Thursday, August 17 2017 17:25

ArmInfo.Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin took part in festive events dedicated to the 190th anniversary of victory in the Oshakan battle.

"Remembering those who died in the unequal battle, today we are  following the road that General Krasovsky went to Echmiadzin, where  so many undefeated Russians and Armenians lay down. We are going to  solve the global problems of the 21st century, including the fight  against international terrorism, we are going to prevent a new split  of the world," Volynkin said during his welcome speech.

The event was attended by the governor of Armavir region, the mayor  of the city of Echmiadzin, the first deputy minister of defense of  Armenia, the deputy minister of culture, veterans, servicemen of the  102nd Russian MB and the Border Guard of the Russian FSB in Armenia,  compatriots, residents of the region.

The participants of the event laid wreaths and flowers to the  Monument to the Heroes of Oshakan, the representatives of the clergy  who attended the funeral service for the fallen soldiers by the rite  of the Armenian Apostolic and Russian Orthodox Churches.

The Oshakan battle, also known as the Ashtarak battle, was a battle  that took place on August 17 (29), 1827, during the Russo-Persian war  of 1826-1828 between the army of the heir of the Persian throne,  Abbas Mirza, and the Russian detachment of Lieutenant-General Afanasy  Krasovsky. At the beginning of August 1827 the Persian army invaded  Eastern Armenia and, uniting with the troops of the Erivan serdar  Hussein Khan Qajar, besieged the Etchmiadzin Monastery. Located 37 km  from Echmiadzin, the Russian army detachment of General Krasovsky,  along with the Armenian and Georgian volunteers who joined him, came  to the aid of the besieged monastery and, despite the tenfold  numerical superiority of the Persian army, managed to break through  the enemy cordon, after which the same night the siege was withdrawn.   During the battle, the Russian detachment suffered heavy losses. This  was the greatest loss of the Russian army for all the wars with  Persia.

In 1833-1834, on the initiative of Catholicos Yeprem I Zoragekhtsi  and Archbishop Nerses Ashtaraketsi, a commemorative obelisk was  erected on the means of the monastery and local residents in honor of  the battle. On April 19, 2011, the solemn opening of the Oshakan  Memorial Complex took place <to the Russian soldiers-saviors of the  Mother See of Etchmiadzin, who died in the Oshakan battle of 1827>.