The Army of Independence () was an Armenian armed group that was active in the period leading up to Armenia becoming an independent state in 1991. It was founded in late 1989 by members of the
Union for National Self-Determination
Union for National Self-Determination ( hy, Ազգային ինքնորոշում միավորում; ''Azgayin ink’noroshum miavorum'') is an Armenian political party. It was founded in 1987 by Paruyr Hayrikyan, a Soviet dissident seeking indep ...
, including
Ashot Navasardyan,
Movses Gorgisyan
Movses Gevorgi Gorgisyan ( hy, Մովսես Գևորգի Գորգիսյան; 3 December 1961 – 19 January 1990) was an Armenian politician and national hero, one of the leaders of the Nagorno-Karabakh movement. He was one of the founders of th ...
, , and Razmik Markosyan.
The declared goal of the Army of Independence was to "protect the process of Armenia becoming an independent country," and to this end it engaged in clashes with the Soviet authorities in Armenia, as well as with Azerbaijani forces on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and in
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh ( ) is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, within the mountainous range of Karabakh, lying between Lower Karabakh and Syunik, and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains. The region is m ...
.
Soon after the group's founding, one of its founders, Movses Gorgisyan, was killed during a battle with Azerbaijani forces near
Yeraskh.
In February 1990, the Army of Independence participated in the creation of a defense coordination committee that was meant to coordinate the activities of the various armed militias in Armenia.
On March 23, 1990, the Army of Independence cut ties with the Union for National Self-Determination and became an independent group. Several leaders of the Army of Independence joined the ranks of the
Republican Party of Armenia
The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA, hy, Հայաստանի Հանրապետական Կուսակցություն, ՀՀԿ; ''Hayastani Hanrapetakan Kusaktsutyun'', ''HHK'') is a national-conservative political party in Armenia led by the thir ...
, which was founded by Ashot Navasardyan on April 2, 1990.
The Army of Independence created a new military council with Navasardyan as supreme commander and
Leonid Azgaldyan as general commander.
By December 1989, the group had units in
Yerevan
Yerevan ( , , hy, Երևան , sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and i ...
,
Etchmiadzin,
Artashat,
Armavir,
Ararat,
Masis,
Charentsavan,
Kamo The name Kamo may refer to the following:
Places
Japan
(Note: ''kamo'' ( 鴨), is the common word for ''duck'' in Japanese, but the following names do not necessarily mean ''duck'' and are not necessarily written with that character.)
* Kamo, N ...
,
Vardenis
Vardenis ( hy, Վարդենիս) is a town and urban municipal community in the southeastern part of the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. It is located in the valley of the Masrik River, on the territory of the Masrik artesian basin at above s ...
,
Vanadzor
Vanadzor ( hy, Վանաձոր) is an urban municipal community and the third-largest city in Armenia, serving as the capital of Lori Province in the northern part of the country. It is located about north of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 cen ...
,
Ijevan
Ijevan ( hy, Իջևան) is a town and urban municipal community in Armenia serving as the administrative centre of the Tavush Province. It is located at the center of the region, at the foot of Ijevan ridge of Gugark Mountains, on the shores of ...
,
Tashir
Tashir ( hy, Տաշիր) is a town and urban municipal community located in Lori Province at the north of Armenia, near the border with Georgia. It is located 42 km north of the provincial centre Vanadzor and 154 north of the capital Ye ...
, and Nagorno-Karabakh.
On May 27, 1990 the Army of Independence prevented the Soviet Army from entering Yerevan at
Yerevan railway station.
The Army of Independence was dissolved in August 1990. Most of its members went on to fight in the
First Nagorno-Karabakh War and participate in Armenia's political life.
References
{{Reflist
Military of Armenia