How Russia tricked Syrians into mercenarism in Armenia: Investigation

Aided by the Syrian government, Russian forces recruited hundreds of Syrians to fight in Armenia this time, again luring them with money. Simultaneously, and with the sole motive of fighting, other Syrians, from Armenian origins, flew to the battleground

The testimonies delivered by Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) field researchers verified that somewhere near Jableh city in Latakia province, Syrians were shipped off to fight as mercenaries alongside the Armenian forces in the war against Azerbaijan over September and October 2020, precisely as they were dispatched to Libya to lend the clashing parties their manpower earlier in the year. According to the accounts, the Russian military carried out the enlistments in cooperation with the Syrian government and accounts that Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) obtained from witnesses and several credible sources. The recruits are almost exclusively members of the 5th Legion and are mainly from the provinces of Homs and Deir Ez-Zor.

Fighters/mercenaries were presumably bound for Libya. However, as fighting there showed signs of abating, the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region flared up. Thus, the Russian forces shifted the destination, sending these fighters to Armenia instead of Libya, and hid the plan changes from nearly all the recruits.

At least five transfers of Syrian fighters/mercenaries are documented in this report, in addition to an estimation of casualties. STJ recorded nearly ten deaths, with only a few bodies delivered to families so far, and over 40 wounded. The injured recruits were all returned from Armenia to Homs province and deposited at the military hospital there.

Furthermore, the report documents dozens of flights to Armenia through Beirut and Damascus airports of Syria-based Armenians. These flights, however, were not facilitated by the Russian military; they were rather organized by Armenian political parties in Lebanon and Syria and purely for military ends; money was not a driving force in these cases.

Two batches of fighters/mercenaries were flown to Armenia on 21 October 2020, testified a recruit of the 5th Legion, founded by Russia and operating as part of the Syrian military. M. al-Hamoud, including 23 recruits, brokered the first batch. M. al-Fayad, including 14 recruits, brokered the second batch. They were transported to Khmeimim Air Base and shipped off to Armenia next.

Commenting on this, a Capitan of the 5th Legion said:

"Salaries often vary between 1000 and 2000 USD, depending on specialty and the skills demanded. The transferred recruits, however, are not entitled to compensation in cases of physical harm or injuries. We are also not obliged to search for missing recruits or conduct prisoner swap deals. Still, the recruits are free to receive the payments themselves, or delegate the matter to family members, who get paid by the brokers that signed up the recruits in the first place after deducting their own shares."

One recruit's mother, who was transferred to Armenia instead of Libya, said they were manipulated. Her son, J. S., was sent to Armenia without the slightest hint as to the destination. She recounted the following to STJ's researcher:

"We were in a dire need for money, so my son sought S. al-Harbi's office, intending to join his armed group—al-Harbi Brigade. There, they persuaded him to travel to Libya, referring to a lucrative salary. He indeed registered his name but was not signed up immediately. They called him on 15 September, saying a flight was heading to Libya soon. My son left home the next day. He called us from Khmeimim Air Base using an officer's cellphone on 18 September, saying he was tasked with protecting vital facilities in Libya. That was the last time we heard from him. Later, people from al-Harbi's office told us that my son and other young men were transferred to Armenia instead of Libya, claiming they were short on fighters there. We went to the office to inquire into his whereabouts, and there they told us he would return when his national Duty is fulfilled. They assured us that he already received two months' salary and was still in Armenia."

A relative of a recruit from Palmyra city, Homs province, said that M. A. was killed in action and his body was recently delivered to the family. M. A. signed up for Libya, but the target location changed, while neither he nor his mates knew of the alterations, the relative said, adding:

"In mid-August, M. A. registered his name to travel to Libya. The enlistment was brokered by A. Abdulmu'ti, a member of the National Defense Forces in Palmyra city. The registrar provided my relative with an advance of 500,000 Syrian pounds (SYP) on his 1000 USD salary. Other 15 men were also enlisted. They were all gathered at the Palmyra Air Base on 11 September and spent the next two days there. From there, they were transferred to Khmeimim Air Base and were eventually dispatched to Armenia. The recruits' cellphones, watches, and other personal belongings were all withheld before they traveled."

The Syrian mercenary fighters were flown from Khmeimim Air Base to Erebuni, in Armenia, aboard Russian military aircraft, a commander of the 5th Legion told STJ's field researcher. The enlisted mercenaries were transferred on consecutive flights between 19 and 22 September. Others were transferred on 12, 21, and 27 October 2020.

Over September and October, the Russian forces transported the bodies of at least 15 Syrian mercenary fighters, who died in Armenia. Likewise, they transferred no less than 12 injured from Khmeimim Air Base to the Homs Military Hospital.

One such Syrian/Armenian fighter narrated the following to STJ:

"Duty called. We traveled there to combat the aggression of Azerbaijan and Turkey, which threatened the Armenians' existence. Those fighters came from Syria, Lebanon, South America, and even Canada. There were at least 147 of us. We were briefly trained on tackling arms at camps in the capital Yerevan. And then, we were grouped into divisions, each including 30 volunteer recruits."

The fighter added:

"Right from the start of the war, Armenian volunteers were enlisting, particularly Lebanese and Syrians. Those based in Bourj Hammoud town, Lebanon, registered their names with the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA). Others, recruits of the allied forces found by Russia in al-Hasakah province, volunteered under the command of Rizjan Saranjian, a veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."

Two batches of fighters traveled from Syria and Lebanon to participate in the combat in Armenia, Armenian Christians' spokesperson in Kesab in Latakia province, Garo Manjikian, told STJ. He added:

"The first batch traveled through Beirut Airport on 6 October 2020. However, the second batch left through the Damascus International Airport, flown by the Cham Wings Airlines on 17 October 2020. The second group included Armenian volunteers and others who are members of the Iranian Quds Force."

An estimated 200 Syrian-Armenian young men are today present in Armenia for combat-related purposes, the source stated. Most of these headed there to fight and to get the Armenian nationality later on.