ARMENIAN TERROR IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH
TRAGEDY OF GARADAGHLY
FEBRUARY 17, 1992
Baku-2010
This book has been published with the financial assistance by The Council of State Support
to Non-Governmental Organizations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Assosiation for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan
Author: candidate of historic sciences Maharram Zulfugarli
Contents
Preface
I Situation of the village before the tragedy
II Occupation of Garadagly
III Eyewitnesses of the tragedy
Preface
One of unexamined in depth pages of the history of Azerbaijan is the genocidal events
perpetuated in the villages and regions resided by Azeris in the course of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, stirred up again.
During these events, many historical monuments have been destroyed, along with
extermination of a number of local azeri population by the Armenian occupants. From the beginning
of the conflict, 547 architectural buildings, including 5 of international, 393 of country and 149 of
local importance, 205 archeological monuments, 927 libraries, 808 club institutions, 85 schools of
music, 12 monuments, 22 museums, 4 galleries of picture, 10 parks of culture and rest, 4 state
theatres and 2 institutions of concert have been destroyed and nearly 40.000 museum exponents of
high value of international importance from XI-XIX centuries looted by the Armenian aggressors.
(1) Research of historiography of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 1988-2010 finds out that
numerous books and articles have been published on this subject. (2) But overwhelming majority of
these publications were addressed to local readers and the international community is almost
unaware of them.
A number of purposeful activities have been conducted to convey the realities of the Khojaly
tragedy to the world community after adoption of the decision on the day of the Khojaly tragedy by
the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Some books and articles have been published on the
Khojaly tragedy (3) and even foreign mass media covered the tragedy during the period of its
occurrence. (4)
Association for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan (ACSDA) also did some important
works to deliver objective information about the Khojaly tragedy to the world community and has
published 3 books. (5) Online versions of the books are available in the web-site
www.avciya.az
.
Starting from 2006, the Association launched the signature company with demand of international
recognition of the Khojaly tragedy, gathered signatures of one million of citizens of Azerbaijan and
sent to the international institutions of the book, “Khojaly genocide (in documents, facts and foreign
press) in Azerbaijani, English and Russian which he published.
Although some works have been done connected with the piercing the information blockade
on the Khojaly tragedy, unfortunately it was not the same with other tragedies. One of such
tragedies which stayed aside of attention and was researched little is the tragedy which took place in
the Garadagly village of the Khojavand region. Even there is no information in the chronology of
1992 of an article titled “Aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan” posted in the official site of the
Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan (www.meclis.gov.az) about the Garadagly tragedy. In our
view, the reason is the huge number of Armenian atrocities in Nagorno-Karabakh and scarcity of
information regarding the majority of these crimes.
In modern history, events similar to the Garadagly tragedy happened in different parts of the
world and the international community is well aware of them. For example, in July 1995, ethnic
Serbian nationalists mass murdered more than 10 thousand Muslim population of the Bosnian town
of Srebrenica aged between 17-70, people had been buried lively in mass graves. Mass murders
have been perpetuated against Muslims in 13 settlements of Bosnia in this period. More than 200
thousand innocent people have been murdered, thousands wounded and 2 million became refugees
as a result of these events. Although United Nations, European Parliament and other international
organizations recognized at least Srebrenica genocide, one of the 13 genocides that took place in the
13 Bosnian settlements, they prefer to keep silence numerous genocides perpetuated against
Azerbaijanis by Armenians. (6)
Eyewitnesses of this tragedy remember it as equal to Khojaly tragedy. Some call the
Garadagly as a second Khojaly.
In our view, reasons for scarcity of information on crimes perpetuated in the Garadagly
village of the Khojavand region in Nagorno-Karabakh and other settlements resided by Azeris for
long time are followings:
Efforts by local authorities directed from Moscow to cover-up information on tragedies and
hiding from public;
Efforts by internal and exterior forces to use the tragedies for their own purposes interested
in violation of political stability in the Southern Caucasus, as well as Azerbaijan;
Indifference of international powers interested in collapse of the USSR, to the tragedies;
Isolation of the tragedy sites from the rest of the world and dangerous and hard conditions of
obtaining information from that sites;
Preventive measures by criminals to dissimulate signs of their crimes;
Deaf ear of international organizations to the voice of Azerbaijan during the period of crimes
or their reluctance to hear the voice of Azerbaijan etc.,
In spite of scarcity of information on Garadagly tragedy, accounts by eyewitnesses help to
shed light on dark pages of the modern history.
When researching the tragedy of Garadagly, it was found out that there are 16 villages
carrying the same name in regions of Azerbaijan. In brief, there are villages whose names are
Garadagly in Shaki, Khachmaz, Gadabay, Salyan, Shusha, Aghdam, Fuzuly, Jebrail, Kalbajar,
Beylagan, Tartar, Goranboy, Kangarly, Barda, Agdash, Ujar rayons of Azerbaijan, also Darband
rayon of Autonomous Republic of Dagestan of Russia resided by Azeris.
Even there has been a village of Garadagly in Gamarly (Artashat) region of Armenian SSR
resided by Azeris. But later its name was changed. Existence of Garadagly region in the Southern
Azerbaijan, situation of Bazz fortress, residence of khorramids in this region, its being birthplace
of Sattarkhan, the heroic son of the Azerbaijani people, leader of the 1905-1911 movement who
was named as sardar-e-melli (national general) and other facts prove that people of Garadagh are
historically heroes and braves. (7) Furthermore, massive information even in the books of foreign
historians (8) about heroism performed by the Khojavand horsemen against Russian occupants
during I and II Russian-Iranian wars indicated that people residing in these lands are brave men
who are ready to die for their motherland.
If to have in view that there are also Garadagly villages of Shusha, Aghdam, Fuzuly, Jebrail,
Kalbajar under occupation and have been exposed to tragedies, it is necessary not to confuse the
problem which is being researched with others.
Even there are many villages by name of Garadagly in the Southern Caucasus and Southern
Azerbaijan, tragedies and horrors of Garadagly village of Khojavand differ with their scale from
others.
Joint investigation group of Ministries of Internal Affairs and National Security and Prosecutor
Office of the Republic adopted a decision on responsibility of 286 people connected with their
crimes committed against humanity in Khojaly, Garadagly, Meshali, Baganis Ayrim and other
Azerbaijani villages. 6 people have been found responsible by the joint investigation group
connected with the Garadagly genocide. Activities are underway to bring them under investigation
as accused persons. (9)
The above mentioned facts on Gardagly tragedy cover very few parts of the Armenian
atrocities. Many are unaware of terrible eyewitness accounts on live burial of the residents of the
village in silos by Armenians.
Publication of some books and articles on the tragedy of Garadagly village of Khojavand
region in recent years is a positive case. (10) But there is an urgent need to boost these activities,
uncover new facts hidden from public and publish and spread obtained materials in foreign
languages along with Azerbaijani.
I Situation of Garadagly before the tragedy
Garadagly was a big Azeri village of 800 houses situated on the highway linking Khankandi
and Khojavand (Martuni), in entourage of 14 Armenian villages. During the soviet authority the
Azeri population of neighboring Varandapi, Bahramli and Khanliq villages were forcibly deported
and their lands annexed to the Armenian villages.
Various provocations had been committed by Armenians against Azeri population of
Nagorno-Karabakh, including Garadagly, in the periods of tsar`s Russia and soviets. One of them
took place in 1967. In this year, Armenians slandered and made arrested three Azeris from
Garadagly on purpose to instigate a conflict on national basis. Despite their acquittal, Armenian
bandits burned those innocent people pouring gasoline on them in a plain day in Khankandi in front
of watching eyes of soviet soldiers.
In the soviet period Garadagly had been united in one kolkhoz with Gagarza and Baravat
villages resided by Armenians for sometimes. Only Armenians were being appointed to leading
positions in the kolkhoz. Armenians were permanently violating the rights of people of Garadagly,
keeping them aside from the leadership of the village and appropriating their salaries. In 1971,
people of Garadagli appealed to government to be separated from the Armenian villages and to be
an independent kolkhoz and achieved this goal. From that year people of Garadagly seceded and
united in a kolkhoz named after Narimanov. During the secession the Armenian leadership of
Khojavand region left no part from the estate of the previous kolkhoz for Garadagly. Garadagly
people even were not allowed to use their ancestral lands. Finally, after hard struggle, they
succeeded in getting some part of estate and 100 hectares of land in a place called as Bargiz Tapa.
Although 30 km distant from the village, this field played an important role in development of the
village.
In the 5th year of its independent activity the kolkhoz named after Narimanov became one of the
leading economies of Khojavand (Martuni) region.
A meeting unusually held only in Armenian language in Khojavand on February 12, 1988,
banned Azeri language there, offensive remarks by Armenians on Azeris after the meeting, holding
of antiazeri slogans and the same activities of Armenians at the meeting of the activists held in
Khankandi the next day got concerned all Azeri population of Nagorno-Karabakh, including
Garadagly. After this, nationalist meetings and demonstrations started in Khankandi and all
Armenian populated towns and villages of Karabakh.
At the wake of these events, a group of habitants from Garadagly village went to Agdam and
demanded the region authority to inform Baku about the Armenian provocations and take serious
steps. They also sent written appeals to the leadership of the Republic and USSR on Armenian
provocations. Instead of taking measures, the authority sent complaint letters to the Armenian
authorities of the region, thus making the condition of the people harder. Left on their fate by the
leadership of the Republic as all Azeri population of Karabakh, the people of Garadaghli had to find
a way out of their deplorable situation. Popular people of the village, Mazahir Agalarov, head of the
Reserve Agency of the region, Nusrat Azizov, the only Azeri, working in the executive body of the
region, Nobil Zeynalov, the principal of the school of the village, Jahid Mammadov, Soltan
Bayramov proceeded to take some actions to protect Garadagly from Armenian provocations.
In such a hard situation of the village, Adalat Mammadov, a chief lieutenant serving in the
soviet army, returned to his native village in response to the appeals of his compatriots in March
1988. Telman Tagiyev, a teacher of military at the school of the village, a reserve officer, Mammad
Mammadov, Mohammadali Bayramov and other patriot sons closely assisted to Adalat Mammadov
in organization of the defence of the village. Agalar Mammadov, a head of the cell of the Popular
Front of Azerbaijan in Garadagly, played an important role in establishing of a voluntary defense
unit. Passing of his defense unit under command of Adalat Mammadov closely assisted in founding
defense battalion of the village. Although the volunteers of the village started to military trainings,
lack of arms to defend the village created serious hardships. After beginning of Armenian
provocations in Nagorno-Karabakh in 1988-1989, official authorities three times conducted arms
confiscation operations in Garadagly, taking simple hunting weapons from the people. To get out of
the situation, the population of Garadagly appealed to their friends and acquaintances from the
surrounding regions and they obtained some hunting weapons and sent them to the defenders of
Garadagly. Although late, the Azerbaijani leadership got interested in the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem after some months of its beginning. At that time, communication of Garadagly with the
region center and surrounding buildings was cut off and people from Garadagly were fired from
their jobs. To resolve the problem, bake houses, shops and canteens started to function in the village.
Affiliation of the sewing factory N 1 of Baku, sections of carpet sewing factory of Ganja and
affiliation of Baku refrigerator factory opened in the village. Besides, construction of buildings for
school, kindergarten, library, house of culture and hospital started. More than 60 new houses were
built in sites allocated for young families. Some works were done for defense of Garadagly.
Recruitment of 30 residents of the village by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan SSR as
militias for defense of the village, assignment of some staff from Agdam police to Garadagly by
rotation increased defense capacity of the village.
From middle of 1989, Armenian provocations against the village intensified. On October 12
of that year, a group of Armenian bandits raided a cattle farm near the village, seizing the cattle and
burning out the building of the farm and hays. Adalat Mammadov, Faig Tagiyev, Garib Mustafayev,
Nazim Valiyev, defenders of the village reached the site and gave a hard repulse to the bandits.
In December 1989, Armenians began to let down burning barrels full of gasoline from the
surrounding mountains every night in order to intimidate and force to flee the population of the
village. As a result of steps taken by defenders, this savage act of Armenians was rebuffed too.
On January 15, 1990, nearly 15 Armenians came close to Garadagly and fired on nearby houses.
Reaching the incident site and engaging first open combat with the Armenians, defenders repulsed
them back. On April 10, 1990, Armenian bandits again attacked the village. Ilgar Aliyev, a resident
of the village was badly wounded during the shooting.
On November 24, 1990, at 17.00 p.m., an escort of cars carrying a bride, was attacked by the
Armenian bandits disguised in Russian military uniforms, killing 3 people from Garadagly.
Surrounding the site of the incident, the bandits were not letting to take the corps, demanding
coming of President Ayaz Mutallibov. After two hours, the people succeeded in taking the corps
from Armenians with difficulties.
After this incident, the defenders of Garadagly decided to build fortified defense posts,
pillboxes and digging trenches around the village. 5 block posts were established and provided with
reliable defense devices around the village.
Three block posts were established on the road coming from Khankandi. The post
established at the direction of Khojavand region, entrance of the village was being considered as the
first post for its importance. Nobil Zeynalov, director of the school undertook to provide this post
with guards. Young people who had been pupils of his school and schoolchildren were guarding that
post.
A block post established a little distant from asphalt road, not far from the kolkhoz agency
was being considered as the second. Mirzali and Mazahir were responsible for this post.
Nazi, Garib, Telman, Vidadi and others were guarding the 3
rd
post established on the asphalt
road at the exit of the village.
The 4
th
post established at the direction of Kandkhura was also one of important ones. Most
of raids against the village were being conducted from this direction. Faig, Rabil, Khudayat and
their friends were on guard here. Finally, the 5
th
post was established on the river of Khonashen,
dividing the village into two, in front of the gorge of Zinki. Brave sons as Mammad, Shamil,
Algama and Aladdin were charged to defend the Zinki block post. From November 1990, armed
guards were in charge of posts throughout the day.
A tragedy that took place in the beginning of 1991 worsened the situation. In January 10,
Sultan Bayramov, one of well-known people of the village had left the village for neighboring
Amrallar village to discuss the issue of common fight against Armenian bandits. While on his way
back to the village, his “UAZ-469” with plate number of 53-55 AQT was suddenly fired on by
Armenians at 4 km from the first block post. Although Karam Tagiyev, a driver of the car could
drive away the car into the village, to save the life of Karam Tagiyev was impossible. He passed
away because of the bullet wounds after 2 hours.
On Sultan`s burial day, news of murder of Salatin Askerova, a reporter, on the road of
Lachin-Shusha reached the village. Becoming furious as soon as they heard the news, the population
of the village set on to March to the villages of the Armenian bandits to protest them. But a group of
defenders of the village succeeded to stop them telling that there was no use to go against Armenian
bandits unarmed.
After these tragic events, the people of Garadagli made a plan of operation to prevent the
Armenian provocations. The operation was being led by Adalat Mammadov. The operation group
was made up by Ilgar Huseynov, Elmidar Bayramov, Telman Tagiyev, Eldar Dadashov, Rafig
Guliyev, Garib Mustafayev, Mammad Mammadov and Mammad Mustafayev. Being divided into
two groups, they gained control on road linking Khankandi and Khojavand from both exit and
entrance. A car “UAZ” that was driving hastily from Khankandi to Khojavand, carrying 6 Armenian
bandits was seized and destroyed by the defenders of the village. Thus, vengeance of Sultan
Bayramov, Salatin Askerova and other martyrs was taken on the bandits. Armenians accompanied
by the Russian militaries, took their corps from the forest only after 3 days. After this, Armenians
stopped to use the Khankandi-Khojavand road. In this revenge operation, defenders of Garadagli
seized 6 foreign made automatic guns, one hunting rifle and many bullets.
On March 9, 1991, Armenian bandits suddenly attacked a cattle farm near the village and
murdered two people. On June 28 of the same year, the village of Garadagly was fired on by
Armenians with canons, machine guns and automatic guns at 1 a.m. Some houses of the village
were set on fire, some were destroyed. Women, olders and children were forced to shelter in
basements to get protected from the fire.
At that night, the greatest tragedy took place at the farm situated in Varandali site, 5 km
distant from the village. Along with firing on the village, the bandits rushed into the houses at the
farm and shot dead six innocent workers of the farm and threw them into one of the burning houses
in order to dissimulate the crime. After this, they moved aside and kept firing on until complete
burning out of the farm.
The people of the village led by Bayverdi Novruzov, came to the site of the incident and
succeeded in pulling out corpses of the three people burned out and holed with bullets. After putting
off the fire of another room, wholly burned corpses of three people were found out.
After three days of the burial of the martyrs, Ruzigars Mammadov made an operation plan
together with 2 officers of the police of Agdam. They get armed, moved towards Armenian village
of Kandkhurda and kept a position near to one of control block posts. They took revenge on a
commander of Armenian armed men when they appeared for check-up of the block posts at night.
Here are the accounts of Chingiz Mammadov, Karam Agalarov and Shafgat Mammadova,
residents of Garadagly, on hard days of the village:
“September 8, 1991, was the election day of Ayaz Mutallibov as a president. The people of
Garadagli were voting at polling station in the morning. After the voting, the residents of the village
got in a bus in front of the polling station and left for Agdam for shopping. When returning back, the
bus was fired on with automatic guns from all sides at 3 km from Khojavand and 2 men, 6 women
were killed, 23 wounded from 40 passengers. Wounded people urgently were taken to the hospital
of Aghdam”.
After the bus tragedy, on September 25, at night, Elnur Suleymanov, Khanali
Huseynov and Rayet Quliyev, 3 of brave youngs of Garadagly got armed and got rear side of the
village of Ashan seized by Armenians. They moved close to the village, firing on and killing three
armed Armenian militaries who were taking a walk at the outskirt. Although Rayat received a hard
bullet wound during this operation, his comrades saved his life taking him to the village through the
forest, then to the hospital of Beylagan.
After the incident of September 8, 1991, Mazahir Agalarov, Nobil Zeynalov, representatives
of the people of Garadagly together with 20 people from there went to Baku and met with president
Ayaz Mutallimov informing him of the hard situation of the village.
A. Mutallibov promised them to be personally busy with the defense of Garadagly and after
3-4 days a group of 11 militaries were sent to Garadagly. They were located in the house of
Abbasov, situated in the upper part of the village. The defenders of the village succeeded in
preparing and carrying a revenge operation together with that group. A band of 21 men attacked a
farm of strategic importance and guarded by many armed Armenian bandits, rendering harmless
three of them and forcing the rest to retreat to the neighboring Armenian villages.
But after nearly one month, a mysterious call back of the militaries sent for assistance to the
defense of the village worsened hard situation of Garadagli more.
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