| Ethnic Cleansing Of Georgians In Abkhazia |
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The Ethnic Cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia was conducted in Abkhazia during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict of 1991-93. More than 10,000 Ethnic Georgians were massacred by the Abkhaz separatists, foreign mercenaries, and allegedly by Russian Federation Forces . INTRODUCTION ''“Georgians cant live here any more, in Abkhazia they can only die”''.Quote by Valery Smir, “Komsomolskaya Pravda” December 19, 1992 The number of civilian casualties lost without trace in this Ethnic Cleansing was over 10,000, to say nothing of those who were wounded, tortured, raped and robbed. 240,000 were exiled from their homes, and 30,000 Russians , 25,000 Abkhaz , Armenians , Greeks and other nationalities became refugees. More than 20,000 houses, Georgian schools, kindergartens, cultural centers, churches, hospitals and historical monuments were burned down or looted. The ethnic cleansing also affected Greeks, Jews , Ukrainians , Russians and other people living in the territory of Abkhazia . After the end of the war, the government of Georgia , Hague War Crimes Tribunal , United Nations and OSCE , as well as the refugees themselves, began to investigate and gather facts about the Genocide , Ethnic Cleansing and deportation which had occurred. In 1998 the OSCE officially recognized ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia. On March 2006, the Hague War Crimes Tribunal announced that it had reviewed all the documents submitted by the Georgians. After a full-scale investigation, the Tribunal concluded that it would prosecute and start hearings against the campaign of ethnic cleansing and terror inflicted on ethnic Georgians in Abkhazia. Reports of atrocities are still reaching the international community (especially the United Nations) from the Gali region. According to UN observers, the situation there is alarming. "''A terrible find has been made by the local residents of the mountains of Abkhazia (Georgian Rep), near the spot where clashes with the sea-born landing troops (attempting to cut the Ochamchire-Sokhumi highway) had taken place..Pieces of a human body were hanging on long wires from tree..Those were remains of two skinned Georgian men..It is not only soldiers that are killed. In the same woods, near one village there was found a corpse of a pregnant Georgian women. She had been raped and disemboweled.''"Dmitry Kholodov, Moscow journalist covering the Conflict, 1992 FACTS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING (1992-1993) Following are few examples taken from the Helsinki Human Rights Watch Reports and documentation submitted for the review to United Nations and Hague War Crimes Tribunal. Gagra Hundreds of Georgians were annihilated in the Gagra stadium. Among others, Mikheil Jincharadze, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, was executed. The mutilated corpses of Georgians were taken to the city dump and covered with garbage. The Abkhaz separatists killed people of other nationalities as well, including those who tried to protect Georgians. After the city was seized, the streets were covered with bodies. Separatists destroyed the Baramidze, Chkhetia, Baramia, Gvazava, Dzidziguri, Absandze, Shonia, and Kutsia families, as well as many others. In the village of Leselidze, 50 people were executed by hanging. Gudauta About 5,000 Georgian inhabitants of the villages of Akhali Sopeli, Eshera , Likhni and Otkhara in the Gudauta Region were expelled from their homes. Abkhaz separatists are said to have cut out the heart of 70-year-old Indiko Grdzelidze from Akhalsopeli, killed and burned the body of Boris Topuria, executed Elguja Maisuradze, killed a husband and wife named Nadareishvili in their own bedroom, and tied 65-year-old Nikoloz Kvabziradze behind a tractor to kill him. Seven people were killed in Akhali Sopeli on July 28, 1993, among them 15-year-old Zaza Tesheli and his grandmother Vatse Pakeliani. From July 27 to September 16, Abkhaz separatists killed 40 people and burned down 2,500 houses. Kato and Margarita Khvistani, 10-year-old Tamuna Kikvadze, Givi Kikvadze, Irodi Margiani, Givi and Dzadzu Kokchiani, A. Kaldani, M. Khardziani, I. Khvibliani and many others were killed in Bzibi on July 30. Sukhumi ''"The shelling of Sokhumi (by Russians) is the most disgusting thing in this war. All the residents of Sokhumi remember the first shelling. It took place on 2 December 1992. The first rocket fell on Peace Street. They struck at crowded places. The next strategic 'target' was the town market which was hit with great precision. Eighteen people were killed that day. There were always lots of people in the market."''Dmitry Kholodov, Moscow journalist covering the Conflict, 1992 Having captured , and security officers. The former Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, S. Saakian , was also executed. Same day close to 400 civilians were killed in the park of Sukhumi. The massacres continued after the fall of Sukhumi for about two week. Georgians who have failed to flee the city have been hiding in abandoned apartment buildings and house basements. Upon discovery by the militants, they were killed on the spot. One of the most brutal massacres of the war were committed during this period. Video materials show 5 year old child being brutally killed by Abkhaz militant in front of his mother on the streets of Sukhumi. Abkhaz nationals were also targeted during the Sukhumi massacres. Anyone who have tried to hide a Georgian refugee or helped in any way was condemned and killed. ''"Temur Kutarba, an Abhazian, was killed by an Adighe Soldier in front of his children, for not being an active in killing Georgians. V. Vadakaria, 23 and his Abhazian friend, who tried to defend him, both were killed."''Eye Witness account, UN observers report, 1994 The separatists also tortured and executed well-known doctors Shota Jgamadze, Zelimkhan Danelia, Vera Kholbaia and her husband A. Kvaratskhelia, A. Sichinava, and P. Sichinava; cut the throat of N. Dgebuadze in the presence of his father; killed the 60-year-old Kote Sigua and his son, 40-year-old Nodar, in their home (1993); and executed Lado Uridia (November 1993) and 50-year-old Tsiala Kuprava (December 1993). After subjecting them to torture, the separatists executed V. and L. Rukhaia, M. Kvantaliani (an invalid), two sisters surnamed Kholbaia, and an 80-year-old woman named Berulava and her grandson I. Tyurin. They raped and executed M. Matitaishvili. R. Shubladze and G. Kvashilava were executed in their homes. Gulripshi In Gulripshi, the separatists executed 65-year-old B. Bendeliani and 67-year-old Maro Tsotseria from the village of Kashtaki, and 50-year-old M. Abkhazava from the village of Merkheuli (September 1993). 91 peaceful civilians were executed in Babushera (September 1993), and brothers Otar and Giorgi Davitaia (67 and 68 years old, respectively) from the village of Merkheuli were executed (October 1993). Father and son Arisi and Omar Darsania from the village of Pshapi were killed together (October 1993). David and Tsutsa Tsotsonava (80 and 75 years old, respectively), the parents of A. Tsotsonava, the member of Parliament of Georgia, were concealed in the house of their Russian neighbor V. Senikov in the village of Machara; all three, plus Senikov's wife, were executed together and separatists burnt the bodies. Boeviks killed 55-year-old Vardo Kveteladze. 400 Georgians — women, children and elders — became the victims of hunger and cold as they sought to escape through the Kodori gorge. In the village of Babushera, separatists robbed the house of Ipolite Gabelia (87 years old and invalid), then killed him in his house (October 1993). After having his golden teeth pulled out, Akaki Todua was killed (Babushera, October 1993). The father of Georgian fighter E. Bagashvili was tortured and shot. In the village of Dranda, the parents of 15-year-old A. Gobedjishvili witnessed the execution of their son; afterward the separatists killed them as well (October 1993). M. Tsaava, 75 years old and the mother of ten children, was tied to a hayrack and burned. R. Cholaria was killed in front of his Abkhazian wife and three children. Ochamchire ''"The Abkhazian separatist group captured sisters – Eka Jvania (17 years old) and Marina Jvania (14 years old), Leila Samushia and others in village Pshadi. They undressed them in front of their parents and neighbors, and raped them. After this the Abkhazians executed all of them by shooting."''Report by Human Rights Watch Helsinki, March 1995 More than 400 Georgians were tortured and then executed in the stadium of Akhaldaba. Most of the victims were slaughtered. The others were beheaded or burned alive. Schoolchildren and teenagers were first raped and then murdered. The Abkhaz fighters and mercenaries organized concentration camp conditions, raping and abusing children and women during 25 days. 44 Georgian war prisoners were executed by driving over them with tanks. In the village of Kochara, the biggest Georgian village in the Ochamchire region with 5340 Georgian inhabitants, 235 peaceful residents were killed and more than 1000 houses were burned. Almost every Georgian family lost 3 or 4 members; some were eliminated completely. Many women and children were raped in Tkvarcheli. POST-WAR PERIOD ''"For participating in our victory all the mercenaries will get citizenship and residency."''Quote by Vladislav Arzimba (Separatist leader), "Izvestiya" October, 1992 The logo, hospitals and medical personnel; destruction of Georgian historical and cultural monuments; bombardment and devastation of cities and villages, incineration of houses and state buildings with people inside; resistance to the return of refugees and terror against voluntarily returned native dwellers. According to the conclusions "the crime was in preparation for a long time." The mass media of Abkhazia, political leaders and scientists inspired in the young Abkhaz a hatred of "Georgian occupants", breeding strife and the desire for a time when Abkhazia would no longer have Georgians. As a minority in multi-national Abkhazia, and recognizing it would be impossible to secede from Georgia by democratic means, separatists began to conduct mass atrocities against the Georgian population from the very beginning of the conflict. Assisted by warmongers and associates, and backed by outside mercenaries (Confederation of North Caucasian Republics), who represented more than twice the number of Abkhaz formations, separatists started the genocide against Georgians. Among the tactics used by the separatists were bombardment of residential areas; mass annihilation of Georgians; torture, rape and burning the people alive; devastation of medical institutions, cities and villages; and destruction of historical and cultural monuments which proved aboriginal affiliation of Georgians in the territory. "The international community (UN, OSCE, CIS, Euro-parliament) condemned the facts of ethnic cleansing." SEE ALSO NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY
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