The start of Garabagh war

Armenians foreseeing serious changes in Soviet empire initiated some preparation work. Through 1984-1985 there was published a series of papers and books and held “scientific” conferences aimed to falsify the history of South Caucasus. Widening propagandistic work, Armenians tried to show themselves as if they were the indigenous population of South Caucasus and create the bases for their territorial claims. In pursue to attract the attention to “Armenian problem” some Armenian organizations attempted in 1985 to widely mark the 70^th anniversary of fabricated “genocide”. However the government in Moscow fearing of bringing damage to relations with Turkey, gave permission for holding of these show-like events in Armenia only. A large number of guests were invited from foreign countries and thus Armenians were able to carry out planned propaganda. Coming to power of M.Gorbachov in Moscow in 1985, his outspoken pro-Armenian position and his notorious “perestroika” made a wide playground for aggressive intentions of Armenians. “Garabagh Committee” in Armenia and its affiliate “Krunk” in Daglyg Garabagh started their legal activity, openly voicing territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Envoys arrived from Yerevan to Daglyg Garabagh tried to push forward organizing and propagandistic work. A. Aganbekyan, Armenian academician and advisor of M.Gorbachev  while his interview at the hotel “Intercontinental” in Paris on November 16, 1987, said: “I will be glad if Daglyg Garabagh will be given back to Armenia. As economist I think that they have closer ties with Armenia than Azerbaijan. I have already made my proposal in this issue and I hope that the idea will come true”. This statement became the first official signal for Armenians all over the world to start the attack to Garabagh. The statement of A.Aganbekyan was regarded by Armenians as official position of government in Moscow and let off the leash for higher activity.

Starting from he second half of 1987 Azerbaijani were openly tormented in Armenia and Daglyg Garabagh, forcing them to flee their homes. This was done by local Armenian authorities, militia (police) and illegal armed groups. Local people attempted to resist them were ruthlessly beaten, in some cases even to death. Azerbaijani, which were under the constant threat of death, gradually leaved their native lands and found asylum in Azerbaijan. The first large flow of migrants of four thousand people arrived in 1988 from Gugark region of Armenia. This was the start of “ethnic cleansing” policy implemented by government of Armenia. Based on policy of “ethnic cleansing” Azerbaijani were withdrawn through 1918-1920 and later periods from territories gifted to Armenia by Azerbaijan. Together with implementation of “ethnic cleansing” policy, Armenians made their first political steps. The first meetings to demand separation of Daglyg Garabagh from Azerbaijan were held in January-February of 1988 in Khankendi and Yerevan. On February 13 of 1988 the first meeting in Khankendi was held on Lenin square. On February 20 the authorities of Daglyg Garabagh autonomy sent an official document to Azerbaijani government with a request to annex this territory to Armenia. This was followed by armed attacks and confrontation. Soon after, on February 22 armed Armenians shot Azerbaijani Turks peacefully marching in Askeran in Daglyg Garabagh. 2 young people were killed and 19 people wounded. This bloody act was done by envoys from Armenia and Armenians displayed their interest in armed clashes.

On February 28 the secret services of Yerevan and Moscow organized bloody events in Sumgait. Paruyr Ayrikyan, one of the famous political activists of Armenia, acknowledged that “events in Sumgait were organized by Moscow”. The fact that those events were organized by Moscow was also acknowledged by N.Kryuchkov, the chairman of State Security Committee (KGB) of USSR. Sumgait, located at 30 km distance from Baku, was chosen deliberately. Most of the 4 thousand Azerbaijani Turks forced to flee from their homes in Armenia, found asylum in Sumgait and they were angry because of atrocities of Armenians against them. Even during the Soviet era the population of the city, which was named as “dead zone” was inclined to radical actions due to their poor plight. That is why it became possible to trigger wide-scaled riots there. As a result of riots lasted for a day there were destroyed houses of Armenians, tens of people were injured and 32 people were killed, of these 26 Armenians, 5 Azerbaijani Turks and 1 Lezgin. Documents of investigation held afterwards named Azerbaijani Turk Ahmed Ahmedov and Armenian Eduard Grigoryan as the leaders of riots. The fact that one of the leaders was Armenian makes everything clear. It is also known that almost all Armenians killed were those who refused to pay money to funds of Armenian terrorist organizations. Let us now consider a few facts. L.Mejlumyan, one of the victims of events in Sumgait said: “Grigoryan intruded into my flat, hit my ill mother by a leg of chair, which was broken by him and despite my attempts to stop him, as a woman I was not strong enough to do it, so, he thrown me down and started to do what he wanted”. A young man of a surname Najafov, who participated in those events told to investigators that the “gang organized by Grigoryan intruded in house N 512 of an Armenian woman by name Emma, undressed her and Edik Grigoryan offered to take her out to the street and then the woman was savagely killed. In other part of investigation documents it was indicated that “E.Grigoryan together with his gang intruded into the flat of M.Petrosyan who lived in the first mikroregion, hit him to head to death”. During the events in Sumgait, E. Grigoryan personally killed 5 Armenians and raped 8 Armenian women. There are a number of such facts. Armenian organizations succeeded to protect from punishment of E.Grigoryan, who initiated such serious crimes. The court sentenced Azerbaijani Turk Ahmed Ahmedov to death and the sentence was immediately implemented. E.Grigoryan was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment and in a few years he was freed. These events confirmed once more the famous phrase: “for Armenians the best Armenian is dead Armenian”. Armenians always were able to derive a benefit from their dead or killed compatriots. Armenians also pursued to take an advantage from events in Sumgait for their tricky plans. So, they immediately started activity to represent to international community an incorrect idea about these events and trigger anti-Azerbaijan attitude. On the other hand, Armenian organizations attempted to make confrontation between Azerbaijan and Armenia as irreversible, make it even deeper and brought to zero the perspectives of peaceful resolution.

Armenians continued their terrorist attacks. On March 10 to the south of Yerevan there were killed 4 villagers from a village Mehmandar populated by Azerbaijani Turks. More than 100 houses were put on fire in villages of Ararat region on March 25 and population was forced to flee. In Armenia the attacks to villages populated by Azerbaijani Turks became an ordinary case.

Increasing tension in the region forced the government in Moscow to undertake a series of measures. Additional military units were sent to the conflict zone. At the end of February the number of armed forces of Moscow in Azerbaijan and Armenia reached 13 thousand people. Practically at the same time the first armed groups were formed in the territory of Armenia. These groups subjected to “Committee of Garabagh” operated in Yerevan and created with assistance of international Armenian terrorist organizations. L.Ter-Petrosyan was one of the leaders of this Committee, who later was elected the President of Armenia. Until the summer of 1988 these armed groups turned into well-organized forces, which were supplied by hunting and military weapons. Simultaneously, in rural regions of Armenia along the border there were created the “groups of self-defense”. All these groups were ruled from a single center – leaders of movement of Armenian nationalists.  The body named as “district soviet” in Daglyg Garabagh adopted a decision to separate from Azerbaijan at its meeting held on July 12, 1988. Representatives of Azerbaijani population were not invited to that meeting.

Azerbaijani Turks, which were living in Armenia and Daglyg Garabagh were absolutely undefended in face of Armenian armed groups. Azerbaijani Turks in Daglyg Garabagh were continuously attacked by Armenian groups. In Armenia attacks of Armenian armed groups during November-December of 1988 resulted in deportation of over 250 thousand Azerbaijani Turks from their native lands. All this was accompanied by unseen atrocities against peaceful population. 216 people were killed, including 57 women, 5 babies and 18 children of various ages. In November of 1988 in north-eastern part of Armenia in Vartan village 12 Azerbaijani were burned alive. As a result of policy of “ethnic cleansing” Armenians captured 172 settlements in which Azerbaijani Turks were living by centuries, 8 thousand sq.km of area. Local population which stayed alive was withdrawn by 1992. The last village Nuvedi with Azerbaijani Turks population was devastated on August 8 of 1991. People were forced to flee from their lands under the constant threat of death.

Moral values inherent to Azerbaijani and Armenians were distinctly shown during the earthquake stroke in December of 1988 in Armenia. Immediately after the earthquake, on December 11 a special group flew by air to earthquake area. But the plane, which hurried for help was lead to disaster by control instruction crew of airport in Leninakan. 73 Azerbaijani were killed in a plane crash and only one person survived. No hospital in Armenia took care of that man and he was urgently transported to Baku. French rescuers arrived to help those suffered from earthquake, became eyewitnesses of an awful thing. They found a pipe with welded end from which they extracted 71 corpses of Azerbaijani children. It became known that Armenian bandits on November 12 pushed the children into the pipe and welded its both ends. This happened in front of eyes of Medina Sharifova, the mother of one of the children. The government in Moscow headed by M.Gorbachov supported “ethnic cleansing” and aggressive policy implemented by Armenia and did not hide their interest in strengthening of a country aggressor on expense of Azerbaijan’s territories. Significant role in continuation of events by this scenario belonged to Armenian surrounding of M.Gorbachov. After the earthquake M.Gorbachov arrived to Armenia, held a series of meetings there and criticized the activity of “Committee of Garabagh”. But this criticism left only in words. And despite the fact that immediately after M.Gorbachov’s visit the members of this Committee were imprisoned and sent to Moscow, six months later they were freed and upon return continued their activity.

Along with deportation of Azerbaijani Turks from Armenia, Armenians under various excuses tried to remove the control of Azerbaijan over Daglyg Garabagh. In a short time they succeeded in doing this. On June 24 of 1988 Moscow sent its envoy to Daglyg Garabagh and thus, Arkadiy Volskiy was assigned the “representative of Political Bureau” in the region. On January 12 of 1989 Daglyg Garabagh by decision of M.Gorbachov was withdrawn from the control of Azerbaijan and given directly to subjection of Moscow. To directly rule this region from the center there was established a special body – Special Governing Committee, which was headed by A.Volskiy, who never hided his pro-Armenian position. By this measure Moscow aimed as a next stage to speed up the annexation of Daglyg Garabagh to Armenia. From the first day of his arrival into Garabagh, A.Volskiy supported Armenians, their armed groups and made everything possible to withdraw Azerbaijani Turks from these lands. Moscow also hoped that its open support would prevent Azerbaijan nation from serious resistance and tried to calm down and assure Azerbaijan by false promises. But soon after the enemies understood that they had a mistake.

In Azerbaijan the movement against territorial claims of Armenians started by the people themselves. Several unofficial bodies, social-political organizations were organized. Groups of intelligentsia and patriots initiated demonstrations, marches and other actions. The first demonstration in Baku was on February 19, 1988. Participants marched from Academy of Sciences to the building of Supreme Soviet chanting “Garabagh is ours!” First marches and meetings started in Baku and regions nearby to Daglyg Garabagh intensifying in November of the same year turned into crowded and long-lasting meetings.  Hundreds of thousands people attended the meeting from November 18 to December 5 of 1988 in “Azadlyg” square in Baku had expressed the will of the nation. Meeting was mercilessly scattered by the Soviet Army at night from December 4^th to 5^th, hundreds of people were wounded and thousands were taken to prison. But it was impossible to break the will of the nation. People demanded to stop aggressive, occupation policy of Armenia and struggled in organized manner. The People’s Front of Azerbaijan (PFA) has been established on July 16 of 1989 and became the most organized structure. Abulfaz Elchibey was elected the chairman of PFA, some renown representatives of intelligentsia, young scientists entered into governing body of the movement. PFA organized national resistance and sent groups of volunteers to war zone. Groups of self-defense in regions nearby to battle zones were created mainly by regional sections of PFA. Uniting also other informal organizations and carrying out wide agitation and propaganda the PFA used any possible mean to unmask the aggressive policy of Armenia and anti-Azerbaijan position of Moscow.

In early January of 1990 Armenian side bombarded from air the villages of Geranboy region situated nearby to the north border of Daglyg Garabagh. For this for the first time they had used civil helicopter MI-8 equipped by weapons. Armenian attacks increased the tension in the area. In order to defend civil population, PFA established the Soviet for National Security, which involved groups of volunteers across the territory of Ganja-Khanlar. On January 11 several armed clashes took place in Geranboy region. This resulted in imposing of curfew by Moscow in Daglyg Garabagh and surrounding regions. During the same period there were armed clashes in Nakchyvan portion of border between Azerbaijan and Armenia. On January 18 the village Kerki of Nakhchyvan Autonomous Republic was captured by armed forces of Armenia. Simultaneously to battles in Garabagh and Nakhchyvan the political crisis in Azerbaijan became even deeper. Government in Baku was almost paralyzed. In some south regions the power underwent to local sections of PFA. December 29, 1989 the Soviet rule was overthrown in Jalilabad and on January 11, 1990 in Lenkaran. 137 km border zone with Iran was opened at the end of 1989-start of 1990, engineering-technical constructions were destroyed. In Baku and other large cities there were actions of civil disobedience and activity of major government structures and military units was suspended. Hatred to Soviet empire in Azerbaijan reached its highest point. There were demands to put to end the rule of Moscow which supported aggressive policy of Armenia.

Moscow being aware that it may lost the control over Azerbaijan decided to use force and punish the people. Through January 16-19 of 1990 Moscow had accumulated army units of over than 50 thousand militants in surroundings of Baku. These forces were formed by military districts of Trans-Caucasus, Moscow, Leningrad, Military Navy, internal forces of Ministry of Internal Affairs and other military units.

At night from January 19^th to 20^th the troops entered Baku. Civil population protested to interference of Soviet troops was mercilessly shot from all types of weapons. According to data, which are not considered accurate up to now, as a result of this bloodshed there were killed 131 people and over 800 wounded. Simultaneously with bloody events in Baku, Moscow sent 2 motorized infantry divisions to border with Iran and 2 special divisions to Daglyg Garabagh. Curfew was imposed in Baku, Garabagh and Nakhchyvan, in western and south regions of the country. These bloody events entered into the history under the name “Black January”. Collapsing Soviet empire had made its last crimes with an exclusive cruelty. As a result of these measures of punishment by Soviet Army the potential of Azerbaijan to fight with aggressor Armenia was restricted. In near battle zones of Azerbaijan all rifles, even arms used for military preparation at schools were confiscated from population.

Armenia took an advantage from the situation. December 1, 1989 the Supreme Soviet of Armenia and so called “National Soviet” established in Daglyg Garabagh adopted a joint resolution. The resolution stated that they are “announcing uniting of Armenian SSR and Daglyg Garabagh and starting from this moment the population of Daglyg Garabagh possesses all rights of citizens of Armenian SSR”. Armenia did not hide its occupation incentives and continued wide preparation works. Curfew was not imposed in Armenia. So, Armenian military units of Ministry of Internal Affairs, Security Services, Firefighters, divisions of anti-missile units, military departments of High Schools and other education centers captured all available weapons and ammunition. During January-February of 1990 there were captured 6179 automatic weapons, 19 armored vehicles,133 anti-Grad and 17 anti-missile units, 3 mine throwers, 13 thousand shells and missiles, 1921 tons of explosives, transportation and communication means in a large amount. Armed bands of Armenians under the direct patronage of local government bodies starting from March attacked army units subordinated to Moscow and took off weaponry. At one of railway stations they captured 15 tanks T-72. In March these armed units fulfilled devastating attacks to Gazakh, Tovuz, Gedabek, Nakhchyvan and other border areas. In the mid 1990-ies armed units in Armenia involved 15 thousand people. Of these 10 thousand were within Armenian National Army (ANA), which was mainly deployed in border zones and Daglyg Garabagh. Some political organizations, such as Armenian National Movement and Dashnaktsytun had their own armed units. Such relatively small units as Mush, NART, Adana, Aydat, Tigran Mets consisted of 50 to 700 fighters. These armed units had up to 30 armored vehicles, up to 150 anti-missile units, tens of mine throwers, over 20 helicopters MI-4 and MI-8. Armed forces generally were under the control of opposition and the government did not create any hurdles to forming of these units. In summer of 1990, when opposition took over the rule, these armed forces were given a legal status, i.e. they continued their activity as armed forces of Armenia.

New government under the leadership of L.Ter-Petrosyan did not cover its aggression plans. In 1990 Armenian National Army intensified its military actions in north-west part of border with Azerbaijan. On March 24 and August 20 of the same year Armenian fighters twice attacked village Baganis Ayrim in Gazakh region and put on fire many houses. 5 members of family of Dadash Asliyev were burnt in their own house. Thus, the first village of Gazakh region was captured. At the same time they started to bomb other frontier villages of Gazakh and Tovuz regions. Such wide-scaled operations of Armenians caused concern of officials of Moscow’s armed forces deployed in the region. So, immediately fulfilled counter-operations had resulted in huge losses by Armenian military units. President L.Ter-Petrosyan took an advantage from depression developed in Armenian National Army. In most cases this army demonstrated insubordination and caused a threat even for Presidential power. Making an excuse by defeat of ANA, L.Ter-Petrosyan announced curfew in Yerevan, dismissed military units, neutralized their officers and joined the ranks to Armenian National Movement, which he ruled by himself. Thus, formally being within the Soviet empire, Armenia in fact had its independent policy and formed its independent army.

At the start of 1991 the government of Armenia made a few political decisions, which were not previously discussed to Moscow. It was scheduled to hold referendum on March 17 of 1991 and devoted to issue of preserving of USSR on the basis of new union agreement. Azerbaijan’s government agreed to hold the referendum, while Armenia and 5 other former republics of union had boycotted it. So, the Kremlin undertook several steps to punish Armenia and gain it back into the area of its influence. Troops of Ministry of Defense and Internal Affairs of Soviet empire, as well as OMON (Units of Militia of Special Designation) of Azerbaijan entered the base regions of Armenia. 3 thousand soldiers and officers were within Azerbaijan’s OMON and the responsibility for holding an operation was mainly with them. As a result of operation continued from April 30 to May 15 there were liquidated several Armenian bases in directions of Chaykend (Getashen), Garabulaq (Martunashen) and Hadrut. A large number of military was killed, including 11 staff members of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia. But Moscow stopped the operation in a shot time and liquidation of bases was not completed. In July OMON of Azerbaijan on its own moved deep into Geranboy region. After heavy battles the enemy was thrown back from bases of Manashid, Buzlug and Erkedj. After military operations in spring-summer of 1991 Armenians put aside most of their radical demands. On July 19 the District Soviet made a decision for transition from “confrontation to policy of dialog and negotiations”. During that period Armenians stated that in exchange for withdrawal of troops from Daglyg Garabagh they terminate their decision to separate from Azerbaijan. Delegation headed by party functionary Valeriy Grigoryan arrived to Baku from Khankendi and on July 20 there was a meeting with group of V.Grigoryan in Baku. The appeal submitted by the group said that they were ready to hold negotiations based on Constitution of USSR and Azerbaijan SSR. It meant that Daglyg Garabagh stayed within Azerbaijan. But after the return of delegation to Khankendi, on August 10, V.Grigoryan was killed. Simultaneously with these events, on July 20 L.Ter-Petrosyan met to M.Gorbachov in Novo-Ogarev and agreed to make compromise in issue of new union agreement.

Deepening political crisis in leadership of Soviet empire and coup d’etat in the August 1991 seriously changed situation. Moscow lost the control over provinces. At the end of August armed forces in Daglyg Garabagh became uncontrolled, most of commanders were corrupted by Armenian armed groups. Under these conditions Armenia intensified its activity in Daglyg Garabagh. On September 2 there was announced the establishment of so called “Daglyg Garabagh Republic” (DGR). Armenia in aim to mask the fact of occupation had brought to arena this “structure”. 15 thousand Armenian armed groups deployed on these territories were united under the name “Forces of self-defense of Daglyg Garbagh Republic”. Later they were named as “Army of defense of DGR”. Azerbaijan in its response to Armenia’s manipulations with “independence” of Daglyg Garabagh adopted on November 26 a decision on liquidation of autonomy of this region.

In mid September of 1991 Armenians started their offense in western part of Geranboy region and occupied several new settlements. In October  they commenced large-scaled operations to withdraw Azerbaijani from Daglyg Garabagh. On October 28 Armenians attacked settlements in Khojavend (Martuni) region. From November 16 the battles moved to territory of Gadrut region. As a result of these attacks Armenian armed forces occupied most villages of Daglyg Garabagh with Azerbaijani population.

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