Garadaghly Massacre
Encyclopedia
Garadaghly Massacre also known as Garadaghli Genocide, Garadaghli Massacre, Qaradaghli Massacre was the killing of 70-90 ethnic Azerbaijani civilians by Armenian troops in the village of Garadaghly
on 17 February 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War
.
which was mostly populated with ethnic Azerbaijanis. When the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict started, the village became one of the main targets of attacks by Armenian armed units. The first victims were the three villagers killed on November 24, 1989. On January 9, 1990 the head of the Narimanov collective farm, S. Bayramov was killed. On March 8, 1990 two villagers from Garadaghly were killed on Varandali farm near the village. During the night of June 28-29, 1991 the first Armenian organized armed assault took place which resulted in death of 6 civilians from Garadaghly. On October 18, 1991 one Azerbaijani villager was shot dead. On January 8, 1992 eight more people from this village were killed. Garadaghly was virtually left surrounded since November 19, 1991, when Khojavend regional center was occupied and the helicopter with Azerbaijani, Russian and Kazakh officials from the peacekeeping team was shot down
on November 20 near Qarakend village. In December 1991, after the first siege of Garadaghly by Armenian armed units, Azeri defense detachments of the Mughanly village stormed Khojavend diverting the attention of Armenian troops and liberating Garadaghly from the siege.
which took place on February 25-26, 1992. On February 14, 1992 the units of the 366th regiment of now dissolved Soviet army attacked Garadaghly village of Khojavend district. The village was surrounded and sieged for two days. The Azeri light armed detachments positioned in Mughanly
village were not able to help the defense units of Garadaghly due to fire from Russian tanks. A final assault started at 5 am, on February 17. The battle continued for 11 hours and resulted in occupation of Garadaghly by Armenian troops. Arabo and Aramo units and units of Monte Melkonian
took part in the operation. 117 Azerbaijani civilians were taken prisoners. Between 56 and 90 of them were massacred, including 12 children and 41 women. 9 were taken hostage, 6 went missing. The village was burned and razed to the ground. Those who were able to escape, fled to Agdam
through the mountains.
, the defense minister
Tajeddin Mehdiyev was fired.
Many letters had been sent to the United Nations
, OSCE and Red Cross condemning the massacre of Azerbaijani civilians. Members of parliaments of various countries such as the French senator Nathalie Goulet
have been meeting with the survivors of the Garadghly massacre.
, Garadaghly, Meshali, Baghanis Ayrum
. Six of these names are specifically related to the massacre of civilians in Garadaghly.
Qaradagli, Khojavend
Qaradağlı is a village in the Khojavend Rayon of Azerbaijan....
on 17 February 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War
Nagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
.
Overview
Garadaghly is a village in Khojavend district of AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
which was mostly populated with ethnic Azerbaijanis. When the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict started, the village became one of the main targets of attacks by Armenian armed units. The first victims were the three villagers killed on November 24, 1989. On January 9, 1990 the head of the Narimanov collective farm, S. Bayramov was killed. On March 8, 1990 two villagers from Garadaghly were killed on Varandali farm near the village. During the night of June 28-29, 1991 the first Armenian organized armed assault took place which resulted in death of 6 civilians from Garadaghly. On October 18, 1991 one Azerbaijani villager was shot dead. On January 8, 1992 eight more people from this village were killed. Garadaghly was virtually left surrounded since November 19, 1991, when Khojavend regional center was occupied and the helicopter with Azerbaijani, Russian and Kazakh officials from the peacekeeping team was shot down
1991 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown
The 1991 Azerbaijan MI-8 helicopter shootdown occurred on November 20, 1991, when an Azerbaijani helicopter MI-8 military helicopter, carrying peacekeeping mission team consisting of observers from Russia, Kazakhstan, government officials from Azerbaijan and several journalists, was shot down by...
on November 20 near Qarakend village. In December 1991, after the first siege of Garadaghly by Armenian armed units, Azeri defense detachments of the Mughanly village stormed Khojavend diverting the attention of Armenian troops and liberating Garadaghly from the siege.
The assault
The final offensive on Garadaghly preceded a more horrible massacre of Azerbaijani civilians in KhojalyKhojaly Massacre
The Khojaly Massacre was the killing of hundreds of ethnic Azerbaijani civilians from the town of Khojaly on 25–26 February 1992 by the Armenian and Russian armed forces during the Nagorno-Karabakh War...
which took place on February 25-26, 1992. On February 14, 1992 the units of the 366th regiment of now dissolved Soviet army attacked Garadaghly village of Khojavend district. The village was surrounded and sieged for two days. The Azeri light armed detachments positioned in Mughanly
Muganli, Khojavend
Muğanlı is a village in the Khojavend Rayon of Azerbaijan....
village were not able to help the defense units of Garadaghly due to fire from Russian tanks. A final assault started at 5 am, on February 17. The battle continued for 11 hours and resulted in occupation of Garadaghly by Armenian troops. Arabo and Aramo units and units of Monte Melkonian
Monte Melkonian
Monte Melkonian was a famed Armenian commander during Nagorno-Karabakh war. Melkonian had no prior service record in any country's army before being placed in command of an estimated 4,000 men in the war...
took part in the operation. 117 Azerbaijani civilians were taken prisoners. Between 56 and 90 of them were massacred, including 12 children and 41 women. 9 were taken hostage, 6 went missing. The village was burned and razed to the ground. Those who were able to escape, fled to Agdam
Agdam
Agdam or Ağdam or Aghdam may refer to:*Agdam city, Azerbaijan*Agdam Rayon, Azerbaijan*Ağdam, Khojavend, Azerbaijan*Ağdam, Tovuz, Azerbaijan...
through the mountains.
Names of the prisoners
- Veten Aliyev
- Zakir Aliyev
- Nasir Amrahov
- Hafiz Akhundov
- Fuzuli Veliyev
- Abulfat Huseynov
- Mikayil Dadashov
- Firdovsi Kerimov
- Malik Mustafayev
Aftermath
After the massacreMassacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
, the defense minister
Minister of Defense (Azerbaijan)
The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan is the Azerbaijani government ministry, associated with the Azerbaijani military. The ministry is responsible for keeping Azerbaijan defended against external threats, preserving its territorial integrity, waging war on behalf of Azerbaijan , and the...
Tajeddin Mehdiyev was fired.
Many letters had been sent to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, OSCE and Red Cross condemning the massacre of Azerbaijani civilians. Members of parliaments of various countries such as the French senator Nathalie Goulet
Nathalie Goulet
Nathalie Goulet is a member of the Senate of France, representing the Orne department. She is a member of the Centrist Union, of the commission of Foreign Affairs and Defense Forces. In the Senate, she supports the cause of Palestinian and Azerbaijanese refugees, and criticizes the repression of...
have been meeting with the survivors of the Garadghly massacre.
Criminal investigation
A criminal investigation was launched in 1992. In 2010, Azerbaijani authorities announced 38 names wanted for crimes against humanity in KhojalyKhojaly Massacre
The Khojaly Massacre was the killing of hundreds of ethnic Azerbaijani civilians from the town of Khojaly on 25–26 February 1992 by the Armenian and Russian armed forces during the Nagorno-Karabakh War...
, Garadaghly, Meshali, Baghanis Ayrum
Baganis Ayrum
Bağanis Ayrum is a village in the Qazakh Rayon of Azerbaijan. The name indicates the presence of Ayrums in the vicinity....
. Six of these names are specifically related to the massacre of civilians in Garadaghly.