Chapter 1 Khojaly. History, Tragedy, Victims
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CHAPTER 1 KHOJALY. HISTORY, TRAGEDY, VICTIMS P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RY Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan CONTENTS BRIEF HISTORY OF KARABAKH ................................................................................................................. 3 INFORMATION ON THE GRAVE VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTED DURING THE COURSE OF THE ARMENIAN AGGRESSION AGAINST AZERBAIJAN .................................... 5 BRIEF INFORMATION ABOUT KHOJALY ................................................................................................. 9 THE TRAGEDY ................................................................................................................................................ 10 THE LIST OF THE PEOPLE DIED AT THE KHOJALY TRAGEDY ...................................................... 11 LIST OF FAMILIES COMPLETELY EXECUTED ON 26TH OF FEBRUARY 1992 DURING KHOJALY GENOCIDE ................................................................................................................................... 21 LIST OF CHILDREN DIED IN KHOJALY GENOCIDE ............................................................................ 22 LIST OF THE CHILDREN LOSING A PARENT AT THE KHOJALY TRAGEDY ............................... 24 THE LIST OF THE CHILDREN LOSING BOTH PARENTS AT THE KHOJALY TRAGEDY........... 28 THOUSE WHO ARE MISSING ...................................................................................................................... 29 LIST OF OFFICERS AND WARRANT OFFICERS OF 366TH REGIMENT PARTICIPATING IN THE KHOJALY GENOCIDE .......................................................................................................................... 32 WITNESSES ....................................................................................................................................................... 34 EXTRACTS FROM EVIDENCES OF THE KHOJALY WITNESSES ...................................................... 38 2 P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RY Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BRIEF HISTORY OF KARABAKH Throughout the known history the region of Karabakh has been part of the Caucasian Albania and later of different Turkic states. From 4th century B.C. to 8th century A.D. the territory of Karabakh was one of the provinces of Caucasian Albania called Artsakh (an Albanian name meaning manly Saks). After the fall of the independent Albanian state, it belonged of Sajids, in 10th century to the state of Salarids, and in 11-12th centuries - to the state of Sheddadids. During 12-13th centuries Karabakh constituted part of the Atabey-Ildenizids state, in the second half of 13th century - beginning of 15th century, during the existence of the Mongolian Khulagouid state - part of the Jalairids' state. In the 15th century it existed within the states of Garagoyunlu and Aghgayunlu, and during 16th and 17th centuries Karabakh, as a part of the Karabakh beylerbeyyat (duchy), was within the Sefevi state. The latter consisted of 4 beylerbeyyats: Shirvani, Karabakhi (also known as Ganja), Chukhursaadi (or Erivan) and Azerbaijani (or Tebriz). Karabakh, being a part of the Karabakhi beylerbeyyat, was ruled by the representatives of the Turkic Zyiadoglu tribe, subordinated to Qajars from 16th till 19th century. In the second half of the 18th century Karabakh belonged to the Karabakh khanate (principality) and along with the latter was incorporated into Russia. In 1918-20 it was part of the independent Azerbaijan and later in 1924 under the Soviets the Nogorno-Karabakh Autonomous Republic was created again within the Azerbaijan SSR. Finally, in 1988-94 Karabakh was occupied by Armenia. Since at least IV BC the population of Karabakh consisted of Caucasian Albanians (the ancestors of Azeris) and Turkic-speaking tribes of Barsil, Savir, Hunn, Khazar, Shoumlou, Bakharlou, Kangary and etc. and later Turkic speaking tribes became dominant in the region. However, until the 18th century the Albanians of today's Nogorno-Karabakh region more or less managed to save their identity. Nevertheless, after mass migrations of Armenians from Iran and Turkey to Karabakh by Russia, the Albanian population 3 P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RY Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan heavily mixed with the Armenians and in a very short time was Armenized. Caucasian Albania, including Karabakh was probably the very first Christian state in the Caucasus (the Kish church in Sheki, is the oldest church in the Caucasus). Most people of Caucasian Albania converted to Islam after the Arab invasion, except the Karabakh Albanians. Like the Albanian identity, the independent Albanian Patriarchy-the Albanian church was abolished and subordinated to the Armenian Grigorian Church in 1836 by the decision of the Russian Tsarist government. Again this was due to the mass migrations of Armenians to the region, which resulted in the Albanian-Armenian assimilation. 4 P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RY Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan INFORMATION ON THE GRAVE VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTED DURING THE COURSE OF THE ARMENIAN AGGRESSION AGAINST AZERBAIJAN The armed aggression of the Republic of Armenia against the Azerbaijani Republic pursuant to its policy of violent acquisition of territory and its plans to establish a "Greater Armenia" has resulted in gross and flagrant violations of human rights which fall within the category of crimes against humanity. The armed hostilities against Azerbaijan were preceded by anti-constitutional actions in the Nagorny Karabakh region of Azerbaijan perpetrated by separatist groups receiving outside support; forming the backdrop these actions were certain decisions taken by the Armenian authorities in contravention of international law. Of these decisions, the most notorious is the resolution "Reunification of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and Nagorny Karabakh" adopted by the Armenian Parliament on 1 December 1989. Moreover, in Armenia's declaration of sovereignty of 23 August 1990, part of the territory of another State- the Nagorny Karabakh region of Azerbaijan - is recognized as an integral part of the Republic of Armenia. These decisions by the Armenian Parliament were enacted by its armed forces with the widespread use of mercenary bands and a sudden upsurge in terrorist activity by the Armenian special services and terrorist organizations against sovereign Azerbaijan with a view to wresting away part of its age-old lands. All-out hostilities began at the end of 1991 and the start of 1992 when Armenian armed formations initiated combat operations in the Nagorny Karabakh region of Azerbaijan using the very latest weapons systems. Since May, 1992 their armed forces have made incursions beyond the borders of the former Nagorny Karabakh Autonomous Region into other parts of the country. As a result of more than eight years of war, approximately 20 per cent of the entire territory of Azerbaijan, comprising Nagorny Karabakh and an area four times bigger than that region, has been occupied and held by the Armenian armed forces. A chronological list of the seizure of Azerbaijani towns and districts follows: 26 February 1992 - Khojaly 8 May 1992 - Shusha 18 May 1992 - Lachin 2 April 1993 - Kelbajar 28 June 1993- Agdere 23 July 1993 - Agdam 23 August 1993 Fizuli 23 August 1993 - Djebrail 31 August 1993 - Kubatly 30 October 1993 - Zangelan and Goradiz It should be noted in particular that the Agdere and Aguam districts ot Azerbaijan were seized by Armenian armed forces following the adoption of Security Council resolution 822 (1993) of 30 April 1993 which condemned the occupation of the Kelbajar district; the Fizuli district was seized after the adoption of Security Council resolution 853 (1993) of 29 July 1993 condemning the seizure of the Agdam district; and the Djebrail and Kubatly districts were seized after the adoption of Security Council resolution 874 (1993) of 14 October 1993. In its resolution 884 (1993) of 11 November 1993 the Council condemned the occupation of the Zangelan district and the city of Goradiz, attacks on civilians and bombardments of the territory of the Azerbaijani Republic. In all the above-mentioned resolutions, the Council underscored respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders of the Azerbaijani Republic, and the inadmissibility of using force to acquire territory. "It also demanded the immediate cessation of armed hostilities and hostile acts, and the immediate, full and unconditional withdrawal of all occupying forces from the occupied areas of Azerbaijan. Despite the unequivocal demands of the Security Council, the Republic of Armenia is today still holding on to occupied Azerbaijani territory and increasing its military presence there. As a result of the aggression and ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis from the territory of Armenia 5 P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A RY Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan proper and from the occupied part of the territory of Azerbaijan, there are currently over 1 million refugees and displaced persons in Azerbaijan. A total of 900 settlements have been looted and destroyed. Over 9 million square meters of civilian housing, state enterprises and social facilities have been destroyed and burnt. The total cost of the destroyed housing and the property removed therefore amounts to tens of billions