The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

One does not even have to read between the lines anymore to see the pro-Armenian stance Russian officials are taking regarding Artsakh. Recent comments made by Vladimir Kazimirov, the former Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, clearly reveals Moscow's interest in keeping the status-quo in the south Caucasus. Moscow is clearly signaling that it does not want to see an armed clash between Armenia and Azerbaijan. And if such a situation does occur Moscow is clearly forecasting the defeat of the Azeri military. Under this scenario the Armenian Republic along with Artsakh will ultimately come out as the victorious side. This will also ultimately vindicate the oft criticized "soft" approach of the Kocharyan administration in Yerevan towards the Artsakh problem. The complimentary comments towards the Armenian authorities is a vivid example of how well official Yerevan has been carrying out its diplomatic obligations internationally and playing the pro-Russian card regionally. In other words, by Yerevan loudly stating that they are ready for compromises with Azerbaijan, knowing full well that Azerbaijan is not willing to compromise the fate of Artskah, Yerevan is looking like it wants peace and stability in the region and Baku is looking like the aggressor, the trouble maker. And Yerevan's more than close relations with the region's superpower, Russia, and Baku's less than ideal relations with Moscow is obviously yet another factor that is fundamentally helping the Armenian side. I only wish those who support the actions of individuals like Jirayr Sefilian or Paruyr Hayrikian understood these nuances in international diplomacy and the realities of living the the Caucasus.

Armenian

************************************************** *********************

Russian Diplomat says Baku's Resumption of War to be Devastating



"Resumption of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh would cause more damage than in 1992-1994, since collisions would take place between well-equipped armies not guerilla troops," said Vladimir Kazimirov, the former Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. If war resumes, he said, neither side would manage a victorious blitzkrieg. Hostilities will linger for the next 4-5 years and the consequences will be destructive for the initiator first and foremost. This is a fact that demands very thorough consideration by the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, he said.

According to Kazimorov, the war is a threat for the entire international community as well. "The South Caucasus is not a region deserving indifference," he said, noting that it won't be easy to justify new carnage or an occupation of Armenia, since everyone sees Yerevan and Stepanakert as insisting on a compromise solution, while Baku stubbornly threatens war if Armenians don't relinquish all territorial claims, including Nagorno-Karabakh. The Repetition of hostilities will be perceived as a great anomaly," the Russian diplomat said.

"The side that dares to violate the armistice will immediately draw universal condemnation for breaking from the principles of the OSCE and the commitments to the CoE," he stated. "World powers and influential international organizations, which have worked for a peaceful resolution of the conflict will severely condemn the aggressor," he added.

Although Article 9 of the Azerbaijani constitution rejects war as a means of settling international conflicts, Azeri leaders have already undermined the authority of their Laws by making repeated bellicose statements, Kazimorov noted. They don't fail to cite the Constitution when commenting on the referendum on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh but they completely ignore the above-mentioned article, he added. Baku's role in exacerbating the situation in the Caucasus is becoming more apparent, Kazimorov stated. Baku has been intensifying the arms race in the Caucasus by drastically boosting its defense budget year after year. While President Heydar Aliyev has completely neglected the agreement with Armenia and Karabakh on the suppression of border incidents, he noted.

Every day the Azeri Defense Ministry reports a violation of the ceasefire by Armenians. However, if Baku truly wanted to suppress such incidents, why doesn't it follow the agreement officially signed under the aegis of the OSCE? Meanwhile, Yerevan and Stepanakert have time and again stated their support of the agreement. If Baku thinks this agreement imperfect, it could be amended or replaced by another one. However, it is clear that Azerbaijan prefers the mounting casualties so as to aggravate tensions and pursue their hysterical propaganda. According to Daniel Fried, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs armed revenge will entail grave consequences and ruin Azerbaijan's future.

Source: http://www.huliq.com/40008/russian-d...be-devastating

[Kanki]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

What's your problem with Azeris?

[skhara]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

they're turks.

[TomServo]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

they're turks.

Or at least they think they are.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

You can't figure him out? The guy is nothing but a stooge taking his orders directly from Washington and Tel Aviv...nothing to figure out. He needs to be put down once and for all.

Well, in reality, I can figure him out. I was just making a rhetorical statement. However, I must say I fully support Saakashvili's actions. I believe him to be a true Georgian patriot. More power to the man. I think that the Georgian people have been oppressed by Russians for too long. The partitioning of Georgia needs to be stopped, sooner this happens the better. As a result, I would like to see Tbilisi attempt to forcibly retake Abkhazia and Ossetia once and for all. And they should also try to forcibly suppress the troublesome Armenians of Javakhq. I think all Armenians need to help Georgians attempt these long held dreams of theirs.

Armenian

Russia's strained relations with Georgia (video report from Al-Jazeera): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZtIj...&oe=UTF-8&hl=e

************************************************** *****************

Russian diplomat: It is a question why the Georgian leadership is concentrating armaments near the conflict zones



The Russian Foreign Ministry has once again called on Georgia to sign legally-binding agreements on the non-use of force and security guarantees with Sukhumi and Tskhinvali. "We are continuing to call on Tbilisi to sign legally-binding agreements with Sukhumi and Tskhinvali on the non-use of force and security guarantees. This would be a real step forward" in settling the Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-South Ossetian conflicts, Russian Foreign Ministry State Secretary Grigory Karasin said in an interview with INTERFAX.

In this light, former Georgian President "Eduard Shevardnadze's statements that Sukhumi and Tskhinvali are refusing to maintain dialogue with support from Moscow are lies from beginning to end," Karasin said. "Everything is just the opposite, and our Georgian partners are perfectly aware of this. Russia's mediating and peacekeeping functions will continue," he said. Moscow is worried by Georgia's accelerated militarization, including its efforts toward beefing up its military presence near the Abkhaz and South Ossetian borders, he said.

"It is difficult to get rid of doubts about Tbilisi's true intentions. For instance, Georgia is reinforcing its military unit in the upper part of the Kodori Gorge, where the situation is already extremely tense after the UN Security Council recorded Georgia's gross violation of the 1994 Moscow Accords on the separation of sides and ceasefire last year," Karasin said. "In the Abkhaz area, the construction of a large military base in Senaki is nearing completion and a military airfield is being reconstructed, and heavy military equipment is also being concentrated in the Zugdidi district," Karasin said.

"A similar situation is near the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone," he said. "While the Georgian leadership is saying it is seeking to peacefully resolve the conflicts, it is a question why the Georgian leadership is concentrating armaments near the conflict zones," he said. "Sukhumi and Tskhinvali are following Georgia's military preparations with alarm," he said. "After the tragedy that happened in the early 1990s, the people's desire to ensure peaceful and safe life is quite understandable and logical," he said.

Grigory Karasin also slammed a recent appeal by former Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze for an international boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Shevardnadze argued that Russia's policy on Abkhazia and South Ossetia is similar to the Soviet policy on Afghanistan that triggered the war of 1979-88 in that country. "I am forced to admit, though I regret this, that the politician [Shevardnadze] has lost his sense of moderation. Experience and wisdom are normally used to help achieve progress and look for constructive solutions. All that ultimatums do is to annoy and fan emotions," Karasin told Interfax.

"It is absurd to compare the current conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia to the Afghanistan situation of 1980," Karasin said. "It is simply politically indecent to throw in the issue of the 2014 Olympic Games with a clear purpose. Let's abandon methods of intimidation. They will hardly be helpful," he said. "Georgia's conflicts with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which remain unsettled, are not the consequence of Russian policies but the result of nationalistic and provocative actions by the Georgian leadership at the end of the 80s and the beginning of the 90s," the deputy minister said. "That is what forced the Abkhaz and Ossetians to take up arms in order to protect themselves," he said.

"Alas, it is unfortunately far from possible to put into practice Shevardnadze's idea that the Georgians would be able to reach agreement both with the Abkhaz and with the Ossetians directly, without any mediation," Karasin said. Karasin also denied Shevardnadze's point that the fact that there are Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia and South Ossetia means there is a Russian military presence in the two regions. "Here we have an obvious replacement of notions. By decision of the Heads of State Council of the CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States], a Commonwealth Joint Peacekeeping Force has been deployed in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict since 1994," Karasin said. The force's personnel is entirely Russian.

"Sad though it is, [Shevardnadze] has forgotten that it is the achievement of the force that, for many years, peace and order have been maintained in the region, there exists a secure regime for the return of refugees and patrolling programs are being conducted jointly with UN observers," Karasin said. UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution #1781, the latest on the Abkhaz conflict, credit the peacekeepers with playing an important stabilizing role, he said.

Source: http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/exclusive...issue=11898777

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Russian expert: Military settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is an affair that will result in collapse of Azerbaijan



National consensus has been reached in Nagorno Karabakh regarding the fact that “the republic must be an independent state,” so victory of one or another candidate at the presidential election will not radically change on the general situation, head of the Caucasus department at the Institute for CIS Studies Mikhail Alexandrov said.

“The matter concerns nuances. For instance, Bako Saakyan is quite moderate and is orientated towards connection with Armenia and talks with Azerbaijan. Masis Mailyan is tougher, he opposes returning of seven occupied areas to Azerbaijan and speaks for a more autonomous from Yerevan negotiation stance,” Alexandrov said adding that in any case, the key direction in Stepanakert will be dialog. At the same time, he noted that Ilham Aliev’s hopes for returning Karabakh through dialog are naïve.

“A military settlement is an affair that will result in collapse of Azerbaijan as a state. It is unreal for Baku to win over Armenia and the NKR, no matter how strongly they increase their military spending,” the expert believes. The matter concerns not only money, but efficiency of the Army. “Besides, Armenia is connected with Russia by military agreements; the most up-to-date military equipment is supplied there at lower prices. Some types of weapons are impossible for Azerbaijan to acquire in foreign markets; nobody will sell them to it. So, it will be ungrounded to hope for superiority and a Blitzkrieg,”

the analyst stressed adding that “this form of being looped” can result in Azerbaijan losing the seven areas of the Nagorno Karabakh security belt. Now, he believes, there is still an opportunity to implement the formula “peace for territories”: Azerbaijan recognizes Nagorno Karabakh independence and the latter returns the territories. “However, now, the time is not serving Baku. The Kosovo precedent that, most probably, will end with a one-sided recognition of the territory’s independence by the West will only encourage Karabakh in its intentions. ‘The Fifth Column’ and a coup in Stepanakert are ruled out, because there is no single Azerbaijani there,” Mikhail Alexandrov is quoted as saying by PanARMENIAN.Net.

Source: http://www.regnum.ru/english/860576.html

One does not even have to read between the lines anymore to see the pro-Armenian stance Russian officials are taking regarding Artsakh. Recent comments made by Vladimir Kazimirov, the former Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, clearly reveals Moscow's interest in keeping the status-quo in the south Caucasus. Moscow is clearly signaling that it does not want to see an armed clash between Armenia and Azerbaijan. And if such a situation does occur Moscow is clearly forecasting the defeat of the Azeri military. Under this scenario the Armenian Republic along with Artsakh will ultimately come out as the victorious side. This will also ultimately vindicate the oft criticized "soft" approach of the Kocharyan administration in Yerevan towards the Artsakh problem. The complimentary comments towards the Armenian authorities is a vivid example of how well official Yerevan has been carrying out its diplomatic obligations internationally and playing the pro-Russian card regionally. In other words, by Yerevan loudly stating that they are ready for compromises with Azerbaijan, knowing full well that Azerbaijan is not willing to compromise the fate of Artskah, Yerevan is looking like it wants peace and stability in the region and Baku is looking like the aggressor, the trouble maker. And Yerevan's more than close relations with the region's superpower, Russia, and Baku's less than ideal relations with Moscow is obviously yet another factor that is fundamentally helping the Armenian side. I only wish those who support the actions of individuals like Jirayr Sefilian or Paruyr Hayrikian understood these nuances in international diplomacy and the realities of living the the Caucasus.

Armenian

************************************************** *********************

Russian Diplomat says Baku's Resumption of War to be Devastating



"Resumption of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh would cause more damage than in 1992-1994, since collisions would take place between well-equipped armies not guerilla troops," said Vladimir Kazimirov, the former Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. If war resumes, he said, neither side would manage a victorious blitzkrieg. Hostilities will linger for the next 4-5 years and the consequences will be destructive for the initiator first and foremost. This is a fact that demands very thorough consideration by the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, he said.

According to Kazimorov, the war is a threat for the entire international community as well. "The South Caucasus is not a region deserving indifference," he said, noting that it won't be easy to justify new carnage or an occupation of Armenia, since everyone sees Yerevan and Stepanakert as insisting on a compromise solution, while Baku stubbornly threatens war if Armenians don't relinquish all territorial claims, including Nagorno-Karabakh. The Repetition of hostilities will be perceived as a great anomaly," the Russian diplomat said.

"The side that dares to violate the armistice will immediately draw universal condemnation for breaking from the principles of the OSCE and the commitments to the CoE," he stated. "World powers and influential international organizations, which have worked for a peaceful resolution of the conflict will severely condemn the aggressor," he added.

Although Article 9 of the Azerbaijani constitution rejects war as a means of settling international conflicts, Azeri leaders have already undermined the authority of their Laws by making repeated bellicose statements, Kazimorov noted. They don't fail to cite the Constitution when commenting on the referendum on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh but they completely ignore the above-mentioned article, he added. Baku's role in exacerbating the situation in the Caucasus is becoming more apparent, Kazimorov stated. Baku has been intensifying the arms race in the Caucasus by drastically boosting its defense budget year after year. While President Heydar Aliyev has completely neglected the agreement with Armenia and Karabakh on the suppression of border incidents, he noted.

Every day the Azeri Defense Ministry reports a violation of the ceasefire by Armenians. However, if Baku truly wanted to suppress such incidents, why doesn't it follow the agreement officially signed under the aegis of the OSCE? Meanwhile, Yerevan and Stepanakert have time and again stated their support of the agreement. If Baku thinks this agreement imperfect, it could be amended or replaced by another one. However, it is clear that Azerbaijan prefers the mounting casualties so as to aggravate tensions and pursue their hysterical propaganda. According to Daniel Fried, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs armed revenge will entail grave consequences and ruin Azerbaijan's future.

Source: http://www.huliq.com/40008/russian-d...be-devastating

[skhara]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Ok dude Here is your translation. To be honest I found parts of it confusing in regards to dates and such.

Narrator:
17th September. You are watching unique images shot by amateur video.
Abkhazian forces are advancing against Georgian forces who have for almost a year held Sukhumi.

Not only Abkhaz, but Armenians, Greeks, Chechens, (and another nationality I couldn't quite make out) are also participating. Galust Trapizonian is one of the commanders of the Armenian battalion known as "Bagramyan".

Galust Trapizonian:
It seemed like everything was ready and calculated -- we were ready to go on the 14th -->15th -- for some reason we went on the 15th and many guys were killed in my company. At 4am the command was given to advance -- we were crossing a river and everyone had their own assignment ....

Narrator:
1st company of the battalion is tasked with advancing to the rear of the enemy positions and seizing all the approaches leading towards this bridge (bridge shown on video) across the river (couldn't make out the name). This bridge is the key to the gates of Sukhumi -- and bitter fighting resulted for its control. Besides having 16 killed and 7 wounded, the company completed its assignment. The advancing forces got to the opposite shore and immediately met well dug in Georgian forces.

Galust:
We passed their first line, but in the second line they had snipers atop buildings that stopped our advance. The command was given to fall back. When we returned, we found out that just in the third company, 16 people were killed.

Narrator:
That was the first and unsuccessful attempt by the Abkhazians to liberate their country. The situation was critical; the Georgian forces could at any moment launch a counter attack and throw the Abkhazians into the sea -- along with all those who fought on their side.

Abkhazian command began planning for a second advance. Two brigades were formed. The Armenian battalion ("Bagramyan") was in one of those brigades. The Brigade was under the command of Gary Samamba.

Gary Samamba:

-Points to mountain- see that mountain. Its called "Byrska (spelling??)". On it I had one battalion.

-Points to another mountain. Over there is another famous mountain: "Sugorovka". I had another battalion there.

Narrator:
July 93 - Abkhazian forces finally have advanced to the approaches of Sukhumi. While they were planning the storming of Sukhumi, the Georgians were with similar determination readying their defenses. In the area around "Sugorovka" fierce fighting has already errupted. The Georgian position on the high ground allowed them to control all the gates and bridges leading to Sukhumi. It was the capture of this mountain (Sugorovka) that was assigned to Galust.

Galust:
I, along with 67 guys had to go up Sugorovka -- this is the most difficult point of advance. A guide by the name of Misha Galustian was my guide. He was taking us towards his parents house who were to tell us what to do next.
(Video shows guys walking in the middle of the nights saying "scouting party").

Narrator:
338th day of the war --
In the morning it was apparent that all the approaches were mined -- regardless, the attack went ahead. One of the first to suffer injuries was Galust (stepped on a mine). (Video shows him being carried up the mountain)

By evening Abkhazian forces managed to capture all approaches. The road to Sukhumi was opened.

Gary Samamba:
We went around them. We came down the mountains and ended up in their rear and then we advanced further. Eventually we captured a height on the outskirts of Sukhumi and 4 days later walked into Sukhumi.

Narrator:
The storming on the 23rd September was a surprise not only for the Georgians but also the Russians who were trying to negotiate a ceasefire at that time.

An order was given to attack without Moscow's consent. Abkhazian companys and battalions were aiming towards the center of Sukhumi meeting violent resistance as they advanced.

On Ordjanikidze street advanced the Bagramyan battalion(battalion shown on video). Their aim was to capture (government building I could quite make out). For 11 days the assault lasted. The war was still taking a toll, but victory was nearing. Four days later, Abkhazian forces squeezed Georgians out of Abkhazia and a status quo was established.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Georgia prepares for revolution - again

The Georgian opposition said 100,000 people would attend its demonstration against President Mikheil Saakashvili on November 2. They say it will be the largest demonstration in Georgia's modern history, comparable to the 2003 "rose revolution." Will it grow into another uprising that will overthrow the head of state? Just two months ago that would have been impossible. The opposition was divided and lacked the strength to oppose the president. Some were even saying that the outcomes of the next parliamentary and presidential elections were predetermined, even though the dates (sometime next autumn or winter) have not yet been set.

The tide turned when the president's former ally, ex-Defense Minister Irakly Okruashvili, accused Saakashvili of a veritable catalogue of sins. But although Okruashvili withdrew the accusations after his arrest and subsequent mysterious release on bail - it is not clear who provided the $6 million - the wave he released keeps rolling. The opposition decided to act while it was still possible, and signed the unification manifesto on October 17. Its strategic goal is to overthrow Saakashvili, and the tactical goal is to hold early parliamentary elections next spring. The opposition has agreed on a slogan after choosing between "Georgia without Saakashvili" and "Georgia without the president."

The latter slogan provoked heated debates. Does a country need a presidency if none of its presidents have worked normally and until the end of their terms? If Georgia is to become a parliamentary republic, it needs early elections. The opposition is preparing to win the majority and use its right to amend the Constitution in order to get rid of Saakashvili. A dress rehearsal for the "march of dissent," attended by 5,000 to 10,000 people, was held in Zugdidi, a stronghold of former President Zviad Gamsakhurdia. The authorities prepared in their own way - they sent groups of young people to Zugdidi, who shouted during the demonstration that its participants had "sold out to the Kremlin." As expected, the demonstration deteriorated into violence, and several opposition deputies were beaten up.

The opposition was accused of "selling out to the Kremlin" some time ago, when its leaders said that they would improve relations with Russia. But they have also launched a rather successful diplomatic offensive in the West, proclaiming the goals of improving relations with the European Union and joining NATO. At the same time, the U.S. administration hinted at its dissatisfaction with the Saakashvili regime. Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said the opposition was entitled to openly express its protest, especially since the level of its democratic development is not as high as it should be.

American newspapers warn that the White House is ready to surrender Saakashvili and come to terms with the opposition. It was not a coincidence that Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, recently arrived in Georgia and met with the opposition today. The Georgian opposition also invited European diplomats to the French Embassy to inform them about the situation in the country. In an effort to raise the profile of the upcoming event, they sent several delegates to Western Europe to organize simultaneous protest actions in Berlin, Strasbourg and Athens on Friday. Georgian tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili, who lives in London, has offered to finance the opposition and said he would turn over his opposition television company Imedi to Australian born media magnate Rupert Murdoch.

"I want to protect the company from pressure," he said. "Journalists and the company will have better protection with American shareholders. Murdoch will ensure freedom of speech."

Moscow will most likely keep away, despite Saakashvili's outrageous speeches against the Russian authorities and their peacekeepers. Several days ago, after a skirmish between Russian peacekeepers and Georgian police in Ganmukhuri, he pronounced Sergei Chaban, commander of the Russian peacekeeping force, persona non grata in Georgia. But the Kremlin's antipathy towards Saakashvili does not translate into undivided support for the opposition. Saakashvili's opponents have recently been just as anti-Russian as the president, and they share foreign policy goals, such as joining NATO and a general orientation towards the West, which are hardly in Russia's interests. And lastly, it would be strange if Russia supported those who accept money from Patarkatsishvili, the best friend of the Kremlin's arch-enemy, Boris Berezovsky.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20071101/86265964.html

U.S. State Department sees Georgia as potential NATO member

Daniel Fried, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for European affairs, said Georgia is part of Europe and a potential member of NATO. Addressing an international forum on Eastern Europe in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, Fried said Washington backed Georgia's ambition to join the Western security alliance. The ex-Soviet state has been looking to integrate into Europe and NATO since its pro-Western leadership came to power on the back of the bloodless "rose revolution" in 2003. Fried said Georgia needed to improve its democratic credentials before it could join NATO, and praised the progress that the South Caucasus nation, home to 5 million, had already made. He said much would depend on Georgia's future leadership and on the people, and stressed that a functioning opposition is a key sign of a healthy democracy. A Georgian opposition leader, former defense minister Irakly Okruashvili, was arrested in late September after accusing President Mikheil Saakashvili of corruption and plotting the murder of a political opponent, an allegation denied by the president. Okruashvili was released on bail and flown to Europe earlier Thursday, one day ahead of an opposition rally set for Friday. The Georgian opposition plans to campaign for parliamentary elections to be held in spring 2008. President Saakashvili, however, has proposed extending lawmakers' term from four to five years, which would allow parliamentary and presidential elections to be held simultaneously. Under the current constitution, parliamentary polls are held every four years, and presidential elections every five years.

Source: http://de.rian.ru/world/20071101/86305899.html

[skhara]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Armenian,

I have to admit that I'm not well informed of the Armenian involvement in the Georgian-Abkhaz war. Why would Armenians not remain neutral?

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

You effort here has been much appreciated, enker. Would it be right to assume that this film is an Abkhazian/Russian documentary about the conflict there in the early 90s where they choose to highlight the actions of the Armenian Baghramyan battalion, and what the brilliant Youtube Georgian warrior did was he put in his anti-Armenian comments in the film? Anyway, was the film more-or-less claiming that the Armenian units at the time played a pivotal role in defeating the Georgian military outside of Sukhumi?

Thanks again.

Ok dude Here is your translation. To be honest I found parts of it confusing in regards to dates and such.

Narrator:
17th September. You are watching unique images shot by amateur video.
Abkhazian forces are advancing against Georgian forces who have for almost a year held Sukhumi.

Not only Abkhaz, but Armenians, Greeks, Chechens, (and another nationality I couldn't quite make out) are also participating. Galust Trapizonian is one of the commanders of the Armenian battalion known as "Bagramyan".

Galust Trapizonian:
It seemed like everything was ready and calculated -- we were ready to go on the 14th -->15th -- for some reason we went on the 15th and many guys were killed in my company. At 4am the command was given to advance -- we were crossing a river and everyone had their own assignment ....

Narrator:
1st company of the battalion is tasked with advancing to the rear of the enemy positions and seizing all the approaches leading towards this bridge (bridge shown on video) across the river (couldn't make out the name). This bridge is the key to the gates of Sukhumi -- and bitter fighting resulted for its control. Besides having 16 killed and 7 wounded, the company completed its assignment. The advancing forces got to the opposite shore and immediately met well dug in Georgian forces.

Galust:
We passed their first line, but in the second line they had snipers atop buildings that stopped our advance. The command was given to fall back. When we returned, we found out that just in the third company, 16 people were killed.

Narrator:
That was the first and unsuccessful attempt by the Abkhazians to liberate their country. The situation was critical; the Georgian forces could at any moment launch a counter attack and throw the Abkhazians into the sea -- along with all those who fought on their side.

Abkhazian command began planning for a second advance. Two brigades were formed. The Armenian battalion ("Bagramyan") was in one of those brigades. The Brigade was under the command of Gary Samamba.

Gary Samamba:

-Points to mountain- see that mountain. Its called "Byrska (spelling??)". On it I had one battalion.

-Points to another mountain. Over there is another famous mountain: "Sugorovka". I had another battalion there.

Narrator:
July 93 - Abkhazian forces finally have advanced to the approaches of Sukhumi. While they were planning the storming of Sukhumi, the Georgians were with similar determination readying their defenses. In the area around "Sugorovka" fierce fighting has already errupted. The Georgian position on the high ground allowed them to control all the gates and bridges leading to Sukhumi. It was the capture of this mountain (Sugorovka) that was assigned to Galust.

Galust:
I, along with 67 guys had to go up Sugorovka -- this is the most difficult point of advance. A guide by the name of Misha Galustian was my guide. He was taking us towards his parents house who were to tell us what to do next.
(Video shows guys walking in the middle of the nights saying "scouting party").

Narrator:
338th day of the war --
In the morning it was apparent that all the approaches were mined -- regardless, the attack went ahead. One of the first to suffer injuries was Galust (stepped on a mine). (Video shows him being carried up the mountain)

By evening Abkhazian forces managed to capture all approaches. The road to Sukhumi was opened.

Gary Samamba:
We went around them. We came down the mountains and ended up in their rear and then we advanced further. Eventually we captured a height on the outskirts of Sukhumi and 4 days later walked into Sukhumi.

Narrator:
The storming on the 23rd September was a surprise not only for the Georgians but also the Russians who were trying to negotiate a ceasefire at that time.

An order was given to attack without Moscow's consent. Abkhazian companys and battalions were aiming towards the center of Sukhumi meeting violent resistance as they advanced.

On Ordjanikidze street advanced the Bagramyan battalion(battalion shown on video). Their aim was to capture (government building I could quite make out). For 11 days the assault lasted. The war was still taking a toll, but victory was nearing. Four days later, Abkhazian forces squeezed Georgians out of Abkhazia and a status quo was established.