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The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

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

    SPETSNAZ



    Brutal, effective, dedicated, the Russian Special Forces - Spetsnaz.


    During the Cold War, the name itself struck fear in the hearts of many across the world. This vast organization, who along with their KGB and Internal Ministry counterparts once numbered around a hundred thousand highly trained warriors, performed on a regular basis actions that their western counterparts could only dream of in their wildest Hollywood derived fantasies. From Vietnam to Afghanistan, from the Middle East to Europe, from Africa to South America this ruthless specialized force shaped the history of the world for half a century. I vividly remember the hostage ordeal in Beirut Lebanon during the mid-1980s where four Soviet Russians were kidnapped by CIA backed Palestinian Fatah forces. One of the Russians was subsequently killed in captivity. The Soviet union responded. Using their vast network of regional informants and intelligence contacts, KGB Spetsnaz forces managed to swiftly 'kidnap' the kidnappers. Thereafter, they chopped up the Palestinian hostage takers and sent their body parts, in boxes, to the hostage takers' families. Soon thereafter, the surviving three Russian captives were released... Needless to say this swift, brutal and effective action made a great impression upon me. And it is now also apparent that Russia's current resurgence as a superpower is in part a result of surviving KGB/Spetsnaz elements within Yeltsin's western backed government that succeeded in wrestling power from their hands. The following is a western produced documentary about the Russian Spetsnaz that places this organization in proper perspective, albeit a western perspective.

    Armenian

    ************************************************** **********
    Inside The Russian Special Forces - Spetsnaz



    During the 1970s, when the Cold War was at its height, the West became aware of the existence of Soviet Spetsnaz troops, which were grouped into what were known as "diversionary brigades." Today, although the Cold War is long since ended, Spetsnaz units are still part of the Russian order-of-battle, although their missions have changed. Spetsnaz (Spetsialnoye nazranie = troops of special purpose) were raised as the troops of the Glavnoe razvedyvatel'noe upravlenie (GRU) (= main intelligence directorate [of the General Staff]) and in the 1980s numbered some 30,000. These were deployed: one Spetsnaz company per Army; one Spetsnaz regiment in each of the three "theaters of operations"; one Spetsnaz brigade in each of the four Soviet Fleets; and an independent Spetsnaz brigade in most military districts of the USSR. There were also special Spetsnaz intelligence units, one to each Front and Fleet: total 20.

    A Spetsnaz company was 135 strong, normally operating in 15 independent teams, although they could also combine for specific missions. A Spetsnaz brigade was 1,000-1,300 strong and consisted of a headquarters, three or four parachute battalions, a communications company, and supporting troops. It also included an anti-VIP company, composed of some 70-80 regular troops (ie, not conscripts) whose mission was to seek out, identify and kill enemy political and military leaders. A naval Spetsnaz brigade had a headquarters, two to three battalions of combat swimmers, a parachute battalion, supporting units, and an anti-VIP company. It also had a group of midget submarines designed to deliver combat swimmers to distant targets. The existence of Spetsnaz was a closely guarded secret within the Warsaw Pact and individual troops were not allowed to admit membership, to the extent that army Spetsnaz wore standard airborne uniforms and insignia, while naval Spetsnaz wore naval infantry uniforms and insignia.

    There is a broad spectrum of such forces in Russia, ranging from the army, where dolphins and beluga whales, especially trained by specialists of the Defense Ministry's Scientific Research Center No. 172, serve as underwater saboteurs, to social structures worthy of the attentions of the Russian special services. (1) But the units which are of the greatest interest are those which enable Russia's rulers to achieve their political goals. There are more than enough such units in Russia today. As the magazine Ogonek observed, if someone assumess that the Russian armed forces consist of only an army, a navy, and an air force, they are mistaken. (2) There are other, less visible, armed forces. There are the internal troops, the border troops, the railroad troops, Communications Ministry troops, armed units of the Federal Security Service (FSB), of the Federal Agency for Government Communications and Information (FAPSI), and Ministry of Emergency Situations troops.


    Spetsnaz members posing for photo after training mission

    And almost each of these agencies have their own units or detachments which could be called elite. There is also the General Staff's Main Intelligence Directorate's [GRU] spetsnaz, which the military men do not discuss. The security services' elite detachments--the anti-terrorist "Alfa" and "Vympel" units--are well-known. The Ministry of Internal Affairs' special detachments are also well-known-- they specialize in fighting street disorders, organized crime, and terrorism. There is talk of creating a special border detachment. To make a long story short, there are about as many special detachments as there are agencies. Whether or not a unit is "elite," according to the magazine, is defined, for the most part, by three things: by fulfilling a special function or mission distinct from that of the army as a whole, by its special equipment: material, technical, etc., and by the amount of money spent on the unit. All the rest--a special way of selecting personnel, special training--is secondary. In addition, service in such units is always considered prestigious and thus the spetsnaz has rarely experienced a shortage of people wishing to fill its ranks, either in Soviet or in post-Soviet times.

    Naval Spetsnaz also continue to serve in the Northern, Baltic, Black Sea, and Pacific fleets. Most of these are subordinate to the Fleet commanders, but some are under the direct control of the Naval Commander-in-Chief in Moscow. Again, their manning levels are not known and it may be that, like other areas in the Russian armed forces, they are seriously under strength. Russian naval special-designation forces, or spetsnaz, have been less visible in the wake of the USSR's dissolution. Recently, however, the Russian navy's commander in chief, Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov, reaffirmed that naval special-operations units – which have a long, active history in the Soviet armed forces – remain assigned to the Russian Baltic, northern, Pacific and Black Sea fleets. Although the admiral provided few specifics on the size and capabilities of the units, he did indicate that they were elite, that they were equipped with special weapons (including small submarines), and that they were comparable to U.S. Navy SEALS or the Israeli Navy's 13th Flotilla.

    Stating that these units have no special name beyond their "combat swimmer" or "naval spetsnaz" designations, the admiral indicated that most of the units are directly subordinate to their respective fleet commander. Of particular note, Kuroyedov said that he retains naval spetsnaz subunits under his direct control as well, "for resolving fleet tasks and rendering assistance. Although Spetsnaz units may be used for other purposes during peacetime, their primary role is to carry out strategic missions during the final days prior to war breaking out and in war itself. These wartime tasks would include: deep reconnaissance of strategic targets; the destruction of strategically important command-control-and-communications (C3) facilities; the destruction of strategic weapons' delivery systems; demolition of important bridges and and transportation routes; and the snatching or assassination of important military and political leaders. Many of these missions would be carried out before the enemy could react and some even before war had actually broken out.

    Other Spetsnaz Troops: Alfa was set up by the KGB's Seventh Directorate in 1974 and appears to have been inspired by the British SAS and US 1SFOD-D (Delta) as a c ounter-terrorist and hostage-rescue group. Al'fa is generally credited with being the unit that attacked the Presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, on December 28 1980 and murdered President Hafizullah Amin and his family. Al'fa is now controlled by the FSB (Federal'naia sluzhba bezopasnosti = Federal Security Service) in general terms, equivalent to the USA's FBI. Current strength is estimated to be about 300, with the main group in Moscow and three smaller groups elsewhere in the federation. Today it is difficult to determine in which operations Alpha will have to participate in the near future, but it is already clear that together with carrying out its fundamental mission, it will have to participate in guaranteeing the safety of the coming political maneuvers, linked in particular with the presidential elections.

    What kind of participation this will be depends not on Alpha's members, but on the country's political leaders, who have now put Alpha back under their own direct control for a reason, subordinating it directly to the Federal Security Service. But to this day, Alpha remains the Russian special services' most effective anti-terrorist unit, and has substantial capabilities to carry out the missions with which it is entrusted. According to the Russian press, Alpha has about 200 universally-trained fighters who have made it through a rigorous selection process, physical, psychological, and special training, who are able to master any kind of weapon and any form of land transportation.

    A Spetsnaz team prepares for a mission at Kabul airport, in Afghanistan, 1988


    To these men are added specialists in narrower professions, including snipers and the best shots with various weapons, specially trained frogmen, alpinists, rock climbers, psychologists, and, in recent times, hostage-negotiation specialists. This unit has no contract system; everyone passes through real military service in the military ranks from lieutenant to colonel. Incidentally, similar units exist in Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus, where individual Alpha units existed in Soviet times, and Russian special operations troops maintain professional and friendly relations with them. Alfa first won international renown after the storming of Afghan president Hafizullah Amin's palace, in which it participated together with the anti-terrorist unit Vympel. The Vympel group was created in 1979 as the special operations unit of the KGB's First Main Directorate, and its first mission was to carry out special missions, to carry out military actions and sabotage abroad.

    The Vympel group was manned only by officers who knew two or three foreign languages, and it was said that they knew the maps of about thirty world capitals by heart. After August 1991, Vympel was passed on from one Soviet, and later, Russian, security structure to another, and after October 1993, it was put under the MVD and thrown into the fight against organized crime. After that, 110 of the group's 180 officers applied for discharge so that they wouldn't have to take orders from police bureaucrats. With what was left of Vympel, the MVD leadership tried to create its own anti-terrorist unit, Vega, to fight nuclear terrorism. As a result of the latter's unprofessional efforts to neutralize terrorists in Mineralnye Vody (in the Northern Caucasus) on July 29, 1994, four hostages were killed. At the same time, the KGB's main successor -- the predecessor of the present FSB, left without its own anti-terrorist unit for about a year, began to create the so-called USO, or Special Operations Directorate.

    Chechen terrorist Shamil Basayev killed by Russian special forces in Ekazhevo, Ingushetia.


    After Basayev's fighters' raid on Budennovsk last year, a few of the remnants of Vympel were returned to Russia's security system. And after last year's presidential decree on the formation of a so-called Anti-terrorist Center in the FSB system, this organ began to coordinate or attempted to coordinate the anti-terrorist efforts and capabilities of these disparate groups--USO, Alfa, and Vega. In addition to the security forces' spetsnaz troops mentioned above, there is also the well-known Vityaz, the special operations forces of the MVD's special Dzerzhinsky division. It was formed on the eve of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, when the Soviet authorities feared the possible acts of "terrorists sent by the CIA." In distinction from Alpha and Vympel, this unit was staffed by soldiers who served for a fixed period [soldaty srochnoi sluzhby], who received excellent training in hand-to-hand combat and showed impressive mental toughness.

    [...]

    Source: http://warfare.ru/?lang=&catid=239&linkid=1561

    VDV Spetsnaz show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adi-bM6NfXQ

    Spetsnaz Show in Bosnia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdbzVcav2mU

    Russian Spetsnaz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgm16AioQNA
    Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

    Նժդեհ


    Please visit me at my Heralding the Rise of Russia blog: http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/

    Comment


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



      Armenia has also it's very own Spetznaz, actually two of them. One is a part of MNS the other is a part of MOD. Both of them are highly regarded by other special forces not just in Russia but also in other countries. In fact our "A" group (part of MNS) has successfully developed and implemented a number of unique methods, which were recognized by the Russians as superior to theirs.

      Comment


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

        Speaking of Spetznaz, here is the Red Beret's examination to enter the organization. They have an initial selection process before even reaching this stage.

        The first stage is described as a 12 km march/run trough rough terrain and swamp. When they get to the checkpoint, the guys that got there first have to do pushups and squats until the last guy comes in.

        Then they show them crawling up and down hills on their knees, then they have to roll down the hill and protect their weapons from the sand because if their weapons don't fire at the bottom, they are out.

        They go through several more trials and finishes with hand to hand combat against a fresh guy. They are evaluated in the end and may not make it.

        Comment


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

          wow, now that was an interesting read (spetsnaz)

          Comment


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

            The Vympel group was created in 1979 as the special operations unit of the KGB's First Main Directorate,...
            Actually Vympel was created on 19th of August 1981 at a special closed session of the Politbyuro of the Central Committee of Communist Party under the initiative of Yuri Andropov then the boss of KGB. Vympel's official name was "Otdelniy Uchebniy Tsentr" (Separate Learning Centre). Nowdays it's officially called "Upravlenie Ve FSBe" (Agency V of FSB). http://www.vympel.org/

            Comment


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



              Is he jumping over the barbwire via xxxxxoline and throwing the axe at the target?

              Comment


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

                Originally posted by Virgil View Post


                Is he jumping over the barbwire via xxxxxoline and throwing the axe at the target?
                Wow, you can't even say T-R-A-M-P on this forum

                Comment


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

                  Originally posted by HayotzAmrotz View Post
                  Armenia has also it's very own Spetznaz, actually two of them. One is a part of MNS the other is a part of MOD. Both of them are highly regarded by other special forces not just in Russia but also in other countries. In fact our "A" group (part of MNS) has successfully developed and implemented a number of unique methods, which were recognized by the Russians as superior to theirs.
                  Welcome back Amrots, you disappeared for a while, I hope all is well with you and your family. Regarding the Armenian Spetsnaz, I have heard many good things about them but I have not seen or heard anything concrete or verifiable about them. Do you have any information other than hearsay? Are you referring to the Interior Ministry troops? Do you know if they have any connections to their counterparts in Russia?

                  Originally posted by HayotzAmrotz View Post
                  I'm a huge admirer of Vladimir Putin, he is one of the most intelligent leaders in the world. He has done so much good for Russia that I wont be suprised if in the future he is compared to Peter the Great. Does anyone have anything on what Putin's thoughts are on Republic of Armenia and our people (whether in Russia, Armenia or elswhere)? It would be good to know what this man thinks of us and our country.
                  Basing my assessment on the many-many official statements coming out of Moscow during the past several years, the Russian government, which includes two prominent Armenians Chilingarov and Lavrov, has gone to great lengths making clear that their relations with Armenia is one of the top priorities for the Russian Federation. They have even openly stated that they are expecting the current pro-Russian leadership in Armenia to remain in power after next year's elections. Nonetheless, economically, politically and militarily the Russian Federation has been Armenia's closest and most reliable partner. And this situation is getting better as time progresses. Thus, I would have to think that all this, at least in part, reflects Putin's view of us Armenians. This thread contains many news articles and political analysis regarding Russo-Armenian relations. Reading them will make things clear for you. As far as Russian 'nationalists' are in power in Moscow I believe Russo-Armenian relations will progress very well. When it comes to the nature of Russian-Armenian relations the following is what matters:

                  Armenian

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

                  Armenia Armed by Russia for battles with Azerbaijan Scandal compared to Iran-Contra



                  Russia secretly has shipped more than $1 billion worth of arms to Armenia, apparently to be used against - pro-Western Azerbaijan and - to force the Azeris -and their strategic oil reserves into Russia's orbit. Aman Tuleyev, minister for relations with the Commonwealth of Independent States, has acknowledged that Moscow supplied Armenia with 84 T-72 main battle tanks, 72 heavy howitzers, 24 Scud missiles with eight launchers, 50 armored personnel carriers and millions of rounds of ammunition. Lev Rokhlin, the chairman of the Defense Committee of the Duma, the lower House of the Russian parliament, told a closed Duma session April 2 that Moscow had -shipped $1 billion worth of weapons to the tough, nationalist government of President Levon Ter-Petrosian in Yerevan. His report was similar to Mr. Tuleyev's acknowledgment. Between 1992 and early 1994, when the conflict was at its height, Russian heavy transport aircraft were said to have ferried 1,300 tons of ammunition across the Caucasus to the Armenian capital. Most of the tanks were flown in aboard giant Antonov planes from the city of Akhtubinsk.

                  The Azeris say Russia also supplied 1,000 hand-fired Strela-2 and Strela-3anti-aircraft missiles, which were moved by ship across The Caspian Sea, then sent over land through Iran to Armenia. Iran has denied playing any role. Western intelligence sources said The weapons played a crucial role in Armenia's, seizure of large areas of Azerbaijan, which created a million refugees, more than from any other conflict in Europe since World War II. Although Russia's military support for Armenia in its long conflict with Azerbaijan has been well-known, the extent of the arms transfers came as a surprise.

                  Responding to the revelations, Russian President Boris Yeltsin ordered a major government probe Saturday that could implicate his longtime defense minister, Marshal Pavel Grachev who was fired last spring. Russian military prosecutors are considering calling Marshal Grachev in for questioning over the scandal, which has been compared to The Iran-Contra affair. The- chairman of the Azeri parliament, Murtuz Alesketov, said Saturday the arms shipments could destabilize the Caucasus. "If these arms are not returned, this could lead to a new large-scale war in the region" he said at parliamentary hearings in Baku. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991, Shi'ite Muslim Azerbaijan has eagerly courted American oil companies to help it develop the immense oil and gas reserves of the Caspian Sea, estimated as second in size and value only to those in the Persian Gulf. Russia has responded by backing Orthodox Christian Armenia, its historic
                  ally.

                  [...]

                  Source: http://www.geocities.com/baguirov/arms1.htm

                  ARMENIA AND RUSSIA REASSERT BONDS AMID GEORGIA’S CRISIS



                  While Georgia’s political crisis continues into its third week, Russian officials have praised Armenia as a chief ally in the volatile Transcaucasus region, potentially strengthening strategic ties between Moscow and Yerevan. On Nov.14, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov met with his Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanian in Moscow. Russia’s chief diplomat hailed the bilateral alliance. Oskanian noted "complicated situation" in the region and dismissed media allegations that Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze had requested assistance from Armenian President Robert Kocharian. "It did not happen," Oskanian said, according to the RIA news agency. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov also distanced Russia and Armenia from the crisis in Georgia. Ivanov dubbed Armenia as "Russia’s only ally in the south," called Russian arms supplies to Armenia "purely defensive" and pledged to replenish them. "Russia’s military presence in Armenia is necessary. The military hardware at the Russian 102nd base makes any threat to Armenia unrealistic," Ivanov told a news conference in Yerevan, according to Interfax. "We will rearm and re-equip the Russian 102nd military base in Armenia." On November 11, Ivanov and his Armenian counterpart Serge Sarkisian signed a number of agreements on the Russian military base as well as on bilateral military cooperation in 2004. The deals seem to bolster what is already a close strategic relationship. "These agreements would allow the 102nd base to feel more comfortable," Ivanov reportedly commented. Russian forces in Armenia reportedly use MiG-29 jetfighters and S300 PMU1 air defense batteries, an advanced version of the SA-10C Grumble air defense missile. According to Russian missile manufacturers, the new S300 has anti-stealth capability and can shoot down combat aircraft, cruise missiles as well as ballistic missiles in an ABM mode. The S300 PMU1 missile system can engage targets flying as low as 10 meters off the ground at a range of up to 150 kilometers.

                  [...]

                  Source: http://www.eurasianet.org/department...av111703.shtml

                  Russia to invest over half billion dollars to Armenian economy



                  Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today had meeting, APA reports quoting RIA Novosti agency.
                  The sides discussed huge projects to be implemented with the participation of Russia in Armenia. Kremlin source stated that bilateral cooperation in energy with the participation of Gasprom occupies special place among these projects. Over $500 million will be invested in Armenian economy in the framework of this project. Involvement of Russian capital into the development of Razdan Thermal Power Station, construction of refinery near Mehri city, modernization of Armenia’s railways and other transport infrastructures, atomic energy, gold production and other fields are on focus. Putin and Kocharyan also touched on several international problems and the situation in the Caucasus.

                  Source: http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=33372

                  Gazprom: Oil Refinery in Armenia To Process Crude Oil from Iran



                  A subsidiary of Russia's state-run Gazprom gas giant confirmed on Friday reports that it is considering building a big oil refinery in Armenia that would process crude from neighboring Iran. A spokesman for the Gazprom-Neft company, Natalya Vyalkina, told RFE/RL that both the Armenian and Russian governments are looking into the project estimated at a staggering $1.7 billion. She would not say when they could make concrete decisions. Reports in the Russian press have said President Robert Kocharian discussed the matter with Russian Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko and other top officials during his confidential visit to Moscow last week. Khristenko’s ministry refused to comment on the information. Russian-Armenian cooperation on energy was on the agenda of Kocharian’s follow-up talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. The projected refinery would reportedly be built in Meghri, an Armenian town close to the Iranian border, and have the capacity to process up to 7 million tons of Iranian oil each year. Petrol produced by it would be exported to Iran. Despite its vast oil reserves, the Islamic Republic has to import gasoline to meet domestic demand.

                  Source: http://www.huliq.com/8161/gazprom-oi...-oil-from-iran

                  Russia going to finance construction of new NPP in Armenia?



                  Russia is ready to fully finance construction of a new Nuclear Power Plant in Armenia, IA Regnum reports with a reference to a source in the Armenian government. Some agreements were achieved during the recent visit of Sergey Kiriyenko, the head of the Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) to Yerevan. Russia will be a joint owner of the new Armenian NPP, according to the source. Russia’s share in abuilding NPPs in foreign states may make from 5% to 20-30%. Kiriyenko said Russia is ready to send specialists for the works to be carried out. The Armenian authorities are planning to build a new NPP, since the republic has no other alternative after the closing of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant. At a meeting with the students of the Yerevan State University RA President Robert Kocharian said Armenia should have atomic energy and works are carried out in this direction. Some $240 million is essential to close the ANPP whose operation term expires in 2016. However, with joining the European Neighborhood Policy, Armenia undertook to close the NPP in the shortest terms.

                  Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=22103

                  Russian defense minister visited Memorial to victims of the Armenian Genocide



                  On January 26, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov who is currently in Armenia, visited Memorial to victims of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in Yerevan. As a REGNUM correspondent informs, the Russian minister was accompanied by Secretary of National Security Council of the Armenian President, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, representative of the country’s military commandment, Russian Ambassador to Armenia and other officials. Ivanov placed a wreath to the Eternal Flame and observed the pine tree that he had planted by himself at the Alley of memory. Besides, during his trip Ivanov visited Russian military base in Gyumri, met the Armenian president, prime minister and defense minister of Armenia.

                  Source: http://www.regnum.ru/english/polit/579732.html

                  One of Russia’s priorities – relations with Armenia - Lavrov



                  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday relations with Armenia is one of Russia’s priorities. “We believe that stability in the Caucasus depends in many respects on Armenia’s situation,” he told a meeting with students and professors of the Yerevan State University. “It is possible to ensure such stability not by means of creating a certain bloc, but by means of joint efforts,” he said. “Within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization we do not try to fence off ourselves from others or work against anyone,” he said. The Collective Security Treaty Organization is “aimed at stability, counteraction to terrorism and drugs trafficking and open cooperation with the countries interested in resolving these tasks,” Lavrov said. He pointed out that Russia is interested in calm on its borders, stable development of neighbouring countries and “mutually advantageous and equal cooperation with them proceeding from the interests of our economies and our countries.”

                  Source: http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2....2515&PageNum=0
                  Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

                  Նժդեհ


                  Please visit me at my Heralding the Rise of Russia blog: http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/

                  Comment


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

                    Originally posted by Armenian
                    Welcome back Amrots, you disappeared for a while, I hope all is well with you and your family. Regarding the Armenian Spetsnaz, I have heard many good things about them but I have not seen or heard anything concrete or verifiable about them. Do you have any information other than hearsay? Are you referring to the Interior Ministry troops? Do you know if they have any connections to their counterparts in Russia?
                    Բարեվ եղբայր, շնորհալություն բարի գալուստի համար: Այո, ես երկար ժամանակ է չեմ եղել այստեղ, համարյա մեկ տարի: Ուրախ եմ. որ դու դեռ այստեղ ես եվ շարունակում ես քո հայրենասիրական աշխատանքը… Անավարտ գործերը վեջացնելուց հետո, ես անհամբեր սպասում եմ Հայրենիք վերադառնալուն:

                    No, I wasn't referring to the Interior Ministry troops although in the past they used to have a group that was called Spetznaz. ...I doubt that there would be much info on the Internet about the two Spetznazes that I have mentioned in the other post. Spetznaz of MNS has a limited conection to the Russian Alpha but the MOD's one does not. It's members are all former Artsakh war veterans.

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

                      Originally posted by skhara View Post
                      Speaking of Spetznaz, here is the Red Beret's examination to enter the organization. They have an initial selection process before even reaching this stage.
                      It also seems as if being able to get beaten to a bloody mess and then smile for the cameraman is a prerequisite for entry into the service

                      But seriously, this almost barbaric nature of Russians - coupled with their legendary stubbornness, military ingenuity, ability to survive under severe conditions and most importantly being in control over a vast landmass with vast amounts of natural resources is what makes them poised to become a global power with no rival. And to tell you the truth, I fully understand where the fear towards Russians in the minds of western policy makes comes from. For the longterm security of the western establishment/elite Russia 'had' to be under control. They lost that chance, however, when Putin took over control of the government. I am just glad that our existence as a nation in the Caucasus is in their national interests. Without a powerful Russia domineering in the region, the very existence of the Armenian Republic would be seriously threatened. What's more, they are poised to become the most powerful nation, economically and militarily, within the 21st century - that is if they don't ruin it for themselves again. So, in my opinion, it would be a good idea for our officials to continue looking northward for their alliances. There are many benefits in maintaining close/warm relations with our powerful, if barbaric at times, neighbor to the north. They do have some serious weaknesses. Their drawbacks are their lack of civility, bad public relations, administrative inefficiency and a tendency to alcoholism in their men and promiscuity in their women. I would really like to see Russians rediscovering their Orthodoxy.

                      Here is another good documentary in Russian about the Spetsnaz:

                      Specnaz

                      Part-1: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=0

                      Part-2: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=0
                      Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

                      Նժդեհ


                      Please visit me at my Heralding the Rise of Russia blog: http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/

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