Samvel Babayan: Difference between revisions
Citation bot (talk | contribs) Alter: title. | You can use this bot yourself. Report bugs here. | Suggested by Abductive | All pages linked from cached copy of 2020_Nagorno-Karabakh_conflict | via #UCB_webform_linked |
added post-2016 details |
||
Line 44: | Line 44: | ||
At the 26 February session on the case of the 22 March 2000 assassination attempt against Arkadi Ghukasyan in [[Stepanakert]], the sentences for the 16 defendants were read out loud. Babayan was sentenced to 14 years in prison.<ref name="groong"/> |
At the 26 February session on the case of the 22 March 2000 assassination attempt against Arkadi Ghukasyan in [[Stepanakert]], the sentences for the 16 defendants were read out loud. Babayan was sentenced to 14 years in prison.<ref name="groong"/> |
||
=== Release and politics === |
|||
During the investigation and in jail, Babayan's health greatly deteriorated. He was said to suffer from hepatitis and other ailments which could not be treated in prison. On 18 September 2004, Samvel Babayan was released from maximum-security prison in [[Shusha]] due to health concerns, with the terms of release including a probationary period and continued disenfranchisement.<ref name="groong"/> |
During the investigation and in jail, Babayan's health greatly deteriorated. He was said to suffer from hepatitis and other ailments which could not be treated in prison. On 18 September 2004, Samvel Babayan was released from maximum-security prison in [[Shusha]] due to health concerns, with the terms of release including a probationary period and continued disenfranchisement.<ref name="groong"/> |
||
== Politics == |
|||
In November 2005, Samvel Babayan founded the Dashink political party with his supporters. The party did not achieve any major success.<ref name="ArmNow May16"/> |
In November 2005, Samvel Babayan founded the Dashink political party with his supporters. The party did not achieve any major success.<ref name="ArmNow May16"/> |
||
Babayan returned to Armenia in May 2016 after a ''de facto'' exile in Moscow, shortly after [[2016 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes|major clashes]] in Nagorno-Karabakh line of contact. He stated, "Whether I was in Karabakh, Armenia or abroad, the security concerns of my country, my people have always been on my mind. I have the full grasp of the military situation, the problems at the frontlines and possess all necessary information."<ref name="ArmNow May16"/> |
Babayan returned to Armenia in May 2016 after a ''de facto'' exile in Moscow, shortly after [[2016 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes|major clashes]] in Nagorno-Karabakh line of contact. He stated, "Whether I was in Karabakh, Armenia or abroad, the security concerns of my country, my people have always been on my mind. I have the full grasp of the military situation, the problems at the frontlines and possess all necessary information."<ref name="ArmNow May16"/> |
||
Babayan launched a presidential campaign for the [[2020 Artsakhian general election]], but was disqualified from participation.<ref name="eurasianet Nov1"/> He later endorsed [[Masis Mayilyan]].<ref name="evnreport"/>. |
|||
== Personal information and titles == |
== Personal information and titles == |
||
Line 60: | Line 63: | ||
<ref name="ArmNow May16">{{cite news|title=Babayan's Back: Former Karabakh strongman returns to Armenia after four-day war|url=https://www.armenianow.com/en/news/politics/2016/05/26/armenia-samvel-babayan-karabakh-return-politics-security/3893/|work=[[ArmeniaNow]]|date=26 May 2016}}</ref> |
<ref name="ArmNow May16">{{cite news|title=Babayan's Back: Former Karabakh strongman returns to Armenia after four-day war|url=https://www.armenianow.com/en/news/politics/2016/05/26/armenia-samvel-babayan-karabakh-return-politics-security/3893/|work=[[ArmeniaNow]]|date=26 May 2016}}</ref> |
||
<ref name="eurasianet Nov1">{{cite news|title=High-stakes election in Karabakh loses one candidate|url=https://eurasianet.org/high-stakes-election-in-karabakh-loses-one-candidate|work=[[eurasianet]]|date=Nov 1, 2019}}</ref> |
|||
<ref name="evnreport">{{cite news|title=Artsakh’s 2020 Election: The Essential Primer|url=https://www.evnreport.com/politics/artsakh-s-2020-election-the-essential-primer|date=Feb 25, 2020}}</ref> |
|||
}} |
}} |
Revision as of 04:13, 9 October 2020
Samvel Babayan | |
---|---|
Minister of Defence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic | |
In office January 1995 – August 1999 | |
President | Leonard Petrosyan Arkadi Ghukasyan |
Preceded by | position established |
Succeeded by | Seyran Ohanyan |
Personal details | |
Born | Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union | 5 March 1965
Political party | Dashink |
Occupation | Mechanic |
Awards | Hero of Artsakh |
Military service | |
Branch/service | Artsakh Defense Army |
Years of service | 1983—85 1988—2000 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Battles/wars | Nagorno-Karabakh War |
Samvel Babayan (Armenian: Սամվել Բաբայան; born 5 March 1965) is an Armenian military commander and politician. He became a hero during the Nagorno-Karabakh War. Following the war, he served as the Defense Minister of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic from 1994 to 2000. During this period, Babayan "became not only the military leader but the most powerful man in Karabakh overall, controlling its government and economy."[1]
Early life and military career
Babayan was born on 5 March 1965 in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan SSR. In 1982, he finished Armenian secondary school # 7 named after Eghishe Charents in Stepanakert. From 1983 to 1985, he served in the Soviet military contingent in East Germany.[2]
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
In 1988, Samvel Babayan enlisted in a paramilitary unit and rose to command his own unit and leading it professionally. From 1989 to 1991 he was the commander of the Stepanakert second Volunteers Company and a member of the Stepanakert underground central headquarters. Lieutenant General Samvel Babayan rose to prominence during the military phase of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in 1991–1994. Babayan carried out coordination of Armenian operations in Karabakh, participated in the development of the plan to capture Shusha and was the commander of the front of Lachin.[2] As unified military command began to be established in Nagorno Karabakh in 1992–1993, Babayan became the Commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army in 1993, after his predecessor Serzh Sargsyan left to become Armenia's Defense Minister. Under his command, the Karabakhi military succeeded in winning a number of strategic battles against the Azerbaijani military and regained control over most of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as partially controlling 7 districts of Azerbaijan.
Arrest
By December 1999, Babayan was forced to relinquish his position as the Self-Defense Forces Commander. Armenian president Robert Kocharyan's precarious position in post-27 October political environment did not allow him to tackle the Babayan issue directly, leaving it to the unrecognized government of Nagorno-Karabakh under president Arkadi Ghukasyan and the new Karabakh Army leadership. On 22 March 2000, Babayan allegedly launched an assassination attempt on Arkadi Ghukasyan, leaving the president seriously wounded but alive.[3]
At the 26 February session on the case of the 22 March 2000 assassination attempt against Arkadi Ghukasyan in Stepanakert, the sentences for the 16 defendants were read out loud. Babayan was sentenced to 14 years in prison.[3]
During the investigation and in jail, Babayan's health greatly deteriorated. He was said to suffer from hepatitis and other ailments which could not be treated in prison. On 18 September 2004, Samvel Babayan was released from maximum-security prison in Shusha due to health concerns, with the terms of release including a probationary period and continued disenfranchisement.[3]
Politics
In November 2005, Samvel Babayan founded the Dashink political party with his supporters. The party did not achieve any major success.[4]
Babayan returned to Armenia in May 2016 after a de facto exile in Moscow, shortly after major clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh line of contact. He stated, "Whether I was in Karabakh, Armenia or abroad, the security concerns of my country, my people have always been on my mind. I have the full grasp of the military situation, the problems at the frontlines and possess all necessary information."[4]
Babayan launched a presidential campaign for the 2020 Artsakhian general election, but was disqualified from participation.[5] He later endorsed Masis Mayilyan.[6].
Personal information and titles
Samvel Babayan has been the holder of such titles as Commander of Self-Defense Forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and Minister of Defense. Babayan has been awarded with the army ranks of lieutenant colonel (1992), colonel (1993), major general (1994) and lieutenant general (1996). He has been awarded with the Golden Eagle medal of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (1997) and has been declared a Hero of Artsakh.[2][3] He is married and has three children.[2] His brother Karen is the former Mayor of Stepanakert and Minister of Internal Affairs of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
References
- ^ Ohanian, Karine (29 September 2004). "Freeing of Karabakh Military Chief Stirs Debate". Institute for War and Peace Reporting.
- ^ a b c d "Samvel Babayan". persons.am.
- ^ a b c d "The rise and fall of Samvel Babayan". Armenian News Network / Groong. University of Southern California. 6 October 2004.
- ^ a b "Babayan's Back: Former Karabakh strongman returns to Armenia after four-day war". ArmeniaNow. 26 May 2016.
- ^ "High-stakes election in Karabakh loses one candidate". eurasianet. Nov 1, 2019.
- ^ "Artsakh's 2020 Election: The Essential Primer". Feb 25, 2020.