenia organization alone demonstrates how dangerously corrupt Armenian society remains. If any of us had any dreams that Armenia would develop into a serious regional power or extract any sort of concession from Turkey in the near future, the last couple of days should serve as a wake-up call. As we have so amply been reminded, the infrastructure is in place for the west to hijack any abnormal or tragic development in Armenia and use it as an opportunity to destroy the Armenian state. Whether it is a new mining operation, taxi fares being raised, a foreign language school, or whether it is some tragedy like non-combat deaths, the murder at the Harsnakar restaurant or this recent atrocity by that Russian soldier.
These jackals have no shame. They politicized non-combat deaths to turn Armenians against the Armenian Army - the soldiers and officers who sacrafice their lives on the frontlines in order to keep the multi-billion dollar Azeri war machine at bay. The politicized Artsakh in 2008 in order to get Yerevan residents to riot against the Kocharyan/Sargsyan government. They politicize every (admittedly repulsive) scandal that involves a wealthy businessman and turn it into an attempt at regime change by manipulating the frustrations of the common masses. And they've obviously been planning very hard trying to politicize developments from the Russian military base in Gyumri, from the killing of the two Turkish invaders last year on the border to the recent killing spree, into a tool for Russophobia.
If the Sargsyan government and the Kremlin want to avoid these situations from developing on a regular basis, they need to destroy the western NGO and press infrastructure inside Armenia and eliminate the big-name subversive traitors leading the regime change movement. The Police can only put down so many riots before the situation becomes critical.
Anonymous (January 17, 2015 at 9:19 PM)
ReplyDeleteI'm also a bit disappointed that the atrocity in Gyumri does not seem to have resonated much inside Kremlin. A high level Russian delegation should have been sent to Yerevan in response to what happened. But I attribute this lack of response or concern more to Russian callousness and coldblooded approach to such matters than to some conspiracy. It's simply the Russian way. We see Russian officials acting harsh and callous even towards Russians. If you remember, when the Kursk submarine tragedy took place about fifteen years ago the Kremlin was silent and unapologetic for quite a while. In fact, the Kremlin never fully disclosed what happened to the submarine. I personally think it's because an American submarine was suspected of accidentally sinking the Kursk. We have seen other situations where Russian officials were unprepared, did not act in time or reacted in an callous/thick skinned manner: Beslan school tragedy in 2003 and the Nord Ost theater hostage crisis.
I think it's part of the Russian character and Moscow's political culture not to fall to their knees and apologize for every single tragedy that takes place there - because there have been so many tragedies both big and small in that part of the world in recent history.
It should be added that since what took place in Gyumri seems very strange/suspicious the Kremlin may be waiting to see what really took place before they say or do anything.
Now, with that said, despite what many people think I keep an open mind to everything. If what happened in Gyumri was not the result of some deeply troubled individual or some Western/Turkish psy-ops, I am willing to admit that the atrocity - could have been - somehow organized by elements within the Russian government.
In my opinion, there are two possibilities here: 1) Russia's deep state could have done it; 2) Turkish/Western elements within the Russian political apparatus could have done it.
In my opinion, number 2 is more plausible. There are many Western mercenaries and people of Turkish/Tatar/Azrri decent inside Russia's political and military structures. But, if the real reason behind the atrocity is number 1, let's try to figure out what would the motivation/rational/reasoning be behind the decision -
I cannot think of any rational/logical or even abstract reason why they would do something like this. I may be missing something. I am therefore willing to entertain theories. So, please if you have any, I'm all ears.
PS: Regardless or who/what was behind the atrocity, Armenians are not helping the situation by burning Russian flags and demanding that the 102nd base be shutdown. The Armenian approach to this matter is very self-destructive for it actually poses a serious danger to the existence of the Armenian state.
PS: At the end of the day, if one Godforsaken day Russians and Turks become close allies and decide to turn against Armenia - there is nothing in the world we Armenians can do to resist their designs towards our homeland. We are not helping the matter by burning Russian flags and calling for the ouster of Russian soldiers from Armenia.
PS: As heartless as this may sound, responding to this terrible tragedy in a way that would make all Armenians satisfied is not very high on the priority list in the Kremlin. Let's recall that the Russian nation is in a historic fight, essentially for its life. The Russian president has his plate overflowing with urgent matters.
PS: We Armenians cannot see past our egos, hate and political illiteracy.
Right after the incident, Shoigu sent his best to get an idea what is going on. Lavrov called and made it clear that Russia will make sure that justice is done for our nation.
DeletePutin had to wait and see what his army chief and FM are telling about this. They now know what happened, we may or may not ever know all details, Putin called when he had the whole picture in front of him.
Due to gruesome nature of the killings there is many emotions and we want answers right away, we also want apologies. it is natural. But in international affairs it takes time and we need to be little patient.
I have no doubt that Russians will do everything to make sure this tragedy gets all the answers and we feel the justice is served.
The opposition will use this for their purposes, that is what they want.
The reality is whole family has been killed and after this apology and justice served phases we need to counter. It is Russian GRU and Armenian NS services business now to make sure we counter this damage.
This tragedy will not go in veil, it will make everyone to wake up and see that we are vulnerable and we can't let our guard down for a second. The world is at the brink of major conflict and we have to be ready.
This tragedy has touched many aspects of Armenia-Russia relations. There is common opinion coming out in Russian press that they are not paying attention to their main ally in the South. I am happy Russians are writing about this. Starting with selling weapons to Azeries (Smerch should have not been sold in my opinion), recent contracts with Turkey and forgiving about 1 billion debt to Uzbekistan (which is not in CSTO).
DeleteWhen Russia does what it needs to do for it's national interests it should also make sure we are well taking care of.
Even though i think there is top level conversations about all this and we are getting what we need in military field, we often are not aware of details.
It doesn't take much to make Armenia's economy prosperous if things are done right. Gyumi needs about 1 billion investment to get up and running. Russian business and Armenian-Russian oligarkhs have all the means to make Armenia a dreamland. It must be done, there must be pressure from Putin to get this done.
Here is the main argument i have heard many times:
We have money, but Armenia is a small market, i can make 10 times more investing in Russia. Plus i have to pay the local oligarkhs in that region and tax and customs authorities.
They are right, that is the sad reality. There is no other way to overcome this until Putin will show his finger and our government will get serious and make necessary changes. It is a shame that with such an important geopolitical considerations Russian-Armenian economic relations have not accomplished even 10% of what they can. The political decisions are there, military is there, academic is there but economic area is stumbling. Where are major projects Armenia can offer? where are guarantees it can make for business to invest. All we seen is guarantees for world bank and IMF money. We have been circling around those important issues for too long. And it will backfire one day.
Thank you T.K. and Arevordi,
DeleteI guess what I wanted to see was top level officials to fly to Yerevan after the killings to show some professionalism. I wish they done this because that would have quieted the opposition. There is some oppositionists saying this was a Russian provocation to show Armenians who's the boss and who's the vassal. Some are saying this was a signal that Russians and Turks are getting close to each other. Some are saying this maybe was a random crime but Russia's reaction shows how little Russia cares about Armenians. Russia's reaction can calm down tensions. You guys make sense when you say officials have to wait to see what is happening before they say something. I think there is a good opportunity now to bring Armenians and Russians closer together but it's up to Russia to make it happen.
TK,
DeleteYou brought up a couple of very important points.
The lack of attention Armenia gets from Moscow is perhaps the only, albeit major flaw in Russian-Armenian alliance. I blame both, Russians and Armenians for this situation. Armenians have failed to become a lobbying presence inside Moscow (perhaps assuming it's not necessary since Russia is a strategic ally) and have instead concentrated on establishing closer relations with Western bodies. Russians, for their part, have neglected little Armenia, assuming that Armenia is an ally and will stay an ally no matter what Moscow does. Essentially, both sides are sure of each others fidelity, both sides are neglecting each other. Both sides are fundamentally wrong. Armenia must place all its limited resources in establishing a presence inside the walls of the Kremlin. Russians must realize that Armenia's internal woes are being exploited by Western/Turkish interests and used against Russia's presence inside Armenia. Russian officials must realize that the situation in Armenia may get worst in the future because Western propaganda is targeting Armenia's youth.
I would like to once more remind the readers that my support for the current administration in Yerevan is primarily based on the realization that it is the lesser of all political evils currently present in the embattled country. Had we Armenians had a real political opposition (one not doing the bidding of Turks and Westerners) I would be using this blog to call for a regime change in Yerevan. Seeing what's waiting on the political sidelines to take control once the regime in Yerevan overthrown, I rather keep our chobans-in-Armani-suits in power. The self-destructive character of the Western-led political opposition in Armenia today is forcing me and others like to me tolerate the status quo in Yerevan.
But something has got to give.
I know they have a lot of their hands, but I hope Russian officials eventually come to their senses and realize that as long as Armenians live miserably and without hope, Western/Turkish interests will exploit the situation in the country to foment anti-Russian hysteria. Moscow needs to better recognize the strategic importance of Armenia. Although it's primarily the responsibility of Armenians to put Armenia into order, Russian officials have to realize that the entire political landscape in Armenia today is rotten and needs to be overhauled. Unfortunately, we Armenians seem incapable of nation-building and must therefore be spoon fed.
I hope to see Russian officials come to the realization that Armenia's sociopolitical well being is beneficial for long term Russian interests. I hope to see Moscow carryout a regime change inside Yerevan before the country falls apart from within.
Arevordi, "elements" in Russia could be responsible. Please read this: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russian-activists-ask-putin-to-send-troops-into-armenia-/514546.html
DeleteThis is no smoking gun. If this really is a Russian website, it seems to be the product of the county's ultra-nationalist nutjobs. Those behind the site are more-or-less claiming that the Russian soldier accused of the murders in Gyumri is being framed by Armenia's western-oriented government. They are claiming this incident was an anti-Russian operation conducted on Armenian soil for the sole purpose of creating a anti-Russian "maidan" in Armenia. They think the Russian soldier is innocent and thus a symbol of an oppressed Russia. They are also calling on the Russian government to basically annex Armenia in order to protect Russian soldiers and Russian speaking peoples in the country. If this website is not a foreign sponsored psy-ops, it's basically a reflection of how aggressive and paranoid Russia's ultra-right wing population can be. In the current state of the political world, where Russians feel threatened, Russian nationalism bound to take on an extreme character. Everything must be done to remedy the situation. Like I said, what happened in Gyumri was a severe blow to Russian-Armenian relations. This incident has soured relations between the two countries for many years to come. Nutjobs in Russia and Western mercenaries in Armenia are bound to makes things worst if the authorities in both countries do not crack down on their trouble makers. Right now it's up to Moscow to make sure the situation does not spiral out of control. If the law allows it, the accused soldier must be handed over to Armenia for trial. With that said, Yerevan is not without responsibilities here. Armenia's law enforcement authorities cannot allow Western-led instigators amongst protestors to politicize this tragedy. All in all, this is a tragedy on many levels and the damage is has caused to Russian-Armenian relations will reverberate for many, many years to come.
DeleteArevordi
DeleteIt is also strange to hear the same people who yesterday were screaming loudly that Armenia has most corrupt and untrustworthy judicial system are in the front lines demanding that the trial has to be done in Armenia. All of a sudden our judges and the prison system became the best in the world and the only one that could be objective in this case. I have no doubt the Russian military tribunal can do an equal job. However, investigation has to be done jointly, and Armenian side in a form of prosecutor should be present with public being informed about proceedings.
Pretty much the killer will get the same sentence either way, there is no death penalty. Maximum sentence is the only option here.
The opposition knows all this very well and it is time they stop inflaming the public.
TK,
DeleteThe point you raised has actually been one of the odd aspects in this ordeal. As soon as I saw the opposition making its demands, I was thinking to myself: "Look at these people all of a sudden respecting Armenian law enforcement bodies." Their political motivation is obvious. The political opposition's existence in Armenia is primarily geared against Russia's presence in Armenia. But I'm afraid they have scored a major success. What happened in Gyumri has given them a new lease on life. In a sense, we (pro-Russian Armenians) have been checkmated. They now have the initiative against those of us who have been preaching better/closer Russian-Armenian relations. We must be able to recognize our defeats.
Arevordi
DeleteThey did checked, but not checkmated. They set us back but not destroyed.
For that reason alone, this savage has to stay alive. On emotional level we would have been happy to see him killed. At least half of Russians are also saying he should be hanged. But we have to know the truth behind this, we have to get the most information out of him. At times that takes years, imprisonment , and other means.
The war in Novarossia appears to be back on. In the pro-Novorossia blogosphere there is a lot of chatter about the heavy activization of "arms trade" (arms trade is Moscow's alternative to direct military intervention) and appearance of 'volunteers'. Suposedly the channels have been well prepped such that the activation if above the August-September levels.
ReplyDeleteRussia attempted to take into a peaceful settlement but the gang in Kiev sabotaged each time under direction from the US embassy. Prior to a meeting in Astana heavy artillery rained on Novorossia, and Novorossian artillery countered, since then Ukrainian forces have been wiped out on several checkpoints and serious battles in the Donetsk airport led to the defeat of its occupants. Kiev forces attempted a powerful counterattack which ended unsuccessfully for them.
The six month old child died of his wounds today. What a horrible thing for a child to die like this. This has been one of the most heartrending periods in Armenia. Regardless of who/what carried out this evil crime, this has been a severe blow to Russian-Armenian relations, one that will resonate for many years to come. It is primarily up to Moscow now to resolve this matter in a way that will not make things worst between the two historically allied nations. Although I realize that Russia is in a historic fight for its life against Western powers, I do nevertheless call on Russian officials to begin paying more attention to their little Armenian ally in the south Caucasus.
ReplyDeleteThey could at least start with handing over that savage to the Armenian authorities. That's not too much to ask right? According to the agreements signed between Armenia and Russia, the Russian border guards who caught that savage had no right to transfer him to the Russian army base.
ReplyDeleteGod, why didn't the Armenian police catch him before they did?
I don't know this whole situation has disappointed me a lot. The Russian authorities have a lot to learn when it comes to soft power diplomacy and how to treat your allies in general. If they keep doing what they're doing the western puppets in Armenia will eventually reach their goal.
Lernakan
There have been many criminal cases involving American troops in Iraq, Japan, Korea, Afghanistan, Turkey and Philippines. Not one American soldier has been turned over to another country to stand trial for any crime. It just does not happen. There are laws against turning over American service personnel to another country.
DeleteTherefore, it all comes down to the agreement signed between the two countries. If the agreement allows it, the suspected criminal needs to be transferred to Armenian authorities to stand trial. If agreement between the two countries does not allow the soldier to be turned over to Armenia, then an effort must be put into making sure he gets punished for the crime, that is if he indeed is guilty of it.
Anyway, I know this is an emotional matter but we need time to sort things out. The incident happened only several days ago. We need to give Russian and Armenian authorities time to investigate what happened, why it happened and who else was behind it. Thus far, the official Russian reaction has been measured and cautious. I believe they, as well as the Armenian side, are still trying to figure out what happened. I am sure in the coming days and weeks more noticeable steps will be taken by Moscow. Armenia also needs to do its part by curbing its Western mercenaries.
PS: I still think we do not know the whole story behind what happened. There are many aspects of the murders that do not make much sense.
Lernakan
DeleteWe have to also take into account that if the killer were to be under Armenian custody, Russians could have been afraid that he would have been killed without trial. Especially if he were to be held in Gyumri. Now imagine for a minute how that could have exacerbated Armenian-Russian relations.
I think if Russians had death penalty they would have judged and executed him in a matter of few days. But that is not an option either. He has to serve his time and sending him to prison inside Armenia is not an option. We know he may be executed there. All of this are serious questions, that is why I think there will be joint investigation, lifetime sentence and he will serve it in Russia.
Additionally Russia will allow driver Hrach (who killed 18 unintentionally) to come back and serve his time in Armenia.
This is a logical end to this story. We need the killer to get lifetime sentence and it should not matter where he serves his time: in Russia or Armenia.
Handling the criminal is not that simple, considering the internal 5th colomn in Russia, The russian administration is in a very delicate position, and they certainly coordinate their actions with the Armenian administration , or so I hope.
DeleteInteresting article:
ReplyDeleteRussia Is Losing Friends and Alienating Peoples
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/russia-is-losing-friends-and-alienating-peoples/514578.html
Lernakan
Let's also not forget the fact that the savage is from a family that does not belong to Russian Orthodox church, some cult or evangelical, some say baptist. We all know who finances those sects in Russia.
ReplyDeletehttp://obozrevatel.com/crime/49785-ubijtsa-armyanskoj-semi-okazalsya-syinom-pastora-tserkvi-vera-nadezhda-lyubov.htm
http://chita.kp.ru/daily/26330.7/3213179/
The Moscow Times is less honest than Soros.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I read that the Russian soldier who is blamed for the killings had a kind of Christian fringe/cult background, the kind that comes from the West. Any truth to that?
What I do not understand is that the Russian and Armenian militaries cannot seem to get the message through to the political or ministerial folks that you cannot have the youth brainwashed against you and working for NGOs all over the place. I read a quote from a Russian involved in negotiations/diplomacy with the Ukraine in the past that said something like "We overestimated the importance of money to resolve all problems." In other words, they assumed that business logic and bribes would be all they needed. In the case of Russian-Armenian relations, the assumption is probably that it would be suicidal for Armenia to be anything other than Russia's best friend.
Eurasian
I have heard about the family's involvement in some Christian cult from a number of sources. So, it may very well be true.
DeleteI agree with everything you said. NGOs are cancerous growths in the Armenian body. If these foreign cells are not destroyed or put into remission they will metastasize. Our nation is stagnating and suffering because of our leader's incompetence and people's ignorance.
re: "I agree that the Russians are failing at getting their message across. They need to be more active in Armenia. Relying on Armenians' understanding that the base necessary to keep the Turks out is obviously not an acceptable approach."
ReplyDeleteWell, my limited dealings with Armenians in Southern California has shown me that it could take a tremendous amount of effort for limited gain to try to convince Armenians of anything. It might be better just to declare unofficial war on NGOs and make sure the educational system is not under their control. Make it a crime to pay someone to go to a protest. Whatever it takes. Put some bonus money in banks in Hong Kong for Armenian political leaders for each NGO that gets shut down. It is war.
It is possible that an unsuccessful Maidan in Yerevan would be good for both Armenia and Russia. It is important to convince the Kremlin that they can't ignore ideological work. It is criminal how they ignored everything in the Ukraine other than gas pipelines, the bases, and some oligarchs.
Eurasian
A lot of good discussion on this issue from everyone, I have heard lots of plausible theories and a couple of highly unlikely ones.
ReplyDeleteThere was mention that this could be a Russian operation as a way for Russia to saber rattle its own dominance in the region by saying "hey look, we don't bow to anyone, even in such extreme cases". This theory is just plain ridiculous, it would make no absolute sense whatsoever. Only the EU/US cronies in Armenia will push this theory as a means to sour relations further and prod a vulnerable Gyumri populace's wounds.
With that said, I am appalled by the way Armenian law enforcement, security forces, and government organs in general have handled and reacted to this crisis. First off, as soon as they became aware of the slayings, local schools, churches, and other public areas should have had law enforcement placed as a standard measure while the unknown culprit was at large, Instead, the fucking chobans in Armani suits, had a bunch of fat, overweight, middle ages assholes running up and down across Gyumri more concerned with acting macho with side arms drawn than actually establishing an effective tactical perimeter and securing the public. For all they knew, this killer while at large could have the next day/morning waltzed into a school yard and mowed down more kids, or run into a church to cause more carnage. The unprofessionalism and ass backwards state of affairs of law enforcement was a site to behold. When some average joe blow can directly address a police officer with vulgarity and even tell the officer to shut up as was the case during the crowd gatherings, it is a direct result of not commanding any respect as a representative of the law. This lack of respect partly has to do with the Armenian idiotic psyche of resisting authority, but it is largely due to the absolute sorry state of affairs of law enforcement in Armenia today. Too many vestiges of Soviet fat overweight officers are still in the force with their big Polit Buro hats. For fuck's sake clean yourselves up, get in shape, and get organized, then demand public respect by acting like serious, self respect cops.
Enker, although we don't like to talk about it, our nation is very backward and our leadership weak. Armenians, as a whole, are an underdeveloped people with a lot of problems. There are legitimate reasons behind why we are the way we are. However, the reason why our leadership is weak and directionless is because they are guilty of self-serving politics and severe corruption. To mask their many sins they are giving Western interests in Armenia a safe place in the political landscape. This in turn is turning Armenia into a sociopolitical powder keg. At the end of the day, it's not up to Russians to get our mess in order (Russians their hands full). As long as Armenia is allied to Russia, Moscow will be happy regardless of who/what is in power. We Armenians are responsible for Armenia.
DeletePS: The Armenian police have been given specific order to tolerate vulgar/aggressive protestors during sanctioned protests because Serj is worried about Western support for his regime. With that said, Armenian security officials are conducting midnight beatings to keep the Western-led protesters in order.
SasounciDavit,
DeleteI have to protest some of the things you said about the Armenian police. Police do not exercise discretion on whether or not to allow mass gatherings/protests. That is a socio-political decision which rests on the executive branch of government (President Sargsyan and his ministers and advisors). The police merely enforce public order. Like Arevordi said, they have been ordered to not retaliate to provocations, and to allow the rioters to yell and scream, tire themselves out, and then return home. If Armenian authorities wanted to take that decision, the state security bodies (various police, intelligence and military branches) could lock the country down and clear the streets in a very short period of time. Instead, given the fact that Armenia is a country with way too much freedom, the police have been trained merely with crowed control/management for these types of situations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKKft-Dnymo
None of the behavior of the protestors is acceptable, that is a reflection of the immaturity of Armenian society plus the purposeful incitement of riots by western agents inside Armenia. But - much like how the west is trying to provoke Russia into responding in Ukraine - the shepherds of these protests/riots are following the script written by Gene Sharp and others whereby they hijack some national grievance or protest, whip the protestors into a rioting frenzy, provoke the police, and then hope that the police respond and one of the hundreds of cameras and cell phones gets a clear recording of the police reation. The western controlled media then carefully edits this footage to remove the provocations, and begins airing stories of "police brutality against peaceful protestors." This causes sympathy at home for the protestors, and becomes a tool of pressure on the international stage against Armenia's government... Because of the horrible way in which the family was killed, it was only natural that peeople would be angry, and would demonstrate. From that point of view it would have been unfair for the police to immediately take a hostile and aggressive stance against the protestors. But on the other hand, the event was already politicized the second a news story appeared with "killing" and "Russian soldier in Armenia" in the headlines due to the ongoing western operation campaign inside Armenia, so it was bound to happen that the Turk-loving half-breeds, Russophobes, social degenerates and outcasts, drug addicts, and western-indoctrinated scum would hijack the protests to push their suicidal agenda. I think the police handled the situation as best as we could have hoped, with minimal injuries and damages and zero deaths. A large number of the injured were police officers, who basically took the hit in order to maintain stability in the country. They served with honor and made us proud.
The Armenian government knows all of this, but still lets the NGOs and western agents run around the country, assuming that the Armenian police will always prevent the riots from getting out of hand. I strongly disagree with this policy because I think the police deserve more respect than to basically be used as human punching bags for agitated protestors (I'm talking about the riot police who prevented our bewildered herd from marching onto the Russian military base and Russian consulates and embassies a few days ago, not the traffic cops or custom's officials). You're correct that Armenia's police are being shown no respect - L.A.P.D. would have really fucked those protestors up with mace, tazers, nightsticks and bullets - but it is not their fault because they have been ordered from the top to just hold the line and nothing more.
Arevordi posted a video a while back, I think it was a parskahay in Yerevan giving a traffic cop a disrespectful attitude while filming with his cell phone. There is no shortage of agitators pointing cell phones in police officers faces over minor stops in Armenia, hoping to goad the police officer into reacting. All compliments of the US embassay and its "civil society" training.
DeletePs the caps officers wear are military style caps. They are a holdover from older times. US media loves to ridicule those caps in order to make mockery of the officials who wear them (usually Russians) a commonplace and accepted thing. It's just more hypocrisy when one police state tries to denigrate the police of rival nations.
Ps2 I completely agree with you, though, about some of our officers having disgustingly large guts hanging out of their uniforms. I understand that at their age they will not realistically see any combat, but it's still a terrible image. Sadly I notice it in some of the military videos I watch as well. Nobody wants to see an Ariel Sharon style fat pig holding a position in Armenia's security bodies.
Ps3 I recall reading that the police said they knew where the killer was before the Russians took him into custody. Perhaps it was a political decision, they knew where he was hiding but decided or were told not to make the arrest themselves.
Ps4 I really hope Arevordi is correct about midnight beatings, but it will be meaningless if they beat the common peasants. The likes of giragosian and bozstenchian are the ones who need their attitudes corrected.
Very well said Sarkis. Gene Sharp's game plan is very noticeable in actions taken by the political opposition inside Armenia; you see it pronounced specifically amongst Preparliament types.
DeletePS: There have been several beatings in the last few weeks alone. They are targeting mid-level troublemakers/activists. For now, the opposition leadership will not be touched. Too bad...
The second big issue comes was how Russia handled and is handling this whole thing. First and foremost, lets assume this incident to be the worst case scenario. That is, a Manchurian Candidate type preparation was made with mind altering drugs by enemies of the Russian-Armenian alliance as a means to sour relations. Now, with the incident said and done, Russia should just put its fucking ego down and realize that even in such a worst case scenario, the butcher needs to stand trial amidst an Armenian legal system in order to satiate the public cries for justice and create an air of good faith between Russia and Armenia. They over complicated the whole scenario and are continuing to pour fuel on the fire every minute they keep this asshole out of Armenian courts and beyond the reach of Armenian judicial due process. Could he be killed in an Armenian jail? Perhaps, but Russian jails are no country club either, for killing a child he could easily become a marked man in Russian prisons. The quick and efficient way this should have been handled was simply to have the suspect handed over to Armenian authorities and assign either an ombudsman/representative of some sort to "monitor" the prosecution, sentencing, and visit the fucker in jail regularly to make sure he is fed, clothes, and serving his sentence correctly inside the Armenian jail system. This would serve to quickly satiate the people's cry for justice while simultaneously deal a devastating "shut the fuck up" blow to all the Western whores, media, NGOs, pundits etc. inside and outside Armenia.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say it, but we speak about pragmatism on this site all the time and this time I'm not going to make any excuses for the Russians, they fucking dropped the ball and acted arrogantly in this situation. There would be no shame in handing this fucker over, he committed the most heinous of crimes on Armenian civilian soil away from the base he should have been on. There should be no "ifs", "ands", or "buts" about it from the Russians regardless of how powerful they are as a country, this is a matter of humanitarian principle, not politics and the second the Russians decided to keep this fucker out of Armenian judicial hands, they created a political catastrophe for themselves and for Armenian-Russian relations, end of story.
Even more embarrassing was it took border guards to catch this guy while our fat fuck law enforcement officers were scratching their balls running up and down the streets of Gyumri. If the Russians stick to their guns and keep this guy behind a curtain, this incident as Arevordi has said will have very long standing repercussions for Russian-Armenian relations in and out of Armenia, they may win in the short timeframe, but they will utterly set themselves up for a long term mess.
This is not a matter of principle or ethics. This is a matter of geopolitics and laws governing international relations. No self-respecting nation, especially a superpower, will allow its service personnel stand trial in another nation regardless for the severity of the crime... unless there are law that allow it. Thus far, I have not been able to get a clear picture of what the agreement between Moscow and Yerevan says.
DeleteWhat if the suspect was setup or was indeed induced to commit the crime? Such an investigation becomes perilously dangerous and can take years to complete. Why should Russian authorities - immediately - handover a soldier accused of murders who's circumstances are unclear? Because a few thousand Armenians with a handful of Western-funded instigators are demanding it? Not going to happen.
Knowing Russian character, we will not get far with Moscow by burning Russian flags and calling on the 102nd base to be dismantled.
Right now, it's too soon to accuse Moscow of anything. It's been barely a week since the tragedy. I am pretty sure President Putin didn't even know about the details of the killings until very recently. We Armenians always fail to recognize that Russia is a massive nation and they have a number of very serious issues ranging from Ukraine to Syria to north Caucasus to Iran to China to ect. Regardless of what our egos want, Russians don't have a separate department to their government that only handles cases relating to Armenia.
In time Moscow will make sense of what happened. If the crime was instigated from abroad we may not be given all the details. Nevertheless, regardless of what Moscow does going forward, Russian-Armenian relations have been dealt a severe blow. The Western financed journalists/political activists Levon Barseghyan said it right in his interview with CIA's Radio Liberty: "relation between the two nations will never be the same".
I think serious trouble lies ahead because we Armenians are overly emotional and politically illiterate, we have a leadership that is incompetent and corrupt and we have a political landscape in Armenia that is utterly saturated by Western mercenaries. When the shit hits the fan, forget Russian nationalists asking Putin to invade Armenia, there will be many Armenians begging Putin to invade Armenia.
We have created much of the misery (real and perceived) we are in.
SasounciDavit,
DeleteAmen brother, well said.
However, all emotions aside Arevordi is right. Let's see what the investigations will show. I don't think the savage was drugged. If this was the case wouldn't he be shocked at what he had done as well? Wouldn't he claim not to remember a thing? Also a drugged person wouldn't think to get rid of his clothes, put on civilian clothes for cover and try to cross a state border to escape, would he?
I think he could've done this for:
1. no reason whatsoever, just because he's mentally ill.
2. for turkish/azeri/western powers with the aim of causing a rift between Armenia and Russia.
3. racial reasons. maybe this savage is a racist pig?
Also looking at pictures of his brother it doesn't seem that this savage grew up in a healthy environment (not surprising).
Lernakan
Lernakan,
DeleteAssuming that news reports about Permyakov is true, I do not think he was drugged either. If he was drugged he would not have remembered much of what had happened. There are several very high profile examples of drudged assassins: Robert Bales (who carried out the massacre of civilians in Kandahar); Sirhan Sirhan (who assassinated Robert Kennedy); and Mark Chapman (who assassinated John Lennon). All three exhibited signs of being under the influence of medications upon their arrest. All three did not attempt to escape. All three had poor recollection of what they had done. If news reports are to be believed, Valery Permyakov does not seem to have been under the influence of medications
With that said, why would a "racist" Russian kill an innocent family two kilometers away from his base in the middle of the knight and attempt to escape to Turkey? It make no sense. If Permyakov "snapped" (mental breakdown, mentally ill), why go two kilometers and target an entire family? Why attempt to flee to Turkey? It also makes no sense.
I think he knew what he was doing and may have done it for a specific reason. Until proven otherwise, I am suspecting what happened was hit ordered from abroad.
The gossip in the Turkish-Armenian community, at least amongst some I have spoken to in recent days, is that this was a hit ordered by Turks or Americans to muddy the water ahead of the Armenian Genocide's 100th anniversary and sour Russian-Armenian relations at a time when Armenia has joined the EEU.
Again, why would he target a family two kilometers from the base, leave behind incriminating evidence and attempt to escape to Turkey at night and in the middle of the winter?
Actually this event would make a difficult legal hypothetical: the perpetrator was a Russian national on from the Russian military base, and so would normally be subjected to Russian military jurisdiction. However, he abandoned his post (and arguably the immunities that come with that post) and committed crimes in the host country against the host country's civilians, so there is an argument that he should be subjected to Armenian courts. There are arguments to support both sides, as is often the case in law. The various agreements, both military and political, between Armenia and Russia seem to provide no clear answers.
DeleteThe entire dispute is moot, however, as far as I am concerned because the two nations involved are allies and cooperating. I think it is safe to say that no matter which nation formally carries out the trial, the criminal will face the harshest possible outcome. The protestors have been deceived that "Putin will protect this Russian" when in reality this piece of trash represents the segment of Russian society that Putin's government has been fighting against for years, no true Orthodox Christian Russian would engage in this type of behavior. And if any of the reports, whether regarding western religious cults or a sinister clandestine operation by the west/turkey are true, I'm sure Permyakov is among the most despised people in Russia.
And I agree with Arevordi, should there be more to Permyakov than initially meets the eye, then he needs to be kept isolated under Russian supervision where no "accidents" can happen. Russian-Armenian relations are under attack now, imagine how bad it would get if the criminal died while under Armenian custody (remember the death penalty has been abolished in Armenia).
Ps everyone The Moscow Times is a western European operation based in Finland. It's barely fit for use as bird cage liner, their "reports" are worthless provocations that appeal mainly to degenerates and illiterates.
Incidently, I have heard from a good source that he is very likely to be a Tatar or perhaps half/quarter Tatar, the source is not infallible but it is plausible. My source knows a lot about all things Russian from his days as a Soviet crony. Though I'm not sure if him being Tatar would really be a revelation, at best, if he was a manchurian candidate type case, he may be more willing to participate in this killing/experiment.
ReplyDeleteAnother story I've been told is that his brother is currently in jail and that perhaps, this may have been a hit ordered from prison on the family. For what purpose? Perhaps one of the family members was migrant worker in Russia and had some tussle with this family? Though this is a much more simple incidental theory and maybe a bit far fetched.
The vultures are out in force -
ReplyDelete«Ազատություն» TV լրատվական կենտրոն, 19 հունվարի, 2015թ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMdlFbOWvhg
Armenia can't count on Russia any more: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/01/armenia-can-count-russia-any-mo-201511852934497678.html
Some encouraging developments from today -
ReplyDeleteRussian soldier accused of slaughtering family to be tried in Armenia: http://rt.com/news/224427-armenia-soldier-killing-trial/
Russian military base in Armenia to be staffed by contract servicemen only starting from 2016: http://rbth.com/news/2015/01/20/russian_military_base_in_armenia_to_be_staffed_by_contract_servicemen_on_42992.html
Another excellent article by Eric Draitser:
ReplyDeleteDid a Russian Parliamentarian Just Commit Treason?
http://www.globalresearch.ca/did-a-russian-parliamentarian-just-commit-treason/5425603
Some excerpts:
"The event, “Russia’s Opposition in a Time of War and Crisis,” featured prominent Russian liberal opposition parliamentarian (member of the Russian Duma) Ilya Ponomarev, a noted critic of Russian President Putin, providing a detailed presentation regarding the current political climate in Russia, and the potential for the ousting or overthrow of the Russian government. Yes, you heard that right. A Russian elected official came to the United States to give a talk about how best to effect regime change in his own country."
"he included in the slide entitled “Conditions for the change of power in Russia” the following points:
Unlikely – elections
Likely – revolution (non-violent or violent)
Compromise with the current elites increases probability of non-violent changes, but decreases the probability of successful reforms in the future
Here, Ponomarev is openly acknowledging a number of critical points. First, that regime change is unlikely to come through elections. This is a blatant admission that not only is Putin democratically elected and wildly popular, but that the opposition will never have anything close to enough popular support to defeat him."
And this coming from an elected parliamentarian? That this traitor is still not in jail shows how democratic and liberal Russia in fact is. This kind of treason would not be tolerated in the West.
Lernakan
Despite it's military might, Russia is a very vulnerable nation due to large numbers of traitors in the country. On the bright side, the situation was much worst before. Slowly, the traitors are being exposed and chased out.
DeleteWe are being foolish as a nation. Let us assume that this was one guy who did this crime. As sad as this may seem to Armenians this sort of stuff happens all the time, this is the sad case of human nature. Now if we are to assume this, without any other hand in play, the question I want to ask all Armenians is this.
ReplyDeleteWhat would we have done had this been one of our own?
We are a nation of cows, in the big geopolitical games going down by the hour. With the world in tension the way it is, we are out in force wanting to be heard? What is to be expected from a people who make the same mistakes over and over again and expect something different to come out of it? What is expect of a nation that invites toorks over to April 24th with a just response by the toorks, a spit in the face. Yet it was us idiot cows that invited the toorks. Now we are in the streets protesting Moscow with one mans crimes. And if the situation says that this guy did not act alone, that this was a setup, well you fell right into the trap. And if it is just this guy, well you made your own trap.
Vahram
And what do you expect from a nation where "patriots" publicly claim they will try an armed insurrection during the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24 and none of them get arrested by law enforcement bodies? Armenians are doomed to being a subservient nation because Armenians are too emotional and too politically illiterate.
DeleteThere are only 2 things that is possible with this case.
Delete1. He was alone and a nut job.
2. This was a setup.
The end result is the same outcome for Armenia in either case becuase GOVE ENK MENK!
We don't even have multiple choice, answer one is the same as answer number 2. We by our actions as a people are making it have one and only one answer and you can bet the toorks are laughing their asses off. Using the invite card to wipe their asses with it. Who gave them the card? The same idiots on the streets.
Vahram
The laws in Armenia appear to be laxed ?. I do not believe the delinquents who boasted of a coup de etat on the 24th of April to be nothing else by a herd of unemployed circus clowns. The question arises then whether the authorities should round up circus clowns and throw them into a pit until after the remembrance day. What is more the authorities are fully cognizant of the heads of this unruly throng. The heads whoever they are should be put aside and punished for unrest and incitement to upheaval. The troika Raffi,Hrair and Levon should be dealt with in the most undemocratic manner possible in grave cases such as this. But having said that, again how much weight these anachronistic troglodytes of the Armenian political scene tend to carry. To my mind, they are puppets who play a role, opposition marionettes, toothless dogs. I remember listening Raffi haranguing some crowd in LA . The bloated oaf did not make any sense, and he sounded like a run of the mill american politician bellowing rethoric to an assembled crowd. He hollered about a regime change in Armenia, he held out a panacea of wonders which no intelligent person would have cared to listen. These scumbags have a role to play, and till now they are as impotent as eunuchs together with the herd of unemployed circus clowns.
ReplyDeleteThe role they are being allowed to play inside Armenia (Sargsyan's way of appeasing Western powers) is gradually destroying the Armenian spirit and therefore Armenia itself. The 24/7 doom and gloom campaign and the constant anti-government propaganda is the primary reason why Armenians are hopeless and many are seeking to flee Armenia. Moreover, the Western-led political opposition may be toothless dogs currently but they are strategically positioned on the political sidelines and they will be the ones in a position to exploit any form of sociopolitical upheaval in the country. If they somehow come to power in Yerevan we can all expect Moscow to really begin cracking down on Armenia.
DeleteI want to see Russians getting more active in the internal affairs of Armenia, not because I want to see foreign meddling in Armenia per se but because the other side is being led by Western interests. The Armenian government simply does not have what it takes to be able to resist Western machinations. Yerevan needs direct Russian support.
(Part 1 of 2)
ReplyDeleteAnother diasporan Armenian bimbo who has been educated past her intellectual capacity and now styles herself an "expert" on internal Armenian affairs whose opinion must reach the masses. Not a week goes by that the Armenian diaspora in the west fails to prove it is an utter disgrace and embarrassment to the Armenian nation through some half-wit penning an anti-national and anti-Russian diatribe disguised as the sentiments of a concerned, "enlightened" scholar. I will repeat here that for purposes of the development of the Republic of Armenia, I have basically written off the western diaspora as a total loss. From shameless anti-Armenian filth like Ara Manoogian to every pseudo-intellectual who pens a "I'm so fed up with the Armenian state/society/military/police/government, it is clear that this community is actually dead weight and a major hindrance to Armenian development, apart from a few people (like the ones on this blog) who can look past Armenia's growing pains and who unconditionally support their homeland. This is the same community which has radical feminist Nanore "The Whore" Barsoumian as editor of the Armenian Weekly and sexual deviant Ara "The Faggot" Khatchadourian as editor of Asbarez. The Armenian-Americans are almost as disgusting as their Cuban-American counterparts. It's bad enough when these lowlifes beg for genocide recognition from the ultra-corrupt US Congress, but the suicidal agenda which they are trying to push inside Armenia make them enemies of the people. Add to the list this Houry Mayssian slut:
http://asbarez.com/130954/the-gyumri-killings-beyond-the-legal-arguments/
(Part 2 of 2)
-"In essence, however, the criminal’s handover is not about what legal frameworks apply and which loopholes can be exploited. It is about Armenia’s leadership (finally) speaking out for its people; it is about respect between two nations; it is a matter of pride, dignity and justice for a nation too often overlooked by its own government and too often coerced by its more powerful neighbor."
-This situation is none of what you described, it is a tragedy which has been politicized and weaponized by your pimps in Washington. Armenia is "coerced" by Russia? That's a load of bull designed to appeal to emotion and illiterate peasants. Russia delivers cheap or free weapons, technology, expertise, gas, nuclear fuel and know-how, food, and protections for Armenia from Turkey and Azerbaijan, and many other things that allow an Armenian state to exist in the South Caucasus. I don't know on which planet that counts as "coercion" but here on Earth we call that a strategic alliance. And speaking of respect between nations, Russian citizens, Russian media and Russian officials have apologized repeatedly for what that animal did in Gyumri and are cooperating fully with Armenia; meanwhile I do not know of a single Armenian who apologized when driver Hratchya killed 18 Russian civilians (that's three times as many deaths as the Gyumri Tragedy) a year ago. I do not want to downplay the tragedy in Gyumri, but it does not help Armenia in any way to pretend we are victimized by Russia, or that Armenian killed by Russians are worthy of condemnation but Russians killed by Armenians can be chalked up as some isolated incident.
(Part 2 of 2)
ReplyDelete-"There has been no condemnation, no outrage, no genuine sympathy..."
Again, to Amerikahay "experts" facts mean nothing. There has actually been nothing but the strongest levels of condemnation, outrage and sympathy from all levels of both the Armenian and Russian governments. From Putin to the ambassador to Sargsyan and every official in between, everyone has condemned Permyakov as a vicious and immoral subhuman. The Russian media have apologized, mourners place flowers and candles at the Armenian embassy in Moscow, and the military has expressed genuine sorrow for the event. The comments on Russian-language media are overwhelmingly sympathetic for the victims in Gyumri, and calls for executing Permyakov are expressed by large numbers of Russians. I do not know if Houri is ignorant or just a pathological liar. In any case, she represents the typical diasporan lunatic who invariably makes any tragedy that occurs inside Armenia more damaging.
-"For the people of Armenia, it is about instilling justice and restoring the dignity of Armenia"
Much like any other legitimate attempt at airing a grievance in the world today, this case was hijacked by western jackals inside Armenia as soon as the protests gained momentum. Armenia's dignity problems stem mostly from the doom-and-gloom campaign people like you run in Armenia. Armenia's dignity problems stem from the fact that the nation is saturated with western activists ready to hijack any legitimate protest (the Gyumri tragedy, non-combat deaths, tax hikes, bans on unregistered street kiosks, taxi fares being increased by a few pennies, conflicting interests between mining and nature preservation, the death of a villager woman at the hands of an abusive husband and mother-in-law, etc) and turn it into a weapon to try and topple the Armenian government. Armenia's dignity problems are Armenian-Americans like Richard Hovannisian who get off by claiming Armenia is a worse country than our archenemy Turkey. It's beyond hypocrisy that the same vermin that a week ago would not have hesitated to call for the assassination of most Armenian judicial officials on charges of "corruption" have now shifted their position to unlimited support for Armenia's judiciary because they see it as a tool to harm the Armenia-Russia alliance.
Sarkis jan, very well said bravo!
DeleteHowever there is one thing that I don't agree with. You've compared this situation with the bus accident a few times already. I don't understand how you could even compare these two situations.
The tragedy with 18 deaths in Russia was an accident, how can you compare this with the vicious massacre of a whole family? The stabbing of a 6 month old baby?
Also Armenians were not outraged because the bus driver was going to get sentenced, you know this very well. The outrage was caused by the way he was portrayed in the media - paraded in a woman's dress while still in a state of shock. There are no excuses to be made about the way that poor man was portrayed. The outrage caused by this was justified in my opinion. Unfortunately the idiot who authorized this played into the hands of the pro-Western traitors in our society. I don't know if this was a deliberate act or just a way for the arrogant bastard to disgrace Mr. Harutyunyan. Maybe if this man was not insulted in the way he was, Armenians would be more inclined to express their sympathies for the loss of 18 peoples lives.
I agree with all the points you made in your post. I also agree that without Russia there would be no independent Armenia in the Caucasus.
But you can prove your point without comparing those two incomparable situations.
Lernakan
Why do you guys think about this?
ReplyDeleteGyumri Events Could Spark a New War over Karabakh
http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.de/2015/01/gyumri-events-could-spark-new-war-over.html
"No one is saying that either Moscow or Yerevan will start a war, but it is clear that both the Russian government and its Armenian counterpart might see such a conflict as in its interests, and that alone justifies concerns that the events in Gyumri may lead to more violence and claim more victims in the near future."
My gut feeling is that the "time has come". The Gyumri incident could be the trigger, and a jointly conducted Russo-Armenian war on Azerbaijan might just be the perfect strategy to ameliorate the damage inflicted on the strategic alliance.
Aroutin
As Arevordi has said, geopolitical interests trump all other interest and I fully agree. However tragic, incidents like this massacre have no effect on geopolitical planners, except if a foreign intelligence agency was involved. If so then clandestine measures will take effect and none of us here will hear about it. The daily toll of casualties on the Artsakh front line is also very tragic but obviously not enough to force planners to take more action. If a breaking point happens regarding this then maybe a war may result, otherwise the status quo will continue. Azerbaijan has exposed it's weakness many times and can be coerced into a false flag attack very easily, but it has to suit the geopolitical interests which are balanced between Russia, Turkey and Iran. I often feel that Russia is trying to contain the Armenian military as much as it is arming it. The smerches they sold to Azerbaijan will cause a massive loss of life on our side thus preventing Armenia to take that step. It was a calculated move by Russia, not just an economical one.
DeleteAlso, economically speaking, the opening of the Abkhazian railway plays a large part in the equation since it indicates Georgia's willingness to go along with the plan. Currently they are under the control of Turkey and NATO but slowly changing. The railway link between Russia directly to Iran already exists via Nakhichevan, but only an Armenian annexation will open that up, and it will be cheaper than building a new one. I don't know what secret grip Turkey has on Russia regarding Nakhichevan but that would be a good security starting point for Armenia, both militarily and economically as well as historical justice.
All thing said and done, I don't think any such incidents will trigger a war unless the planners had already planned on one. I feel Russia is just as messed up as Armenia is regarding foreign funded revolutionaries. They are just as vulnerable and a percentage of their population is just as ignorant and self destructive. I've met Russians in LA who hate Putin and advertise it proudly. Putin's ratings went up above 65% only after they annexed Crimea and they were forced to unite against a foreign threat.
Therefore I believe it's the Armenian govt that has to take the initiative to control their internal foreign funded enemies and not the Russians who can barely deal with their own problems. I get criticized on this forum for mentioning the lack of professionalism in the Arm. govt and I get Serge Sarkissyan's diplomacy and Seyran Ohanessyan's military management shoved in my face. Yes they are truly great at those things and I'm grateful but we can't excuse the 99% of the BS that makes up the rest of the Armenian govt. The question that has to be addressed is "What can we do about it in a proactive way which will cause positive organic Evolutionary change while simultaneously sweeping the rug out from under the foreign funded NGOs?" What's our role in this picture? This blogsite is a great start, since it has certainly awakened me to the geopolitical realities to which I was ignorant about. For that I owe a debt of gratitude to Arevordi, but I feel that the constant bashing of anything Armenian and the constant praise of anything Russian is having a negative effect. I would put forth a suggestion of a more balanced outlook in this regard.
Arto2
Aroutin,
DeleteI don't know if you noticed by that article was by Paul Goble of the infamous Goble Plan. But I do find myself agreeing with him. A major Russian backed Armenian military strike against Azerbaijan will go a long way in repairs frayed Armenian-Russian ties and at the same time teach the belligerents in Baku (as well as in Ankara and Washington) a good lesson. Tension is building in Yerevan as well as on the Armenian border with Azerbaijan. At this pace something major is bound to happen sooner than later. Let's hope for the best.
Here's something that puzzles me: how would an Armenian annexation of Nakhichevan be possible since Azeris make up the majority there? It would be difficult to achieve the goals of regaining lost Armenian territories for sure, plus the US would still try to trigger an Azeri uprising in Iran's South Azerbaijan province (despite the fact that Iranian Azeris are integrated into Iranian society).
DeleteAfter reading most of the comments I have a question for all participants.
ReplyDeleteWhy do we want the killer to be handed over to us?
The main narrative I hear to this day is Russians should have at least handed him over to Armenia. The question is to do what?
Do we want him to kill him?
Do we want him because we think under Russian control he will not get the maximum sentence?
Do we want him because we think he will be sent to safe heaven and spent the rest of his life in harem?
Do we mistrust Russians to the point that after such a savage act they will set him free?
What is it? if your answer is yes to any of those questions than we can conclude that there is no trust between us and Russians.
That is a major problem. That is what may eventually bring our historical ties to end.
T.K. You have to separate the we part. If you mean the Armenian people in general yes, they want to kill him. The Armenian government wishes this to go away. The azeri baboons are playing on the boarder knowing there is a situation and taking advantage. The Russian government wants this to go away, and I dare say so does the American and even the Turkish government.
DeleteYou see this pipeline that Putin is running to Turkey is a game changer in geopolitical events. Turkey knows it will never be part of the EU and has been changing rather slowly but changing nonetheless. This pipeline puts Turkey in a good position. Turkey needs the energy, Russia needs someone stable as the EU is proving to not be reliable. By putting the pipeline in Turkey it gives the Turks leverage but it also gives Moscow leverage over Turkey by having Turkey on it's side. No worries about a Turkish push, nor a strong backing for the azeri baboons as the oil and gas from Russia is much more vital to Turkey then the meager flow from baboonistan. Sure the toorks love the azeri's if for no other reason as to keep the Armenians busy someplace else, But Turkey is not going to risk it's huge position it has now with this pipeline.
This pipeline also gives Moscow great leverage on Greece who is dying to have some oil, by having the pipeline stop at the Turkish boarder should the Greeks withdraw from the EU, they can have a huge pipeline in place and ready to go without answering to the EU. This also gives the Greeks a chance to sell the resources to Israel as they have been closer ever since the tenser situation with Jews Turks.
The Middle East has become a no go zone with this crazy contraption called ISIS. Who in their right mind is going to go to the Middle East and lay a pipeline? Only fools who want to part with their money and lives.
So Moscow has a pipeline in play that is going to change everything. The balance has turned but no one wants to say goodbye to old commitments just yet. Hence that is why all aside maybe baboonistan is happy with this murder. This pipeline puts the baboons in a sad situation, double sad, once for the price drop and again for geopolitical importance. Especially considering the drop in the output on top of all this. So you see the West is happy for a few more years bleeding the last bit of oil from the baboon, but it is a dying beast. The West will try and salvage something from azeribaboonistan by pulling the human rights card with Aliev especially now that the state is in deep trouble and can't spend the money it once did. It can't spend on paying the people to keep them happy, and it can't spend becoming a rouge state with it's arms build up. However it can be a source of trouble still for Moscow and Iran should the azeribaboons have an uprising and turn all democratic sort of speak. Hence no one wants this as I have said I believe this to be a sad case of human savagery that happens sadly in every major city in the world.
Note aside from the rabid Armo types with their stupid comments, there has not been anything said or pulled from any side really. A few best wishes from the English Embassy and all that but nothing else is cooking in the Western press, or political moves at least not that I can detect.
Vahram
Although this may not be related to the topic at hand, something worth paying attention to:
ReplyDeletehttp://fortruss.blogspot.ca/2015/01/tsarev-poroshenko-will-be-overthrown-in.html
So it seems that the US is getting tired of their puppet and are thinking of having a Second Maidan to dethrone the Chocolate King and to kick his ass out of power. The bad news is, it might be the Patsy (Yatsenyuk) who gets the presidency.