A further article in the series

The Finest Army 
in the World

 written exclusively for In Touch.

In the mid nineteen nineties the southern portion of what had been the Soviet Union dissolved into a series of bloody little wars, as first states such as Ossetia, Georgia and Chechnya declared independence from Russia, and then states within states fought for independence, South Ossetia from North Ossetia and Abkhazia from Georgia.

For the most part these ‘little’ wars went unnoticed in the west, as the war in Bosnia had also reached its height at this time and western governments were focused on doing all they could to sort out the Croat I Serb I Muslim wars and the ongoing siege of Sarajevo.

But the wars in the Caucasus were a concern, there was, and still is, much oil in the region, and any situation which further threatened stability in the region had to be monitored.

In 1994 the UK Government sent a couple of Army Officers to the Caucasus to observe and report on the situation. I was one of those officers.

As usual we drove slowly. The potholes and  craters could rip a wheel off the Land Cruiser, and this road was constantly being mined by one side or another, there was just a chance of spotting recent digging if you went slow enough and kept your eyes fixed on the road ten metres ahead.

The usual nause of getting through the Abkhaz checkpoint on the bridge — a couple of oil drums, manned by a pair of spaced out bandits, festooned with grenades, knives, pistols and Kalashnikovs. The usual Rambo head scarves tied around their heads and eyes, piercing like holes in the snow — booze and pot making their words incoherent and their actions  unpredictable.

Onto the Georgian checkpoint, two more space bandits - but this time a little more coherent - their Commander wanted to talk. So one of us stays in the Cruiser with the engine running, and I accompany bandit number one to a much damaged little brick cottage by the side of the bridge.

The ‘Commander’ is middle aged, large, hairy and smells of cheap tobacco and vodka. He offers me a drink and I accept, (with gratitude). We make small talk for a few minutes. He has been to England - was a school teacher (chemistry) before the war, wants to go home to his wife and kids - normal stuff.

Then onto the reason for the meeting. His lot, (the Georgians), wish to do a body swap with the other lot, (the Abkhaz), they have Abkhaz prisoners, they will swap for three Georgian prisoners. They also have two Abkhaz bodies - these they will swap for Georgian dead. I make notes, and agree the time and place for the swap. Two days time - 1500 Hrs Local. This bridge. A final shot of vodka, shake hands and back to the Cruiser.

Back to the Abkhaz side, and finally find somebody in charge who is not so high that he doesn’t know what day it is and who can, and does, agree to the swap. Three live, two dead.

Two days later - 1500 Hrs (Local). The bridge is crowded and we wait on the Abkhaz side. Soldiers from both sides are milling about at their ends of the bridge. The Red Cross are here to witness the  exchange, as are local politicians and what must be family members hoping and praying that it is to be their son I husband I brother that is exchanged today.

But there is a problem. The Abkhaz have turned up with two live and three bodies. I wander across the 25 metre span of the bridge, shake hands with the Georgian CommanderIChemistry teacher. ‘Not a problem’ he says - and goes to talk to his soldiers.

I begin to wander back across the bridge. When a single shot is heard from the Georgian side. I have a sick feeling in my stomach. I know what has happened but do not want to believe it.

A minute later and the Georgians escort two emaciated looking prisoners to the centre of the bridge. They are carrying two body bags, and a third body. The bodies are dumped, not placed, dumped in the centre of the bridge. The third body is still warm and still bleeding - a single bullet to the back of the head has blown the front of his face away.

Two live and three bodies.

A fair exchange.

(Another contribution by Mike Morgan soon.)