Malibeyli and Gushchular Massacre

Malibeyli and Gushchular Massacre
Participants	Armenian irregular armed units
Location	Malibeyli, Ashaghi Gushchular, Yukhari Gushchular villages of Shusha Rayon, Azerbaijan
Date	February 10-12, 1992
Result	15-50 civilians

Malibeyli and Gushchular Massacre (Azerbaijani: Malıbəyli və Quşçular qətliamı) was the killing of over 15-50 (exact number unknown) ethnic Azerbaijani civilians by Armenian irregular armed units in a simultaneous attack on the villages of Malibeyli,^[1] Ashaghi Gushchular, Yukhari Gushchular of Shusha district of Azerbaijan on 10-12 February 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War.^[2]

Helsinki Watch Committee reported violence to civilians, killing of women and children, targeting of civilian structures in Malibeyli and Gushchular by Armenian forces.^[3]

Overview and massacre

Azerbaijani populated villages of Malibeyli and Gushchular (administratively separated as Ashaghi Gushchular and Yukhari Gushchular) of Shusha district of Azerbaijan are located in the highlands of Karabakh region, close to the regional center of Shusha. The villages had a population of nearly 4,000 people and shared the same village administration.^[3] When the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict started, the villages became one of the main targets of attacks by Armenian armed units. Since October 1991, Malibeyli was in complete blockade. ^[4] By the beginning of February 1992, these villages were virtually sieged and frequently shelled by Armenians. According to Human Rights Watch, the villages had a joint defense unit of about 80 people, including 17 policement serving in Gushchular. By February, Azerbaijani defenders had only 5-6 automatic rifles.^[4] Since October of 1991, the residents were confined to their villages and the only way in and out was by helicopters.^[3] The last helicopter to flow into Shusha district was shot down by Armenians on January 28. At midnight on February 10, Armenian armed units reportedly aided by Russian troops stormed Malibeyli village. The women and children from Malibeyli fled to Gushchular village. Villagers of both villages took positions and fought the enemy till 9 am. All roads to nearby towns of Shusha and Khojaly were cut off. The closest village was Abdal Gulbaly of Agdam district and required passing through Armenian held villages. Most of the members of Armenian armed units were Armenian volunteers from Syria, Lebanon, United States, France. They beat and killed captured civilians.^[5][6] The villages were ethnically cleansed and burned.^[4][7][8] From 13 to 50 civilians were massacred in the villages, 15 were taken hostage. A crowd of about 2,000 civilians was able to escape to Agdam passing through a 30 km long path through the mountains.^[4] Occupation of Malibeyli and Gushchular villages took place during the presence of OSCE peacekeeping mission in Karabakh and set Shusha and Khojaly in full blockade.^{[9][10][11][12]}

The massacre at Malibeyli and Gushchular was followed by Garadaghly, Agdaban and Khojaly massacres.^[13]

Famous people

• Alabbas Gara oglu Isgenderov, National Hero of Azerbaijan, who defended Malibeyli but was killed in Qazançı, Agdam in 1992^[14]

See also

• List of massacres in Azerbaijan
• Khojaly Massacre
• Agdaban massacre
• Garadaghly Massacre

References

1. ^ Antero Leitzinger, Caucasus and an unholy alliance, Kirja-Leitzinger, 1997, p. 55
2. ^ Croissant, Michael P. (2006). The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict: causes and implications. Praeger Publishers. p. 78. ISBN 0-275-96241-5. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZeP7OZZswtcC&pg=PA78&dq=Malybeyli&hl=en&ei=m3MPTbXpM6iH4gbQ_YzuBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2010-12-20. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Goldman, Robert K. (1992). Bloodshed in the Caucasus: escalation of the armed conflict in Nagorno Karabakh. Praeger Publishers. pp. 24–27. ISBN 0-275-96241-5. http://books.google.com/books?id=ywAU3VomIpkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Bloodshed+in+Caucasus&hl=en&ei=Mm8PTcmBH96I4ga817SGAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Kalbajar&f=false. Retrieved 2010-12-20. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} "ПРОШЛО 18 ЛЕТ СО ДНЯ ОККУПАЦИИ СЕЛ МАЛЫБЕЙЛИ И ГУШЧУЛАР ШУШИ. ПО ЭТОМУ СЛУЧАЮ СОСТОЯЛАСЬ ЦЕРЕМОНИЯ ПОЧТЕНИЯ ПАМЯТИ ПОГИБШИХ". Azertag. February 11, 2010. http://azertag.gov.az/index_ru.jsp?id=2312&date=2010-02-11&lang=ru. Retrieved December 16, 2010. 
5. ^ "The Armenians beheaded a boy from Shamkir before my very eyes. Testimony of Gushchular resident". http://azerigenocide.org/niyazi.htm. Retrieved December 16, 2010. 
6. ^ "Azerbaijan Association: Bloody February of 1992". http://www.azerbaijanfoundation.az/eng/2010/03/10/voice-of-karabakh-65.html. Retrieved December 16, 2010. 
7. ^ "NATO Academic Forum: Violence in NK area". http://azerigenocide.org/niyazi.htm. Retrieved December 16, 2010. 
8. ^ "История Азербайджана". http://azerbaijan.tourism.az/?/ru/topmenu_content/448/. Retrieved December 16, 2010. 
9. ^ "НЕОБЪЯВЛЕННАЯ ВОЙНА ПРОТИВ АЗЕРБАЙДЖАНА". http://www.supremecourt.gov.az/?mod=2&cat=302&c=1&id=47&lang=ru&t=g. Retrieved December 16, 2010. 
10. ^ "Ходжалы - первоочередная мишень". http://www.president.az/pages/10/print?locale=ru. Retrieved December 16, 2010. 
11. ^ "Ходжалинский геноцид – чудовищная трагедия ХХ века". Novosti Azerbaijan. February 26, 2010. http://www.novosti.az/karabakh/20100226/43298581.html. Retrieved December 16, 2010. 
12. ^ T. Atayev. "Геополитический фон вокруг Карабаха в начале 90-х гг.". Ekho. http://www.echo-az.com/archive/2008_02/1761/istoriya01.shtml. Retrieved December 16, 2010. 
13. ^ S. Ilahmqizi (February 23, 2007). "В связи с 15-й годовщиной Ходжалинской трагедии омбудсмен Азербайджана направила обращение в международные организации". Trend News. http://www.trend.az/news/azerbaijan/874657.html. Retrieved December 16, 2010. 
14. ^ "Qorxubilməz kəşfiyyatçı". http://milliqahraman.az/index/open_full_m.php?id=1217. Retrieved December 16, 2010. 

Coordinates: 39°49′46″N 46°47′36″E / 39.82944°N 46.79333°E / 39.82944; 46.79333