Bagramyan Battalion | |
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Leaders | Vagharshak Kosyan Sergei Matosyan |
Dates of operation | 1993–1995 |
Active regions | Abkhazia |
Size | 1,500 |
Part of | Abkhazia Army |
Opponents | Georgia |
Battles and wars | Battle of Sukhumi |
The Bagramyan Battalion (Armenian: Բաղրամյանի անվան գումարտակ; Russian: Батальон имени Баграмяна), also known officially as the Independent Motorized Rifle Battalion named after Marshal Ivan Khristoforovich Baghramyan (Russian: отдельный мотострелковый батальон и́мени маршала Ивана Христофоровича Баграмяна) was a unit formed in Abkhazia and predominantly composed of ethnic Armenians living in Abkhazia that fought together with separatist Abkhaz forces during the War in Abkhazia (1992–93).[1] Named in honour of the Soviet Armenian Marshal Ivan Bagramyan, the battalion fought against the forces of Georgia.[2] It was subsequently disbanded.
A total of 1,500 Armenians participated in the war, a quarter of the Abkhazian army. Twenty Armenians were awarded the highest honor Hero of Abkhazia and 242 were killed in battle.[3] The first President of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba praised the high discipline, organization, and accomplishments of the Bagramyan Battalion.[4]