The Price of Freedom: Hero of Abkhazia Garik Samanba Recalls the Decisive Days of Victory in 1993

September 1993 is forever inscribed in golden letters in the history of the Republic of Abkhazia. It was a time of supreme effort, extraordinary courage and strategic triumph for the Abkhaz army. Garik Samanba, Hero of Abkhazia and commander of the renowned 2nd Motor Rifle Brigade, shares his memories of the days leading up to the great victory of 30 September: the assault on the capital, the anguish of irreplaceable losses, and a little-known operation to safeguard the country’s scientific heritage.

‘We knew there was no turning back’

For Garik Samanba and his men, the September offensive that turned the tide of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia began on 16 September. Every advance demanded immense effort. War is not simply a succession of victory marches; above all, it is the gruelling work of combat and the pain of loss that veterans carry for the rest of their lives.

‘It was an extraordinary, decisive time,’ Garik Samanba recalls. ‘We launched a major offensive on 16 September. Every one of us understood that this was the decisive assault. But no war is without tragedy. The darkest day for our brigade was 18 September. We suffered terrible losses when our tank caught fire in the midst of battle. Fine young men, our own fighters, died in that blaze. Among them were two brothers, the Konjaria brothers, who fell fighting bravely. They were remarkable, courageous lads. Their deaths left an irreplaceable loss and a deeply personal grief throughout the brigade.’

Despite the shock of losing their comrades, there was no time to mourn on the front line. The commanders understood that even a moment’s hesitation could jeopardise the entire operation.

‘War is cruel; losses are inevitable. The pain was unbearable, but we had to pull ourselves together, grit our teeth and carry on. And we did,’ says the brigade commander.

The assault on Sukhum and the future deputy speaker’s ‘secret’

After ten days of fierce fighting, the 2nd Motor Rifle Brigade had secured commanding positions that gave it a strategic advantage. A co-ordinated assault on the capital began, with Abkhaz fighters descending into Sukhum from almost every direction and tightening the ring around the occupying forces. One of the crucial and most dramatic moments was the capture of the Council of Ministers building.

Even amid the fury of the fighting, there were memorable encounters that Garik Samanba now recalls with a smile:

‘The city was full of snipers and enemy firing positions. We literally had to burn the enemy out of their fortified positions to move forward. I remember the Council of Ministers building catching fire during the battle after being hit by a shell from an armoured vehicle. The man commanding those armoured vehicles — who now holds the senior position of Deputy Speaker of Abkhazia’s parliament — ran up to me under fire and pleaded: “Garik, I’m begging you, just don’t tell anyone right now that I was the one who set it on fire!” Of course, nobody on the firing line was thinking about that. We were at war. We had to destroy the enemy’s firing positions and keep advancing.’

On 27 September 1993, the capital of Abkhazia was fully liberated. In Samanba’s view, that was the day that finally determined the outcome of the entire campaign.

‘27 September was a momentous day, a turning point for all of Abkhazia. After the fall of Sukhum, there was virtually no organised enemy resistance left. The enemy was fleeing, and we knew that final victory was only a matter of days.’

On the Kodor front

The offensive lost none of its momentum after the liberation of Sukhum. The 2nd Motor Rifle Brigade advanced rapidly eastwards, where it made a historic link-up with fighters of the Eastern Front.

‘We met on the Kodor,’ Garik Samanba explains. ‘The decision was taken to send some of our battalions towards the Kodor Gorge. Even then, we clearly understood the enormous threat that could emerge from there in the future to endanger Abkhazia’s security. Time proved us absolutely right: that was exactly what happened. Our task was to advance as far as possible. We reached almost as far as Lata. We had the strength, confidence and spirit to continue, but the leadership ordered us to halt.’

According to the brigade commander, the decision provoked a fierce emotional response among the advancing troops.

‘I remember how angry we were about it — young, hot-headed soldiers that we were. We wanted to go all the way and clear the entire territory of enemy forces. But an order is an order. Only later, with the passage of time, did we begin to understand the political complexities. Back then, we were not politicians. We were soldiers defending our homeland and carrying out our commanders’ orders. We became politicians much later. We went through a great deal and, frankly, were deceived over many things, but those experiences taught us and helped us grow.’

While the Abkhaz army’s 1st Brigade advanced towards the state border along the River Ingur, encountering little serious resistance from the demoralised enemy, Garik Samanba’s men faced new tasks that were no less demanding. Scattered enemy groups remained behind, attempting to wage guerrilla warfare in the rear.

‘On the morning of 29 September, Vitalik Smyr and I met in the centre of Gulrypsh. May he rest in peace: he was a wonderful man and a fearless soldier. We held an operational briefing. The situation remained dangerous. The areas around the airport and the village of Uarcha were teeming with remnants of defeated Georgian formations. Realising they had lost in open combat, they had begun using guerrilla tactics and launching raids. My brigade stayed there to eliminate that threat completely and secure the capital,’ Samanba recalls.

Saving the Sukhum Institute of Physics and Technology

One particular strategic mission undertaken by the 2nd Brigade, rarely discussed in the wider press, was to save a unique scientific institution: the Sukhum Institute of Physics and Technology (SIPT) in Agudzera. During the Soviet period, this restricted-access research centre played a pivotal role in the nuclear programme.

‘The fact that my brigade remained in that area was enormously important for the country’s future security,’ stresses the Hero of Abkhazia. ‘We had to prevent the institute from being looted at all costs. This was a site of significance across the Soviet Union and internationally, where nuclear technologies were developed. Exceptional scientists worked there, and we had to protect their lives whatever it took. There were hazardous chemicals, tonnes of mercury and immensely valuable equipment. Leaving the institute unguarded at that moment would have meant allowing a catastrophe to happen.’

To contain the chaos and looting, Samanba took decisive action, effectively placing the site under martial law:

‘I moved brigade headquarters right there, into the settlement. Our comrade-in-arms, Hero of Abkhazia Roman Geria, positioned his tank at the entrance to Agudzera, and we sealed off access as though we had lowered a barrier. Yes, there was chaos in those days. Among the so-called second and third echelons were people who looted and took over empty flats. We could not spare the men to deal with them, nor did we want to be diverted from our task. We had a mission of national importance: to save what was inside the institute. And we did it. Few people talk about this, but I regard it as a major achievement by our brigade at that turning point.’

Thanks to the courage of the 1st Brigade’s soldiers, who raised the flag on the Ingur, and the steadfastness of the 2nd Brigade, which held key sites and secured the rear, 30 September 1993 entered history as the day of the Great Victory. It was a triumph both of Abkhaz arms and of the Abkhaz spirit, combining the valour of the soldier with the wisdom of the citizen.