WAR CONFLICT AND GENOCIDE OF GEORGIANS IN ABKHAZIA

On the base of preliminary agreements with the Abkhazian side, the State Council of Republic of Georgia adopted a resolution on August 10, according to which a definite group of troops of the Defense Ministry was to be brought to Abkhazia to take the highways and railroads of Abkhazia under the control, to prevent robbery of the loads shipped along them, which was a heavy load on Republic of Georgia, and simultaneously to establish order and to disband illegal armed troops.

On August 14, 1992 when these troops crossed the administrative border line between Gali and Ochamchire illegal armed troops of Abkhazians opened fire at them. In this way the war was provoked, the blood was shed, the first victims appeared. Actually the war began when V.Ardzinba announced general mobilization over the radio. It is just awkward to say that the events that happened in Abkhazia must be considered as the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict. It was a war, a patriotic war, in which we, Georgians were defending our country, motherland, Georgian towns and villages. Well-armed and well-trained military units were fighting against us. The majority of the occupants were Russian citizens - Chechens, Adigei, Kabardinians, Cossacks, Russians, and Tatarians. Boeviks from Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Dniestrian Republic, Nagorni Karabakh took part in the battles. Armenians battalion named after Bagramian was fighting against us. Aside from the hired boeviks, regular Russian Army troops took part in the battles against us, 345th landing battalion, Russian air squadron dislocated in Gudauta, battalions of the Russian defense Ministry dislocated in Ochamchire and Gumista including. Navy vessels helped the enemy during the battles, shelling our towns and villages, from the sea. The plans of capturing our town and villages were approved at the General Headquarters in Moscow. Information and ideological work against us was conducted over the radio and television, Russian mass media, and was of mendacious, provocative character. During the war military reconnoiters were sent to the territory of Abkhazia and conducted work, harmful for our country. And in the end, after the occupation of Abkhazia these forces called themselves peacekeeping, and they are defending the territory, occupied by themselves until now.

"Abkhazia began the war possessing 2 armoured carriers and one infantry fighting machine. They had one pilot and no efficient artillerymen at all. In a month, on October 1, 1992 they were storming Gagra having a lot of tanks, howitzers and infantry fighting machines. Personal representative of the President of Russia in the region of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict Borir conversation, that the Abkhazians had already got "needle" and "grad" weapons. Answering the question, "where from?" Pastukhov answered that 'it's no problem, if there is money.

Where have they got money from? We know the budget of Abkhazia, there was not a coin there before the war.

On September 25, 1992 the Supreme Council of Russia adopted a statement, in which expressed complete support to Abkhazia. Yeltsin did not react. Shevardnadze flew to Moscow, met with the President, who confirmed during the conversation that he recognized territorial integrity of Georgia. A bit later we learnt that the same day Chairman of the Security Council Jury Skokov met with Vladislav Ardzinba also in Kremlin. Very soon the Abkhazians got weapon, heavy equipment, money, and it cannot be considered an accidental coincidence.

Russia allotted a 14 billion rouble credit for Abkhazia. Even special bank opened in Moscow". (Julia Kalinina, "Crucified Georgia", St.-Petersburg, 1995, p. 175).

I am an artilleryman myself, and I know what is "fire density". During Sukhumi storming grenade dischargers were placed at a distance of 10 meters from each other along the perimeter of Synophskaya hill. Everything was made first-grade there, carefully planned, organized, just as in a textbook. Abkhazians have not got specialists of such level, and nobody could train them so quickly. Russian specialists were invited and paid: they did their task and went away.

A lot of defenders of Sukhumi saw Russian soldiers in Sukhumi on the days of stroming; they were in titanium helmets, had complete battle packs and "DSB" strips sewed on the chests (DSB -landing stroming battalion)".

And what interesting people were fighting at the Abkhaz side!

They were generals from the Ministry of Defense of Russia:Kondratiev, Sigutkin, Sorokin, Chindarov; they systematically appeared in Gudauta, and controlled the battles from there, and in some cases headed the operations This list can be continued without end, but I will name only a dozen of people I managed to meet with in Abkhazia

Admiral Kolesnikov,

Captain Bondarenko,

Captain Alferov,

Captain Nikolaev,

Colonel-lieutenant Kravchuk,

Colonel-lieutenant Kudinov,

Colonel-lieutenant Dolgopolov,

Colonel-lieutenant Sidorenko,

Major Klimov,

Major Kolodin,

Major Semigulin,

Commander of a separate Cossacks' Unit 0 Petrov,

Commander of the First Cuban Cossack squadron N Gusko

345 air landing regiment, 645 missile and anti-aircraft regiment, d/u 5482, d/u 3697, vessels of the Navy, aircrafts SU-25, SU-27, from the base of the airdrome of Bombora, Gudauta, Rostov, Maikop The Pskov division passed equipment to the separatists

INFORMATION OF THE PRESS SERVICE OF THE INFORMATION INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OF ABKHAZ AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC

On March 31, 1993 an officer of Russian Armed Forces, lieutenant Sitnikov, Alexander Nikolaevich (1968) officer of 48247 military unit, dislocated in Moscow region, was detained in Sukhumi during the secret service action, conducted by the officers of the Information Intelligence Service of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic

Sitnikov's actions aimed at the collection of intelligence information at the territory controlled by the Georgian troops were the base for his detainment

During the investigation Sitnikov said that in 1991 he had graduated from Special Department of Higher Air-landing commander school in Ryazan (according to the available information the department trains military intelligence officers) and was sent to one of the battalions of air-landing troops in Moscow region

Early in March, 1993 Sitnikov, as a member of an operative group of Russian troops was sent to the air-landing regiment, dislocated in Gudauta town, and from there he was sent to the landing storming battalion of Russian Forces in Sukhumi, together with colonel Semartsev, Valen Pavlovich

In Gudauta Sitnikov was given the task to collect intelligence information of military, political and economic character at the territory, controlled by Georgian Forces

To fulfil his task Sitnikov, having arrived in Sukhumi established a contact with the agent, provided to him for communication and after meeting him, he had managed to get the information of military character, and to give the agent a specific task, associated with the Georgian troops, dislocated along the frontier line

Sitnikov's activities were carefully recorded, which proves his guilt without any doubt Sitnikov A N pleaded guilty with the crimes, charged with, and given in Cl 66 (espionage) of the Criminal Code of Republic of Georgia

Having approved the indictment against Sitnikov A N , presented by the Intelligence Service, the Procurator's Office of Georgia, following the principles of humanity and taking into consideration the request of the Heads of the Operative Group of the Forces of the DM of Russian Federation in Gudauta on changing him for the pilot of the Air Forces of the DM of Georgian republic, kept prisoner by the Gudauta separatists, made a decision not to pass the papers of the criminal investigation to the court, and to allow the exchange

The exchange with war prisoners was conducted in Sukhumi airport on April 25, and the protocol, recognized in the practice was followed

On April 1, 1993 in view of the Resolution of the Supreme Council of Republic of Georgia No 015 of January 30, 1991 (on using warning, as a preventive measure by the bodies of state security) made an official warning to senior sergeant Lunev, Alexander Olegovich, born in 1973, permanent resident of Luganskaya region, in service at the radio station P-140 of military unit 2011, the warning was made in the building of the Intelligence Service of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic in the presence of the commanders of the above unit

The documents on the facts that Lunev АО between 17-22 March, 1993, had used movable radio station of the unit to transmit the information on the dislocation of the Georgian troops in the frontier region, on the disclocation of the battle equipment, situation in Sukhumi, etc, to the armed troops of Abkhaz separatists, was the base for the official warning

In his written explanation Lunev A 0 pleaded guilty in the infringement of the working regime and transmitting the reconnaissance information to the Abkhaz separatists

The actions of Lunev fall under details of the relevant crime, envisaged in the Criminal Code of Republic of Georgia, however, taking into consideration his sincere regret, youth, forthcoming transfer to the reserve, wish of the Intelligence Service of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic, to keep traditional good relations with the heads and the staff to the above military unit, it was decided to use preventive measures only (making an official warning). Procurator of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic was informed about the fact.

P. S. In the result of his actions Lunev was dismissed from the post of the Head of the Radio Station and deprived of the rank of sergeant.

To: the Operative Group of the Ministry of Defense of Russian Federation in Abkhazia (Gudauta) General-Colonel Alexeev April 1, 1993

General-Colonel,

Yesterday, on March 31, 1993 Georgian television broadcasted Statement of the press service of the Information Intelligence Service (former KGB) on the detainment of officer of the Russian Army lieutenant Sitnikov, Alexander Nikolaevich in Sukhumi. Keeping in mind lack of attention to our explanation on the reason of lieutenant Sitnikov's detainment, also broadcast over the television lines, we have to state once more that the Information Intelligence Service of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, in conformity with the procedural order is ready to present to the efficient representative of the Heads of the Operative Group of the DM of Russian Federation in Abkhazia all the papers, testifying to the Sitnikov's meeting with the agent for communication with the aim of getting the reconnaissance information on the battalions of the Georgian Army, dislocated close to the frontier line.

As concerns the tone of your statement, it certainly does not meet the recognized norms of international relations and is a clear example of force and pressure.

Let us clarify to you, that immunity does not spread to the soldiers and offices of Russian Army troops dislocated at the territory of the republic.

Chairman of the Information Intelligence Service of Abkhaz AR General-Major Yu.Keshelava

WHO IS WARMING HIS HANDS IN THE FRATRICIDAL WAR?

Beware! Leszhuk, Pavel Alexandrovich, born in 1950 in Bashkiria, a Ukrainian. In 1974 graduated from the Marshal of Artillery Nelidin Higher Commander School in Rostov, military electric engineer by speciality. Served in the Soviet Army for 4 years, retired due to the state of health. In 1981 he moved from Tjumen region, where he worked at Surgutneftegaselectromontag to Sukhumi, where got the position of Civil Defense Inspector of Order Protection Department, the Ministry of Interior Affairs, Abkhaz ASSR. Got up the service stairs, became a senior engineer of the so-called "Abkhaz Guards". His passport was registered in Gudauta, Abkhaz ASSR. Chief supplier of Abkhaz separatists and hirelings with arms and ammunition is closely connected with top officers of the Russian Army and Defense Industrial System. Can often be seen in the corridors and waiting rooms of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, and at the Ministry's hotel at the Lenin Hills, where the residence of Vladislav Ardzinba is situated. The latter had personally granted Leszhuk with the rank of General-Major for his "special" services for Abkhazia, and even appointed him to the post of Commander of the frontier, though he misjudged. Leszhuk loves money, does business connected with military supplies, and getting a bullet in his forehead is out of his plans.

It is not at all difficult to imagine where the plans of Sukhumi seizure with the participation of substantial forces of Russian troops (and not only those dislocated in Abkhazia) was developed that March. The plan was approved and brought to Gudauta. The weapons were ready, when will they fire? Georgian soldiers from 23th brigade, defending Sukhumi (formed basically of local volunteers) was in the state of fighting trim, to be on the safe side. They were quite sure that the enemy, being in the state of euphoria after had captured Gagra with the help of Russians, would be defeated crucially. They were sure they knew it better, they were defending the town.

Well, Leszhuk had partners at the Interior Ministry of Russian Federation in the face of Head of one of the departments General-major Chulkov A.M., not so long before Interior Minister of Abkhaz ASSR. At that time Leszhuk had worked as senior engineer of the Communication Service of the Ministry. Really, inscrutable are your ways, oh Lord. It is known that Chulkov "helped" Leszhuk to get ammunition for up to 3 thousand boeviks.

Probably Russian law-enforcement bodies .should get interested in the activities of "Caucasus" corporation in Moscow after Law on criminal responsibility for organizing recruiting of hirelings to take part in the ethnic conflicts. Commercial structures supporting the Abkhaz separatists entered this corporation. The latter under the pretence of commercial activities in reality were recruiting volunteers to take part in the war against Georgia in Abkhazia, purchase weapon and ammunition. "General" Leszhuk actively cooperated with "Caucasus" corporation. 1.5 million cartidges for rifle arms was one of his latest shipments to Gudauta through the above commercial structures. Competent bodies promised to give several other dossiers for similarly well-known military officials of the former (and probably still acting), the so-called coordinating Council of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia in Sukhumi under the subordination of V.Ardzinba in person for further issues, which are dealing with contcacts with the chiefs of CIS and Russian Forces, e.g. Balatski, Gogdzhian, and officer of the Head Intelligence Department Mikhailov.

One more trait: Colonel Kovalenko (first names are not known), Deputy Commander of the air landing regiment, dislocated in Gudauta. It was he, who ran the SU-25 plane, which threw the bomb down to the residential region in Sukhumi and ruined more than ten residential houses; people were killed and injured, well-known Georgian journalist T.Pachkoria including.

*** To: the Embassy of Russian federation in Republic of Georgia

STATEMENT OP THE DEFENSE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF ABKHAZ AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC

As we learnt from Russian mass media information, consultations on the problems of the regulation of the armed conflict in Abkhazia were held in Maikop on May 5-6, 1993.

In this view we find it necessary to state that the only legitimate bodies - Defense Council and Council of Ministers of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic are acting at the territory of Abkhazia today; persons of Georgian, Abkhaz, Russian, Armenian, Ukrainian and other nationalities, representing the majority of the population of the autonomous republic entered then.

A group of separatists, who have usurped the right to speak on behalf of all the population of Abkhazia with the aim of realization of their political ambitions and imposed the armed conflict to Georgia, are staying in Gudauta today.

The war between Georgians and Abkhazians is on in Abkhazia today. The political character of the conflict between the separatists and the supporters of the territorial integrity of Georgia is quite obvious. It is high time to realize its serious danger for the peace and security in the entire Caucasian region. Keeping aside all other factors, this precedent can cause the chain reaction of separatism elsewhere, the territory of Russian Federation including.

Proceeding from the above, it should be useful to determine the conflicting sides in Abkhazia - the Gudauta side, protecting the separatist aspirations, and the Abkhaz one in the face of the Defense Council of Ministers of the autonomous republic, standing for the territorial integrity of the sovereign Georgian State.

Chairman of the Defense Council, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic General-Major T. Nadareishvili Sukhumi, 12.05.1993

RESOLUTION ON INCREASING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INFRINGEMENT OF THE ORDER ESTABLISHED BY THE MARTIAL LAW

Following the interests of the state, providing security of the citizens and restoration of the Law and order, the Defense Council of the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic Decided:

1. To stop the activities of any unions of people, political parties, public organizations and movements, mass media, preventing the situation stabilizing, discrediting the state power and management bodies, and rousing discord and political antagonism, for the period of the martial law, as well as conduction of meetings, street processions, demonstrations and strikes.

2. To forbid formation and activities of armed troops, not envisaged in the Law of Republic of Georgia.

3. Georgian Procurator's Office, the Ministry of Interior Affairs, the Commandant's Office and War Procurator's Office shall institute proceedings envisaged in the Criminal and Administrative Codes against the persons, spreading provocative rumours, insults and slander, provoking order violation, preventing the officials from fulfilling their legal duties and rights, and persistently opposing legal orders and demands of the officers of law-enforcement bodies, servicemen or other persons, fulfilling their duties.

Active measures shall be taken in response to each case of martial law and order violation.

4. Ministry of Justice of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic (Mr. O.Benidze) shall not consider any applications on the registration of political parties, regional party offices, public movements and organizations and mass media offices during the period of martial law.

5. Ministry of Information of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic (Mr. G.Maglakelidze), local administrative bodies shall establish a strict control over the use of copying, radio and television transmitting equipment, audio and video-recording equipment by mass media.

Chairman of Defense Council of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic, General-Major T.Nadareishvili, 24.04.1993

STATEMENT OF THE DEFENSE COUNCIL OF ABKHAZ AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC

On May 6, Sukhumi was shelled by the Gudauta armed troops and the planes of the Air Forces of Russia There are numerous victims and ravages

Suffering from political and moral agony, the Gudauta regime commits new crimes Barbarian bombing and shelling of peaceful districts is nothing but open terrorism, no political aims, and ambitions can Justify the abolishment of peaceful inhabitants and crimes against people The attempts of Gudauta powers to mislead peaceful people are a failure Today, the entire world knows who is the aggressor and usurper of the power, who commits state crimes, hiding behind the high supporters

Gudauta reservation of terrorism and extremism has not suffered the difficulties and the terror of war for all the period, since the conflict beginning And not because we had no military or technical possibilities to strike a blow at this town, which has become the base of the separatism At the moment when the clique at power was annihilating the genie fund of Abkhaz people, we were trying to preserve it, bringing no harm to peaceful people, and to bring the number of victims to a minimum

Today, the defenders of Sukhumi are firm and decisive They are ready to die, but not to surrender the town, and they are straining forward

We find it necessary to state that the responsibility for blowing up the fire of the war, for the activation of a large-scale conflict, in which other sides took place, falls completely on the Gudauta regime and their supporters, in the face of the most reactionary military and political cncles of Russia

Chairman of the Defense Council, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic General-Major Т Nadareishvili, May 6, 1993

THERE ALWAYS REMAINS HOPE FOR HOPE

Leader of "Democratic Abkhazia" faction of the Supreme Council of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic, Prime Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council Tamaz Nadareishvili became Chairman of the Council of Ministers in the time, most difficult for Abkhazia Already after the complete decay of the Abkhaz parliament, which bore chaos and death, and after the power of deputies had subjected itself to self-impeachment, violating the acting Constitution, and leaving their people to the mercy of fate, he took the burden of the executive power and the responsibility for the situation in Abkhazia Journalist Alexander Berulava interviews Т Nadareishvili

- What is the war political and general situation in Abkhazia? What factor determines the development of the events?

- To say that the situation in Abkhazia preserves to be complicated means to say nothing Despite all the visible routine and prolixity of war, the situation changes at the speed of a kaleidoscope Separatists-extremists go on conducting the cruel war with their own people They subjected the capital of the autonomous republic to shelling and bombing from air And sometimes it was done from the planes with the markings of Russia on their wings There are dozens of human victims, hundreds of wounded And they are mainly peaceful residents The town is a large and convenient target The separatists managed to hit such "strategic" objects as a kindergarten, schools, hospitals, maternity hospitals, markets, residential districts They are aiming basically at the places of the mass people gathering to rouse panic, horror, to oppress the spirit of people, and, in the end, out of the feeling of pathological hatred

Despite the war and incessant life danger, the town keeps living and working Thanks to the self-sacrificing efforts of power engineers, we have managed to restore the work of the power supply system, damaged for two months The work of the municipal services, the town cleaning, bread baking has beem adjusted Medical workers have been working excellently in the extreme conditions The trolley-bus terminal stop is 1 5km from the frontier line

We are constantly feeling the protection of Georgia and ail its regions It is hardly possible to over-estimate the held of providing the town with flour and energy careers The top officials of Georgia met the NewYear night in the blockaded Sukhumi

Sukhumi delivers its goods to other regions, Russia including In this connection the enemy tries to block the sea-way Several cases of piracy are known, when freight boats were threatened with arms and stopped in the open sea, robbed, were appropriated, and the passengers were taken hostages

The handwriting is quite familiar In due time, before the conflict railway trains used to be robbed in a well organized way in Gudauta region, those shipping loads to Armenia including

- Some part of the observers keeps to the opinion that the conflict was initiated by "bringing Georgian troops to Abkhazia".

- It is quite obvious that such opinion is formed using the favourite methods of extremist propaganda - changing nominations, speculation with the ignorance of the audience and lack of information. According to the Constitution of Georgia, and respectively of Abkhaz ASSR, Abkhazia is a part of Georgian State. Moreover, representatives of the Abkhaz political establishment used to state more than once that they were not going to go anywhere. This re-dislocation of the troops of the state at its own territory, where a lot of representatives of local residents from Abkhazia are serving, made on the base of the circumstances, and in this case the necessity to guard the communication lines, neither we, nor anybody else can consider as aggression, occupation and so on. These talks and sensation are used to mislead an inexperienced person, to confuse the matters. Its Sukhumians who are defending. Sukhumi with arms in their hands.

I myself am a historican, and I can state with all the responsibility: Abkhazia is a historical part of Georgia, it has been continuously taking part in all the processes - political, economic, cultural, demographic. Numerous facts beginning from ancient centuries up to the present moment, memorials of the material culture of Georgia in Abkhazia itself, chronicles by various authors, political realities of our days, at last the demographic situation today. Not everybody knows that Georgians make the ethnic majority in Abkhazia. Unfortunately, not many people trying to judge and even solve the situation, make the efforts to understand the situation, at least in the first approximation.

The system of distributing the posts in the autonomous republic was made on the base of the so-called nomenclature network. For example, today, one of the laws of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia practically legalized this nomenclature scheme and implemented legislative limitations on the base of the national origin for some top vacancies. The policy of unhidden apartheid and discrimination has become the hobby-horse of V.Ardzinba and the circles, supporting him. Using the most complicated home and external situation of the Georgian state, he successfully extorted various privileges on the base of national origin, all kinds of privileges to satisfy his caprices. All this was done under the accompaniment of the frantic anti-Georgian propaganda by completely monopolized mass media, who were rousing anti Georgian psychosis, Georgianphobia. All this was done quite cynically, and the final goal was to initiate war, hoping for help of the supporters at the war-industrial system, reactionary circles of the Great State.

And what is the cost of the public statements of Abkhaz leaders: "We shall make you shoot first". They failed to make us do it, but still managed to involve us in the fratricidal war. And 1 must say that the Abkhaz ethnos is suffering from it in the first run...

- We were conducting talks on the political solution of the conflict, were looking for ways for the execution, realization of the resulting document of the meeting in Moscow. And it was done when the Abkhaz side has been deliberately torpedoing it. All the achieve'd agreements have been thoroughly fulfilled, with drawing the troops to the pre-agreed lines including. And at this very moment Gagra town was maliciously captured. Unfortunately the public is not well informed of what happened there - how houses were burnt, how people were killed only because they were Georgians, how they were taunting children and old people, what outrages' had Georgian women stood. Speak to the refugees from there.

- And how do you see the political structure of Abkhazia?

- There are moral points of view on the subject. Separatists and extremists do not give up their lust to form an independent Abkhaz state.

The opinion spreads more and widely among some part of Georgians, especially after the tragedy in Gagra, that the autonomy was made rather artificially.

I personally more than once spoke for widening the rights of the autonomy. However, there is one "but". It is necessary to make really democratic reforms in Abkhazia; it is necessary to do away with the privileges on the base of the national principle forever. It is quite real and possible within the frame of the Georgian State system.

However, the solution of such urgent problems must not depend on the wish of a single or a group of people. They must be suggested at the referendum.

- So... is there any hope?

- A man lives with hope.

WHO WAS PREPARING FOR WAR?

Completly confidential

ORDER NO. 64 OF CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF ABKHAZ REPUBLIC

June 13, 1992 To: commanders of troops

74545, 10935, 62329

Colonel Ignatov E.N.

Colonel Petrov V.G.

Colonel-lieutenant Dolgopolov A.A.

In connection with the extraordinary situation, formed at the territory of Abkhaz republic, and to provide security of the inhabitants of the republic, the staff and the families of the servicemen of CIS and Russian federation order you immediately after receiving this Order to pass the weapon and ammunition, kept in your units to the representative of the Interior Troops of Abkhaz Republic.

Abkhaz Administration takes all the responsibility for this decision, prompted by the real danger to the lives and security of Abkhaz people.

Chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhaz Republic V.ARDZINBA

P.S. Chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia ordered, and commanders of Russian armed troops... obeyed. One month later a festival of Abkhaz-Aduigei culture was conducted. Hundreds of guests from the North Caucasus stayed in the autonomous republic waiting for war.

I leave comments to be made by yourself, reader!

APPEAL

Of vice-Premier of Republic of Georgia Mr. Tamaz Nadareishvili to President of Russian federation Mr. Boris Yeltsin

Your Excellency, Mr. President,

I apply to you on behalf of more than a quarter of a million native Georgians of Abkhazia, as well as Abkhazians, Russians, Armenians, Greeks and representatives of other nationalities, thousands of whom were chased away from their places. I apply to you as a person who has suffered all the tragedy of my people and feel a definite responsibility for all what has happened in Abkhazia. Yes, Mr. President! Not so long ago I was one of the authorities of the autonomous republic - Prime Deputy Chairman of Abkhaz Supreme Council, and then Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Council of Defense of Abkhazia, whose signature is under the known Moscow agreement of September 3, 1992.

Dear Boris Nikolaevich! Signing this document we believed not so Abkhaz separatists, as Your inflexible authority, and the authority of new democratic Russia. It is no secret that the beginning of a new era in the history of Russian State is associated with you. That is why the whole Georgia, excluding the Gudauta and Tskhinvali, was watching the events of August 19-21, 1991. We understand very well that Your really historical speech in front of the White House in Moscow on August 19, 1991 saved not only the young Russian democracy, but also decided the fate of all the countries and nations of the former Soviet Empire, my motherland Georgia including. And we are proud of the fact that the leader of our state Eduard Shevardnadze was standing close to Boris Yeltsin in those critical days, and national flag of Georgia was flying at the square of the Free Russia together with the three - colour flag of Russia, symbolizing the common interests of the two closely connected orthodox states. All this made us hope that new, free of imperial ambitions Russia will objectively estimate the situation observed in Abkhazia and will stop the presumptuous, fascist oriented Abkhaz national separatists and their supporters.

However, unfortunately our hopes failed, as definite political forces formed such a situation that Russia failed to be the warrantor of peace. Moreover, a real bloody slaughter was organized in Abkhazia with the direct participation of official and unofficial armed troops of Russia, which resulted in more than 20 thousand victims, my countrymen.

Dear Mr. President!

I do not think that you, a politician of such a rank should be explained what processes might follow "the Abkhaz precedent". I am sure you understand well what forces both in the North Caucasus and Moscow are interested in separating Abkhazia from Georgia. It is quite obvious that these forces are able to make problems not only in Georgia, but also in the Russian State on the whole. So I apply to you with a request to weigh all the possible consequences of the "Abkhaz precedent" and to do everything you can in order to restore justice.

We hope that with your assistance we shall be able to avoid bloodshed and tragedies, and to execute one of the basic paragraphs of the talks in Geneva - return of the refugees. With its whole past history, Georgia has proved that it has always been a faithful supporter of Russia. We are sure that Russia also tries to become closer

to independent Georgian state on the way towards peace, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.

With my deepest respect and best regards.

Tamaz Nadareishvili

Vice Premier, Member of Parliament of Republic of Georgia

Tbilisi, February 1, 1994

STATEMENT OF THE DEFENSE COUNCIL OF ABKHAZ AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC

Tense situation has formed in Abkhaz Autonomous Republic. Sukhumi town has been subject to systematic shelling from various artillery systems, "Grad" including. Dozens of killed, hundreds of wounded, a lot of residential, public houses and monuments are destroyed.

In this connection Defense Council of Abkhaz AR has considered and adopted the resolutions to solve some military problems, mobilization and recruiting including. Today mobilization of the service people in reserve and spring call to the service in the Armed Forces of Georgia is announced. The Defense Council has got the lists of residents of Abkhazia, hiding from fulfilling their civil duties outside it.

We apply to these people with the advise to return and to take their places among the protectors of the State sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgian state and we warn them that otherwise the question of citizenship in Republic of Georgia will be considered individually with all the possible consequences.

Simultaneously the Defense Council of Abkhaz AR states that Sukhumi town and other towns and villages are safely defended by the armed troops, formed basically of local residents, who are ready to protect their motherland, their home and their close relatives until they are alive.

Chairman of the Defense Council, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic General-Major T.Nadareishvili. May 6, 1993

STATEMENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL OF ABKHAZ AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC

On May 6, 1993, Sukhumi town was shelled heavily by the artillery and from the aircrafts of Russian Air Forces. The town was shelled with reactive disharges of "Grad" system, 250 and 500 kg air bombs were thrown down to its residential districts. There are numerous victims and substantial damage.

36th Frontier Guard Troop of Transcaucassian Frontier Guards district of the Russian Ministry of Security has been shelled. Three frontier guards were wounded.

The Defence Council expresses its deep condolence to the families of the perished people and expresses its protest to the authorities of Gudauta, commanders of the operative group of Russian troops, the initiators of this bloodshed operation.

Chairman of the Defense Council, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic General-Major T.Nadareishvili May 7, 1993.

STATEMENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL OF ABKHAZ AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC

The situation has greatly aggravated in Abkhazia lately. The powers of Gudauta together with their supporters from reactionary military circles of Russia began shelling the residential districts of Sukhumi from the artillery equipment and air.Despite numerous demands of the Defense Council, Government of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic, UNO representatives to stop such actions, peaceful residents of the town are subject to barbarian annihilation.

Today, May 9, 1993, Sukhumi and its suburbs were subject to mass shelling from "Grad" weapon. A lot of people perished and were wounded.

It should be noted that all the above actions are conducted in view of the forthcoming meeting of President of Russia Boris Yeltsin and Chairman of the parliament of Georgia, the head of state Eduard Shevardnadze in Moscow, who are not only to solve the problems in the relations between the two states, but also promote soonest termination of the armed conflict on Abkhazia.

The Defense Council of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic finds it necessary to state that the activities of the Gudauta powers show their unwillingness to look for the ways to overcome the armed opposition at the table of talks, and seek to break the forthcoming meeting at the highest level in Moscow.

Chairman of the Defense Council of Abkhaz Autonomous Republic, General-Major T.Nadareishvili May 9, 1993

It is quite natural that struggle with these forces was of hard and complicated character, especially as by that time Georgia had no regular troops. Basically patriotic young volunteers took part in the battle actions, who were sure they were defending their motherland, and bravely were executing their duties; and today we must all come together in memory of those who gave their lives for the fatherland. Despite such great difference in the strength, the enemy still failed to occupy Abkhazia, as they had planned initially, at the beginning of the war. The enemy failed to get a single town or village in the battle. When the Georgian party took Gagra, Sukhumi, Ochamchire under their control, the enemy several times attacked Gagra. The battles were conducted close to Kolkhida, Bzuip, Akhaladze, but were without results. The Georgian side managed to press back the enemy from Gagra and gave no chance for them to capture the town. So another, crafty plan was chosen against us. On September 3, 1992, the troops of Georgian Ministry of Defense were withdrawn from Gagra according to the achieved agreements. Only peaceful residents stayed in the town, and it looked as if peaceful life started there. However, the enemy perfidiously broke the agreement and threw all their battle potential to Gagra. Similar situation was observed in Sukhumi, when after the violation of the agreement of July 27, 1993, Sukhumi and the whole Abkhazia were lost.

The war conflict in Abkhazia lasted 14 months. During this period we had both success and defeat. It is a special topic, which needs thorough analysis and assessment. And what is more important for us today - the world public must learn about the horrors, vandalism, which took place during the ethnic purge and genocide used against peaceful Georgian residents.

Members of hundreds already well-known criminal troops entered the towns and villages, and inflicted punishment over Georgians;

they beheaded them, cut their arms and legs, ears, noses, genital organs, breasts, threaded them as necklaces and wore on their necks. Women were raped in front of their husbands and children. The property of Georgians was first robbed and then the houses burnt without any pity. Besides the Abkhaz boeviks and hired murderers provided unbearable conditions for Georgians and made them leave their homes. Writers, research workers, physicians, teachers, journalists, workers of the judicial bodies and other representatives of Georgian educated people were killed with special cruetly.

Special punitive groups formed by separatists organized such actions in practically all the villages and towns, and in the result, a lot of Georgians disappeared without any traces, and the places where they could be found are unknown until now.

Group punitive actions were observed at the stadiums and other places of public use. The facts of murder of innocent, not armed Georgians, were recorded in Gagra region.

Let me mention the demonstration of special cruelty and endless hatred towards Georgians. Thus, in Bagmarani village, Gulripshi region, Abkhaz separatists appointed Otar Chamagua to the post of the commandant; Abkhaz by nation, he was residing with his Georgian wife in the village. Chamagua began to fulfil his "duties" with killing his wife, the only child, and then personally began to punish dozens of peaceful Georgians residing there.

Jury Kvarchia, an Abkhaz by nation, with other boeviks rushed into the house of a Georgian in Adzuizhba village, Ochamchire region on September 17, 1995 and using iron rods, tore into pieces two little children of the family in front of their parents, after that the parents were taken away in the unknown direction; the daughter-in-law and her women-guest were killed in the yard.

When the separatists entered Akhaldaba village, they killed a lot of small children and young women; the rest were brought to the stadium and shot one by one. The children older than six were first raped and then beheaded. They put car tyres on some of them and burnt. Up to 60 women were killed in this way; and total number of victims in that village was up to 400.

44 bodies of Georgian soldiers were found between Ablanurkhva and Tamuish villages, they were lying in rows, and a tank smashed their heads.

More than 400 Georgian residents of Sukhumi were brought to Kurchenko park and shot there. A Georgian girl was raped there, then she was cut in two parts, and the inscription was made in Russian on the body, "Just as these parts of the body cannot be joined together, so Abkhazia cannot be joined with Georgia". A similar case was recorded in Gagra.

An Armenian gang killed medical workers, brothers Sichinava in Pshapi village. A pregnant woman Patsava was hanged on the tree, her belly was cut, and then she was poured over with benzene and burnt.

Genocide in Abkhazia was conducted step by step - from August 14 till October 1992 in the region of Gudauta; from October 2, 1992 till September 16, 1993 in Gagra and its suburbs, and from September in Sukhumi, Ochamchire, Gali region, and Tkvarcheli.

Planned genocide of various social levels of Georgian inhabitants, and especially of intelligentsia - medical workers, teachers, writers, art workers expressed itself in mass murders.

When the battles in Sukhumi were stopped on September 26, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Abkhaz AR Zhiuli Shartava, Mayor of the town G.Gabeskiria, Chief of the police T.Rapava, Deputy of the Supreme Council of Gagra, Deputy Head of Gagra Administration Michael Jincharadze and dozens of others were tortured and killed

Separatists killed more than a hundred cultural workers, including women, they sadistically did away with 37 years old Nato Milorava Art manager of the House of Culture of Gumista, actor of drama theatre Vasil Chkeidze, Tennuraz Zhvania, Guram Gelovani, director of Sukhumi park of culture and rest and a lot of others

The majority of the eighty killed medical workers were women -Vera Kolbaia, Tina Tsotsona, Nino Shonia, Anadna Shelia, Olga Tkebuchava, Mzia Beselia and others Zeiimkhan Danelia, Gia Sichinava, Ramzik Ospekchian, Giorgi Barkalaia, Shalva Gvazava were killed when they were fulfilling their duties as doctors Head doctor of Gulnpshi Tuberculosis Hospital Shota Jgamadze was killed in the hospital in front of his close relatives and friends Doctor of the Republican Hospital Petre Sichinava was killed in the similar way

Separatists and their hirelings killed more than two hundred teachers, more than sixty women among them - Venera Sigua, Julia Gogokhia, Chitanava, Tsatsa Dzandzava, Eka Pilpani, Lia Akubardia Dzabuli Pachulia, Gulnara Chaladze, Tsiala Kuprava, Nazi Sajaia Mina Arabidze, Zhuzhuna Maglapendze, Luba Chemia, Eten Bakuradze Nato Shengelia, Luba Gvidjilia, Lili Chkadua, Elvira Kvetatiani, Tsiun Shana, Nina Vekua, Natela Todua, Margo Gagua, Laura Gergaya Keto Kvaratskhelia and others

Only because they were Georgians, Chairman of Gulnpshi Collective Farm Mamuli Abkhazava, worker of the Ministry of Finance Tristan Govelia, Head of the Construction Department Leonti Jalagonia Assistant to Abkhaz procurator Vladimir Kalichava, inspector Emzar Lashkhia, Head of the Department of the Institute of Subtropical Cultures Jury Norakidze, lecturer of the same Institute Karlo Chkhenkeli Chief Architect of Sukhumi Tamaz Tavadze and others were killed

The plan of separatists included mass annihilation of Georgians

During the initial stages of the conflict, mass execution of Georgians began in Gudauta and Sukhumi, where separatist gangs from Eshera, Lmkhna, Aradu and Akhalsopeli based They chased away 6000 Georgians, and cruelly killed the rest Thus, 17 Georgians were shot in Akhalsopeli in December 18 Head was cut out of 70 years old Indiko Grdzelidze Elguja Maisuradze was cut with an axe, while 66 years old Nikoioz Kvabzianidze was tied up to a tractor and tortured to death

When Gagra fell, separatist gangs began to rob the houses and torture and kill peaceful residents Eyewitnesses say up to 50 Georgians were hung on the electric poles on October 6

They were especially cruel with the residents of Gagra, Salkhino, Pitsunda, Akhaladze and other places They killed women, old people and children They shot peaceful citizens A Kometiani, N Charkviani, В Bobokhidze, G Gvazava and others

They killed I Bzhalava in the presence of his wife and children, В Kutsia in the presence of his wife, V Benidze in the presence of his daughter, and G Glonti in front of his father 66 years old teacher Vasil Samkharadze was seized in the street and beheaded publicly His relatives were not allowed to bury him, and straw animals tore up the body left in the street They first cut Georgi Pipia's nose and ears, and then killed him

A lot of other examples can be given on the words of the victims and eyewitnesses of the blood-shedding revelry of separatists

Torturing, robbing and killing Georgians in Gagra, the separatists were shouting they intended to kill all the Georgians in the region between Gagra and Leselidze, to burn Georgian books, to ruin Georgian cultural monuments and houses They threatened to kill those non-Georgians who would provide help or hide the chased people

Out of the testimonies of eyewitnesses

Т Barkalava Abkhazian killed his cousin, resident of Lidzava village, Tsezar Kvendze in his presence, before this they cut his nose, ears and legs down his knees 70 years old Simonishvili was killed in a similar way

M Mgeladze All the night he was kept standing in water, after which Chechen boeviks cut off his left hand, filled a glass with his blood and offered him to drink it When he refused one of the boeviks cynically apologized and said "Exuse me, brother, but I drink not only your blood, but the blood of all the Georgians", after it he drink and said that he would leave not a single Georgian at the territory of Abkhazia, he was assured their liquidation is inevitable

К Abramishvili Her husband was killed after long tortures in Ipnan village, his face and body was cut, he was thrown into a pit and buried alive

A Japandze Abkhaz separatists rushed in his house, wounded him with a knife in the neck, but left him alive to continue torturing They shot 18 residents of the village They were - Nodar and Avtandil Maisashvili, givi, Elguja, Tamaz and Gela Maisuradze, Gocha and Gia Goksadze, Jemal Grdzelidze, Guram Kobeshavidze, Viktor Meshvildishvili, Viktor and Omar Kereselidze, Mardia Goglidze, Shota Chikviladze,H Jaiam On September 25 he was captured in the filed by Abkhaz bandits They made him dig a pit to bury three persons shot in his presence Then they beat him without mercy and brought to Gudauta, where he was kept for 25 days together with other Georgians at the camp of war prisoners, they were systematically beaten there, in the end they cut off his ear

N Janashia On October 2, 1992 brothers Vakhtang and Gela Shonia were killed in their yard, and his wife was raped

A Baramia, Abkhaz and Chechen boeviks attacked Head of Gagra Health Resort Department Alexander Baramia His wife Natela, his daughter Tsisia and four guests were in his house The bandits first raped and beheaded his daughter After long tortures his wife was also beheaded After this he himself and his guests were killed

N BagishvilL After capturing the village separatists chased away parctically all the residenrts, women and children including They prevertedly raped 25 girls of 12-16 years publicly The group continued raping of helpless children for a week Eliso Maisuradze from Eshera village was raped in the presence of her arrested father, brothers and father-in-law, her Russian sister-in law was raped Eliso managed to blow herself up in despair

Ale Kankava from Kodon was beheaded, and his head was put into a rod

In Pitsunda Tengiz Bendmashvili eyewitnessed how his sister Mzia was raped, and then shot

Alice Merdelashvili was shot from automatic gun, only because there was no sugar in her house

Such cruelties committed 18-20 year old Abkhazians, intoxicated with fascist ideas of V Ardzinba and his gangs, they had inscriptions "Death for Georgians" on their sleeves

After the Agreement of July 27, 1993, separatists increased their physical and moral pressure on Georgian inhabitants In Bzuip they gathered the passports of local Georgians and put the stamps on de-registration in them Threatening their lives made them sign the document of leaving the village according to their free will

On August 9, 1993 separatists threatening the lives of Georgians transported them to Adier airport, after which they handed them passports with stamps on de-registration 250 families, approximately 3000 people were deported in this way from Bzuip Local residents KKikviladze, his sister and 12 year old daughter were shot only because they refused to leave there home A lot others had similar fate

When Gagra was occupied on October 1992, a lot of Georgians were killed at the town stadium and other public places After hooting a lot of bodies were beheaded

Hundreds of other facts of cruelty towards peaceful residents were recorded Special Commission of UN Secretary General investigated and reported on them

It was found out that after the sadist actions, the remaining 17 thousand Georgians - residents of Gagra left their homes and the town

For several months separatists bombed Sukhumi and Ochamchire Ten thousand bombs were thrown only on Sukhumi, 1000 vans with discharges were used, more than 400 peaceful people perished due to it residential districts were specially chosen for bombing

Using the fact that following the agreement of July 27, 1993 Georgian government withdrew heavy artillery and equipment from Sukhumi and Ochamchire, separatists began the mass storming of Sukhumi on September 16 Sukhumi airport was shelled constantly, where thousands of Georgians, Russians and people of other nationalities were waiting for planes, and a lot of them were killed More then 50 women and children perished there

49 460 out of 119 180 residents of Sukhumi were Georgians The majority of them were chased away from the town When Sukhumi was captured, separatists killed more than 1000 people after torturing them, women, old people, invalids and little children including

Among sadistically killed Sukhumians were Vazha and Lamara Rukhaia, a born invalid, short-sighted Misha Kvantaliani (killed before his parents), sisters Natela and Nell Kolbaia (80) were killed in the presence of their children, D Berulava and her adopted son I Turin (Russian) - the latter because he tried to protect the helpless old woman CM Bobokhidze was killed before his mother Nana Mateshashvili was publicly raped, and then killed General Komoshvili, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers P Saakian and hundreds of others were shot Young woman teacher Tsiun Gogava was first cynically raped, and then ordered to run, "Run, you, dog'" But she was shot when she made the first step

Not far from school No 12, in front of the pub, Abkhaz and Cossack boeviks were playing football with the cut off heads roaring with laughter

Sukhumians Rom and Guram Kvashilava were riddled with automatic guns, after that their hands and feet fingers were cut and thrown away Answering of Rom Shubladze's wife, why they were so barbaric and cruel, they answered they would do away with all the Georgians in this way, if they did not leave Abkhazia

Separatists ruined hundreds of houses of Georgians so that their owners could not and would not wish to return.

The policy of genocide was especially wide-scale in Gali region, basically inhabited with Georgians. 97% out of 96 thousand residents of the region were Georgians.

It should be noted that the residents of this region did not take part in battle actions. In September 29 the occupants took the town without battle, after which began their revelry and mass murders of peaceful residents.

Beginning with February 1994, Abkhaz separatists more than once attacked the villages of the region, killed and robbed people, terrorized the inhabitants, ruined dozens of villages, destroyed and burnt 5727 houses, stole up to 25 thousand head of cattle. Expensive foreign equipment was stolen from the shops of the tinned food producing plant and from the poultry farm; they practically ruined the economy of the region.

610 out of 710 houses of Okumi village were destroyed and burnt, 65 residents were killed after torturing. 20 of them were women: 90 year old Venera Antia, 55 year old Nelli Gergaia, 80 year old Vera Runia, 67 year old Alma Latsuzbaia, 56 year old Natela Melia, 22 and 24 year old sisters Nina and Nato Poletaevs were first publicly raped and then killed.

1040 houses were ruined in Gali, 129 persons were cruelly killed;20 of them were women.

In Achigvara 411 houses were destroyed and 70 people killed, 20 of them being women. In Gudava 429 houses were burnt, 55 people (14 women including) were tortured to death.

Helpless elderly women Zh.Tsutrsumia, V.Gargazia, Ch.Chaava, S.Djologua, G.Gangia, LKvachakhia, R.Zantaria, B.Malysheva, V.Tarbaia and others were burnt alive.

The fate of Mziuri, Kvemo and Zemo Bargebi, Reno-Shesheliti, Otabaia, Nabakevi was similar to the above.

Such barbarity is continued today. Using threatening and terror, they preclude people to return home. Despite the fact that a lot of agreements have been signed on the matter, nobody has been punished for all the evil committed, even after Russian Peacekeeping forces were brought to the region of the conflict. A lot of facts confirming it were investigated. For example:

Manana Lemondjava testified (v. Repi), that when peacekeeping forces were brought to Gali region, her father and son, Terenti and Emzar Lemonjava returned to the village and lived in the not ruined kitchen.

On October 26, 1994 separatists attacked the village with the aim to destroy the remaining houses; they killed both Lemondjavas in the sight of their wives and mother Tina Lemondjava, and burnt the bodies.

On March 10, 1995 Abkhaz and Armenian boeviks, wearing military uniforms burst into villages Gumuirishi, Zemo and Kvemo-Bargebi, Otobaia and others; they were headed by the so-called Interior Minister of Abkhazia Givi Agrba; they robbed and ruined the houses of Georgians, shot everyone who showed at least the slightest displeasure towards the ravishers.

Guram Badzagua (v. Nabakevi): Armed groups of Abkhazians and Armenians burst in the village on May 12, 1995. He'himself, his brother Jumber, their countrymen Mamuka Kvaratskhelia, Dato Narmania, Guram Kharchilava and Revaz Cherkezia were caught and pulled away to the tea plantation. There Kharchilava and Cherkezia were killed, while the rest were brought to Kvemo-Bargebi village. There they killed Marmania and Kvaratskhelia.

On May 2, 1995 a gang of separatists attacked the house of Vladimir Malazonia, veteran of World War II in Pirveli Gali village, and ravaged him. His neighbour Vano Injia was killed, because he refused to transport the stolen things. On May 6 the boeviks again attacked the house of Malazonia to take away the remaining food, and this time they killed him too.

On May 12 Abkhaz militioneers killed without any reason Tristan and Geno Gvadzhava, Goderdzi Papava and Murman Tsikoria in Lokukhona village, where they had come for the funeral.

On July 28 on Pirveli village Abkhaz militia cruelly beat and then wounded in the legs Nugzar Aslania, only because during the search in his house they found an additional bill of "gomi" (gomi is a porridge made of maize flour).

On July 30 Abkhazians wearing militia uniforms, attacked resident of Gumurishi village Murman Tsulaia and demanded to give them arms; when they did not find any weapon, they took him to the isolated cell, tortured and scalped him. Only after the involvement of the UN observers and peacekeeping forces he was set free and placed to the hospital in Zugdidi.

Bloody statistics of the genocide, conducted by the Abkhaz separatists is a long one. The system of terror bereft peaceful Georgian inhabitants of any possibility to oppose.

Besides, due to systematic shelling of towns and villages, due to robberies and ravages of the war, which ruined a lot of houses, caused thousands of Russians, Armenians, Greeks to leave their homes and to return to their historical motherland as refugees.

It is hardly possible to mention all the terrible facts of vandalism on the part of cannibal-separatists, but I would like to give at least several dozens of examples on the tragedy that took place in Abkhazia.