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Ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Sukhumi

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File:0000290581-015.jpg
Georgian civilians hiding from Abkhaz separatist militants near Sukhumi

The Sukhumi Massacre took place on September 27, 1993, during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict. It was perpetrated against Georgian inhabitants of Sukhumi, mainly by militia forces of Abkhaz separatists and their Russian allies.

Events

On September 27, 1993 Separatist forces violated the ceasefire initiated by the UN and guaranteed by the Russian Federation, which barred both sides from performing military operations. As part of the ceasefire, Georgian forces had withdrawn their heavy artillery and tanks from Sukhumi. Abkhaz, Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus, Cossack and Russian militants stormed Sukhumi early in the morning. Confronted by large numbers of combatants, the Georgian army units that remained in the city were unable to prevent the Separatist advance into the city. By noon, Separatist militants and their allies had taken over television buildings and bridges. Georgian forces retreated to the Government building of the Abkhazian Autonomous Republic, where they intended to provide security for members of Abkhazian Autonomous Republic Government. By late afternoon the city was overrun by Separatists and their Russian allies.

Placing their hopes on the ceasefire, a large number of civilians remained in the city. Separatists and their allies started to sweep through the streets of Sukhumi and rounding up all civilians which were found. Men, women and children were executed in the streets, on the roads inside their own apartments, houses and back yards. According to the witnesses many people became objects of torture, children were killed in front of their parents, parents – in front of their children. [1]

Women became targets of sadistic rape. Refugees recall people being burned to death, disembowelled and dismembered while still alive [2] . The massacres occurred in the city park, in front of the governmental building, in schools and hospitals. All members of the Abkhaz Government (including Zhiuli Shartava, Guram Gabiskiria and Raul Eshba) and their bodyguards were massacred in the outskirts of the city.

The [Abkhaz] separatist forces committed widespread atrocities against the Georgian civilian population, killing many women, children, and elderly, capturing some as hostages and torturing others ... they also killed large numbers of Georgian civilians who remained behind in Abkhaz-seized territory.[3]

Perpetrators

File:Dmitry kholodov.jpg
Russian journalist Dmitry Kholodov witnessed the massacre and wrote couple of reports from Sukhumi

There are a number of conflicting claims as to whether the massacre was conducted by Abkhaz militias or those of their Russian and North Caucasian allies. Allegedly, the commander of the separaratist forces, partly reponsible for the massacre was the deputy defence minister and "hero" of Abkhazia Shamil Basaev [4][5]. According to witness testimonies, the militants spoke North Caucasian languages and Russian[6] However, some refugees who survived the massacre have claimed that they recognized their Abkhaz and Armenian neighbours collaborating with the militants during the massacres in various neighbourhoods [7] Many people recall the commands given by Russian officers: "Do not take prisoners alive!" [8]

Houses and land owned by Georgians and Greeks were ransacked and taken over by the Abkhaz, Russians, Cossacks and other newcomers. These allegations are currently investigated by International Criminal Court in Hague. OSCE has recently given its recognition to and condemned the ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia. Although many Separatist militants have been accused for committing massacres, none of them have yet been tried.

Notes

  1. ^ Chervonnaia, Svetlana Mikhailovna. Conflict in the Caucasus: Georgia, Abkhazia, and the Russian Shadow. Gothic Image Publications, 1994.
  2. ^ Dmitry Kholodov, Moscow journalist covering the Conflict, 1992.
  3. ^ U.S. State Department, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993, February 1994, pp. 877, 881.
  4. ^ Anatoly Gordienko Basaev's comrades-in-arms go to Abkazia, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 2004
  5. ^ Shamil Basaev - the No 1 enemy of Russia, BBC, 2002
  6. ^ Chervonnaia, Svetlana Mikhailovna. Conflict in the Caucasus: Georgia, Abkhazia, and the Russian Shadow. Gothic Image Publications, 1994.
  7. ^ Human Rights Watch interviews, August 1993.
  8. ^ Andersen, Andrew. "Russia Versus Georgia: One Undeclared War in the Caucasus." Published October 2001.

Bibliography

See also

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