Author: Vanyan Gary

Turkish Generals Led War on Artsakh: This was a Turkish, not Azeri, Victory

Vanyan Gary

December 29,  2020



Harut Sassounian

BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

Exiled Turkish journalist Cevheri Guven disclosed in a video report the names and activities of three Turkish Generals who had a decisive role in leading Azerbaijan’s war on Artsakh, starting on Sept. 27 2020. It is already known that modern drones and missiles purchased by Azerbaijan from Israel, Turkey and Russia had a devastating effect on Armenia and Artsakh. It is also known that 200 Turkish military advisors and several thousand Syrian mercenaries participated in the war on behalf of Azerbaijan. However, this is the first time that a detailed report is made public about the presence of these Turkish Generals in Azerbaijan during the war.

One of the Turkish military leaders is Lieutenant General Sheref Ongay. The second is Major General Bahtiyar Ersay, and the third is Major General Goksel Kahya. The presence of these Turkish Generals in Baku is linked to the dismissal before the Artsakh War of Colonel General Nejmeddin Sadikov, Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of General Staff who had been at his post for 27 years. He was accused of treason and cooperation with the Russian military intelligence, according to Russian and dissident Azeri sources. Sadikov was reportedly arrested after his dismissal which was denied by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense. However, he has not been seen in public since his dismissal. Sadikov was reportedly born in Derbent, Dagestan, and is of Lezgin origin. He has a poor knowledge of the Azerbaijani language. It is also alleged that his cousin is serving in the Russian Army in Gumri, Armenia.

Sadikov was educated in Russia. It is important to note that a large number of Azeri soldiers were sent to Turkey to get their military education. Sadikov did not allow those returning from Turkey to serve in critical military positions. He was opposed to Turkish dominance in the leadership of the Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces. As a result, Turkey asked for Sadikov’s dismissal after which those trained in Turkey were given leading posts.

Returning to the three Turkish Generals, Sheref Ongay is the Commander of the Turkish Third Army, deployed in Erzingan. He was in control of the Artsakh War. Ongay graduated from the military academy in Ankara in 1982 and served in various units of the ground forces. In 2014, he was appointed Commander of the 9th Army Corps. He was for a while the head of the infantry school in Tuzla.

Turkish forces stationed in Azerbaijan (Kommersant Photo)

The second Turkish military leader in Azerbaijan, Major General Bahtiyar Ersay, was earlier jailed for being involved in a scandal (Operation Sledgehammer). However, he was pardoned and released, possibly because he made a plea bargain with the authorities, disclosing the names of the other participants in the conspiracy. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Brigadier General becoming in charge of the 2nd Commando Brigade which fought with great brutality against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) in Eastern Turkey. He is now the Chief of Operations at the Command of Turkish Land Forces. He stayed in Baku throughout the Artsakh War and personally managed the operations. Before the start of the war, two satellite communication centers were built in Baku and at the military airport of Gabala to contact the soldiers on the ground and the headquarters in Turkey. Both centers were managed exclusively by the Turkish Army. The Azerbaijani military was ordered to obey all commands of the Turkish superiors and not argue with or contradict them. Ersay was in charge of the Syrian mercenaries who had earlier fought in Syria and Libya on behalf of Turkey. Furthermore, Ersay managed the highly technical military equipment provided by Turkey to Azerbaijan.

The third Turkish military man is Major General Goksel Kahya who was in Azerbaijan since July of this year. He is close to the Defense Minister of Turkey. Previously, he was Deputy Undersecretary in the Ministry of Defense. While taking part in the war in Libya on behalf of Turkey, he was captured by the opposition Libyan forces and then released. Kahya was in charge of the Turkish drones operating in Libya which gave him valuable experience in managing the drone war against Artsakh.

Since the end of the Artsakh War, the Azeri public has expressed its unhappiness that Russian peacekeepers are located on the territory of Karabakh. Some analysts have described the Russian presence in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia as a defeat for Turkey and the United States, and a victory for Russia, having located its forces “under the nose of NATO member Turkey.” As Russian online newspaper Vzglyad concluded: Artsakh War’s “plan was Turkish, the Generals were Turkish, and the drones were made in Turkey…. Baku can celebrate victory, but in terms of command and control, Turkish Generals can celebrate victory.”

Retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Azerbaijani Army Oleg Guliyev, now living in Moscow, told the Vzglyad newspaper: “Azerbaijan must fully reclaim Karabakh. This is correct and fair. But we must reclaim Karabakh ourselves. If we reclaim it on a Turkish leash, then we will reclaim only Karabakh, and we will lose the rest of our country.”

Clarification
In my article last week, I referred to a letter purportedly written by Catholicos Khrimian Hyrig. After my article’s publication, I discovered that the letter was actually written more recently by historian Hayk Konjoryan imitating Khrimian’s writing style and nationalistic views. I regret any confusion that this may have caused.

Russia seriously concerned over deployment of foreign mercenaries in NK conflict zone during war

Vanyan Gary

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 17:57,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Russia is seriously concerned over the deployment of foreign mercenaries in Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone during October-November months, ARMENPRESS reports reads the statement issued by the Russian MFA on the occasion of Sergey Lavrov’s participation in the 8th session of Russian-Turkish strategic planning.

”The emphasis will be placed on reducing the risk of potential clashes and providing humanitarian assistance to the parties. The Russian side expresses serious concerns over the deployment of foreign mercenaries to Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone during the months of October-November”, reads the statement.

”We consider this center as an auxiliary element of the post-conflict settlement, in addition to the Russian peacekeeping mission and other measures. The tasks of the center, as it is known, include monitoring the situation by visual observation methods, in particular, collecting, summarizing and checking data on violations with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles’’, reads the statement.

The Russian-Turkish monitoring center in Nagorno Karabakh will start operating from January.




Issue of NK status requires additional talks – Russia Federation Council chair

Vanyan Gary

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 16:16, 24 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko says the issue of the status of Nagorno Karabakh requires additional negotiations, reports TASS.

“Russia expects the French and US Presidents to make efforts on this matter. The status of Nagorno Karabakh is in brackets, it requires additional negotiations. Of course, we expect that the OSCE, the French President, the US and other states, which are involved in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process, will make efforts. Quite a difficult work is ahead”, she said.

According to her, today the Russian peacekeepers are perceived by both sides, by the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples as an effort of a brotherly people aimed at assisting the lasting settlement of the NK conflict.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Court overrules arrest of Goris mayor

Vanyan Gary

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 17:23,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction has overruled the arrest of the Mayor of Goris Arush Arushanyan, his lawyer Armen Melkonyan told reporters.

“The court ruled that his arrest is unlawful,” Melkonyan said, adding that the mayor will soon be released from custody.

Arushanyan was arrested on December 21 on suspicion of organizing illegal rallies.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

US Congress calls for National Intelligence report on Artsakh attacks

Vanyan Gary
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 22 2020

Congress is calling on the U.S. Administration to provide a detailed report on aggression in and around Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), demanding a detailed analysis of the impact of U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan and Armenia and its ramifications on the balance of power in the Caucasus region, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“We welcome this new statutory requirement that the Director of National Intelligence formally report to Congress on Artsakh – drawing upon the full resources of the U.S. intelligence community to identify the initiator of force against Artsakh and on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We are confident that this report – and the facts it will confirm about Azerbaijan’s ongoing aggression – will serve as a sound basis upon which the incoming Biden Administration can formally end the Trump Administration’s reckless $120 million military aid program to Azerbaijan’s oil-rich, corrupt, and violent Aliyev family.”

The Congressional request for the Artsakh report is included in the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY2021) foreign aid bill (H.R.133), adopted by the House in parallel to the COVID-19 stimulus package earlier today. The Senate is set to vote on the measure later in the evening. It is similar to language spearheaded by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) in the FY2021 Intelligence Authorization Act, whose leadership was critical to its inclusion in the foreign aid bill. The measure also maintained support for Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, which restricts U.S. aid to Azerbaijan for its ongoing aggression and blockade of Armenia and Artsakh. Since 2002, successive U.S. presidents have waived that provision, citing national security interests.

The FY2021 foreign aid bill also includes two key restrictions on U.S. military aid to Turkey, blocking funds for the transfer of F-35 aircraft or related weapons systems and stopping aid to the Turkish Presidential Protection Directorate (TPPD), in response to the 2017 Erdogan-ordered attack against peaceful U.S. protesters in Washington, DC.



Pashinyan: Armenia MPs, ministers had voted in favor of Kelbajar being part of Azerbaijan

Vanyan Gary
News.am, Armenia
Dec 22 2020
 
 
 
08:45, 22.12.2020
 
This is the description of the border lines of Sotk village of Gegharkunik Province according to the law on administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Armenia, adopted in 2010; Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote this on Facebook Tuesday morning.
 
“Today our armed forces are deployed with this description. Let me remind that in 2010, the RPA, PAP, ARF factions [in parliament] voted for the law. The bill was submitted by the government.
 
Many of the MPs and ministers who voted in favor accuse us and will accuse us today, too, of handing over Kelbajar [region to Azerbaijan], despite the fact that they passed a law that it is part of Azerbaijan, they will blame [us] for the Sotk [gold] mine [now becoming a territorial dispute with Azerbaijan], although they have described by law what we have today,” Pashinyan added.
 
  
 

Defense Minister of Armenia visits Yerablur Pantheo

Vanyan Gary

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 20:51,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister of Armenia Vagharshak Harutyunyan visited Yerablur Military Pantheon on December 21.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry, the Defense Minister paid tribute to the memory of the soldiers martyred as a result of the war unleashed on September 27.

Vagharshak Harutyunyan also laid flowers to the tombs of Sparapet Vazgen Sargsyan, Commander Andranik Ozanyan and other military officers who have made a great contribution to the creation of the army.

Foreign Minister on why Armenia didn’t recognize the Republic of Artsakh

Vanyan Gary
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 16 2020

The right of peoples to self-determination is the cornerstone of peace negotiations, Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian said in an interview with le Monde.

“Armenia did not recognize the independence of Artsakh just to give an opportunity to reach a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through negotiations,” he said.

“Some people are mistaken today, thinking that the issue of Artsakh’s status has been removed from the agenda by the use of military force,” Minister Aivazian added.

In this regard, he said the Minsk Group Co-Chairs have reaffirmed that the issue of Artsakh’s status will continue to be on the agenda of the talks.

“In case of disagreement of Azerbaijan on the issue, Armenia will consider recognizing the Artsakh Republic,” the Foreign Minister said.


FBI offers $50K reward in Armenian church arson investigation

Vanyan Gary
KRON4
Dec 18 2020
Ella Sogomonian


SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) – An Armenian church building in San Francisco was intentionally set on fire earlier this year.

On Thursday, FBI announced a five-figure reward for information that can solve the hate crime.

This Armenian church that’s been around for 60 years went up in flames in the early morning hours back in September but on Thursday, the question remains, who was behind the arson?

The FBI hopes a $50,000 reward will get some answers.

Investigators believe San Francisco Armenian church was intentionally set on fire

“We are committed to protecting the first amendment rights of everyone in our communities including the free exercise of religious beliefs,” Craig Fair, FBI Special Agent, said. 

FBI Special Agent Craig Fair stands in front of what is left of the Cultural Center of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church in San Francisco announcing his bureau is financially backing a hate crime investigation.

They are offering up to $50,000 for information that may lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or people who intentionally set the structure on fire at around 4:15 a.m. on September 17th.

“Thankfully no one was injured however this attack was not just on a building but on a congregation. this was an attack on a community,” Fair said.

San Francisco police investigate 3rd hate crime against Armenian community in last 2 months

The church arson was one of three hate crimes targeting San Francisco’s Armenian community this year – sparking not only flames – but fear among the group.

Two days later on September 19th, the KZV Armenian School was shot at and on July 24th hateful graffiti was discovered on their campus walls where Haig Baghdassarian’s daughter graduated last year.

“We’re hopeful that what’s been offered by the FBI as well as what’s been offered by the community will entice the people that know something about the crime to step forward it’s been a terrifying thing to have to deal with,” Baghdassarian said.

Police have not identified any suspect and these incidents have not officially been linked but the FBI wants any details on all three of the crimes.

In the meantime, the Armenian community can’t help but fear this may be connected to, yet another devastating war waged once more between Turkey-backed Azerbaijan and their homeland this fall.

“It almost seems like the July and the September events were a precursor to the devastating events that were launched against the Armenian nation between September 27th and November 10th of this year while much of the world’s attention was turned away due to the pandemic and the presidential elections here in the U.S. the dissidents who perpetrated the Armenian genocide 100 years ago,” Baghdassarian said.

If you have information, call the FBI San Francisco Division at 415-553-7400 or go to tips.fbi.gov. You can also call the SFPD anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411.

Baghdassarian went on to say it catching a suspect will really help put the Armenian community at ease.

Also at

CivilNet: Russian border guards to be deployed to Armenia’s southern Syunik province

Vanyan Gary
CIVILNET.AM

03:41

Russian border guards will be deployed to Armenia’s southernmost Syunik Province as new border demarcations bring Armenia and Azerbaijan closer than ever.

Armenia’s Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan says that the border between the two countries is being adjusted and demarcated at the moment with the participation of high-ranking officers from both sides.

“Not a single meter will be conceded from Armenia’s territory,” he says.

Armenia’s southern Syunik Province borders Iran to the south, the Azerbaijani enclave of Nakhichevan to the west, and as of November 9, Azerbaijan proper to the east. The new eastern border is the result of the “end of war” agreement signed by heads of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, which handed over much of the Armenian-controlled territory in the area to Azerbaijan.

In this mountainous province, the few roads that lead to major towns are now positioned nearly on the border with Azerbaijan. The question remains as to how the security of the people and of the roads will be guaranteed given the new situation.

Syunik’s community leaders say that a number of their towns and villages have found themselves directly beneath Azerbaijani military units.

“People are demanding security guarantees,” says Gevorg Parsyan, mayor of Syunik’s provincial capital Kapan. He tells CivilNet that on Thursday a number of volunteer military reservists had closed a major highway in protest of instructions from Armenia’s defense ministry that said volunteers must leave their military positions by 17:00 on December 18.

Parsyan tells us that if the volunteer reservists who have been protecting Kapan’s borders leave, strategic roads and communities will be left unprotected.

Armenia’s Defense Minister, who is in Syunik, reassures that an agreement has already been reached and Russian border guards are to be deployed to the area. He says new Armenian military units are also being organized, and new positions will be formed in the region.