The Genocides and Emigration Azerbaijan Faced
More than 20% of Azerbaijan’s territories were occupied and more than one million people had to live with immigrant status during the Azerbaijan – Armenian War which started in 1988. More than one million people in Azerbaijan, a country with population of eight million, are in the status of immigrant. In other words, one person in every eight people is an immigrant in Azerbaijan. According to the figures regarding to the division of the immigrant population to the total population, Azerbaijan is the country which hosts the most immigrants in its own territory. %20 of Azerbaijan’s territories was occupied by the Armenians and %13 of the population has to live with the immigrant status within their historical homeland.
The first planned emigration and genocide against Azerbaijani Turks took place during 1905-1907 by Armenians in order to establish the “Great Armenia”. Afterwards, during 1918-1920 Azerbaijani Turks had to move from their territories by force for the second time. During the USSR era, in 1948-1953, approximately 150 thousand Azerbaijani Turks living in Armenia faced “great migration” and had to leave their homeland for the third time. The last emigration and genocide took place in front of the modern world, starting from the 1988 fights.
The problem of Nagorno Karabakh which turned into an armed conflict in 1988, extended outside the boundaries of the region. Gained victories allowed Armenians to enter into the deeper regions of Azerbaijan. Consequently, 20% of the Azerbaijani territory is occupied by the Armenian Armed Forces. During this occupation more than 20 thousand Azerbaijani citizens were killed. (Some writers, regarding to this issue, state that during 1988-1994 more than 35 thousand people died from both sides) More than 20 thousand people were injured, 50 thousand people has been disabled and 5101 Azerbaijani Turks were lost or/and captured. 66% of the captured Azerbaijani Turks is children. As one or more members from the Azerbaijani families died during the war, 7737 families received “martyr family” status. 1/3 of the Azerbaijani population was affected from the Nagorno Karabakh problem directly or indirectly. Because of the social, economic and political problems caused by the Nagorno Karabakh problem, citizens all over the country are affected.
Cost of the War
Armenian occupation in Azerbaijan resulted with a significant amount of economic loss which is calculated as 60 billion dollars. Because of this loss, in this specific region of Azerbaijan, approximately 7000 establishments including industrial and agricultural establishments were closed. These establishments were providing the 24% of the grain revenues, 41% of the alcohol production, 46% of the potato growth, 18% of the meat production and 34% of the milk production of the country’s economy. In addition, 616 schools, 242 nurseries, 683 libraries, more than 464 historical monuments and museums, 695 hospitals, clinics and health care centers, 724 residential villages have been occupied in the region. Besides from the occupation of this region, country’s ecological system is also significantly damaged and forests in the region were destroyed.
Occupied Territories in Azerbaijan
In 1988, Azerbaijan-Armenian problem turned into an armed conflict and after a short period, this armed conflict resulted with a regional war among these two countries. During this war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani territory including 890 rayons, villages, towns and settlements and the complete Nagorno Karabakh starting from 1988 until May, 12 1994, the day of the cease-fire. In Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijanis inhabited 2 cities, 1 village and 53 towns.
Armenian Armed Forces occupied;
Esregan-Hadrut in 1991,
Hocavend in February 18, 1992,
Hocali in February 25, 1992,
Şuşa in February 26, 1992,
Laçin in May 18, 1992,
Kelbecer in April 4, 1993,
Ağdam in July 23, 1993,
Fuzuli in August 24, 1993,
Zengilan in October 27, 1993,
Cebrayil in August 26, 1993,
Gubadlı in August 31, 1993.
Among the occupied territories, as a total of 676000 individuals; 192300 individuals from the Upper Karabakh with a total land area of 4388 km2, 59200 individuals from the Lacin (1835 km2), 29.500 individuals from the Şuşa (970 km2), 50500 individuals from the Kelbecer (1936 km2), 158.000 individuals from Ağdam (1093 km2), 100000 individuals from the Fuzuli (1386 km2), 51600 individuals from the Cebrayil (1059 km2), 30300 individuals from the Gubatlı (802 km2) and 33900 individuals from the Zengilan settlements had to leave their homelands and live in tents in the inner parts of Azerbaijan.
Historical monuments were destroyed, nature and environment was destroyed in the occupied Nagorno Karabakh and the cities around it. Significant damage was given to the environment and the civilian life during the Nagorno Karabakh war. However, the incidents happened in the Hocali village during the war cannot even fit into the definition of war and can be considered as a genocide.
The Location Genocide Took Place: Karabakh
Hocali town, one of the most important hills of the Upper Karabakh region, was a strategic military target for the Armenian Armed Forces. Strategically, Hocali was settled on the Ağdam-Şuşa, Eskeran-Hankendi routes on the Karabakh Mountain ranges. Geo-strategic position of the Hocali was suitable for the Armenian Armed Forces to attack here. Hocali is located 10 km southeast of the Hankendi. The only airport in the Karabakh region is located in Hocali.
Hocali was under blockade starting from October 1991. On October 30, transportation by land was blocked and the only transportation vehicles left were the helicopters. The last helicopter landed Hocali on January 28, 1992. Following the death of 40 people because of the shot of the civil helicopters over Şuşe, this way of transportation was also blocked. Starting from the January 2, no electricity was given to the town. Starting from the second half of February, Armenian Armed Forces imposed a blockade to Hocali and each day they bombed the town with cannons and heavy machine guns.
Hocali, a town with 936 km2 land area and a population of 11356 consisting of 2605 families, exposed to the century’s most brutal genocide and the town has been completely destroyed. During this massacre, Hocali was not under the protection of Azerbaijani Armed Forces and the town was in a completely vulnerable situation. There were 150 person with small arms scattered around Hocali. For a long time, Azerbaijani Armed Forces were not able to help Hocali community, and it took even longer to remove the corpses.
Armenian Armed Forces surrounded the town from three directions. They bombed the town with the support of helicopters and heavy weapons. Afterwards, they entered the town for a massacre. Armenians wanted to give a message to the region people by occupying this town. Indeed, the given message was too crucial for the Azerbaijani Turks. With the occupation and almost destruction of the Hocali, disengagement in the region has accelerated. Besides, this move was considered as a major military success because of its strategic importance. However, the most brutal genocide of the history of the mankind took place. On the other hand, this incident was a revenge of the 1915 events they were claiming.
What Has Happened in Karabakh?
On the night of the 25th of February connecting to the 26th, after closing the entry and exit of the Hocali town with the support of 366th Regiment in the region, Armenian Armed Forces murdered 613 people according to the official figures without distinguishing civilians, women, children and elderly people. 83 of them were children, 106 of them were women and more than 7 of them were elderly people. Normally, even in the most intense wars, this group was held outside the war, but Armenians brutally tortured and murdered even the elderly, women and children. From this massacre a total of 487 seriously injured people were survived. 1275 people taken as hostages and 150 people were lost. Examination on the bodies proved that most of the bodies were burnt, eyes were cut out, body parts including the ears, noses and heads were cut off. Even the pregnant women and children faced the same violence.
Karabakh Genocide in the Western Press
- Krua l’Eveneman Magazine (Paris), February 25, 1992: The Armenians attacked Hocali. The whole world was witness to the bodies savagely murdered. Azeri are talking about the death of thousands.
- Sunday Times Newspaper (London), March 1, 1992: Armenian soldiers destroyed thousands of families.
- Financial Times Newspaper (London), March 9, 1992: Armenians shoot the army heading to Ağdam. Azeri counted approximately 1200 bodies. Lebanese cameraman confirmed that the wealthy Armenian Dashnak lobby sends weapons and troops to Karabakh.
- Times Newspaper (London), March 4, 1992: A lot of people have taken terrible conditions, an innocent girl’s head was left only.
- Izvestiya Newspaper (Moscow) March 4, 1992: The camera showed children whose ears were cut off. A woman’s face was cut in half. Men’s scalps were skinned.
- Le Monde Newspaper (Paris) March 14, 1992: The press on the Ağdam has seen women and children whose scalps were skinned among the murders in Hocali. They saw three people whose nails were removed.This is not an Azeri propaganda, this is a fact.
- İzvestiya Newspaper (Moscow) March 13, 1992: Major Leonid Kravets: “I was approximately one hundred corpses on the hill. One boy was headless. Everywhere was full of women, children and elderly who was tortured and murdered.”
- Valer Actuel Magazine (Paris) March 14, 1992: In this “autonomous region” Armenian Armed Forces had new technology and helicopters manufactured in the Near East. ASALA had military camps and weapon storages in Syria and Lebanon. Armenians attacked more than one hundred Muslim towns and murdered Azerbaijanis in Karabakh.
- R. Patrik, British Journalist (had been in the scene of crime): “The brutality in Hocali cannot be justified in the public!!!”
- Golos Ukraini: V Stacko: War has no face. There are only lots of masks, bloody tears, death, unhappiness, destruction. Why did they murder babies in Hocali, or the mothers? When the God wants to punish the people, he gets people’s mind.
- Nie Newspaper, Violetta Parvanova (Bulgaria): “Hocali is the tragedy of mankind.”
- March 3, 1992, BBC Morning News, 7.37 broadcast announced the situation as follows: “Our journalist mentioned he has seen more than 100 Azeri men, women and children, including the babies. They are murdered by close range head shot.”
- March 16, 1992, Newsweek, the article presented by Pascal Privat and Steve Le Vine: “Last week, Azerbaijan was again like a basement of a morgue; dozens of corpses brought to temporary morgue established in the back of a mosque, and mourning refugees. They were the Azeri residents of the Hocali town of Upper Karabakh, which is occupied by Armenian troops on February 25 and 26. Most of them were shot from close range while they were trying to escape, others had shattered faces, and some of them had skinned scalps and faces…”
- Human Rights Watch: Hocali massacre is characterized as the most comprehensive civilian slaughter since the occupation of Karabakh.
- American Journalist Thomas Goltz: “My photographer friend was so affected; I had to push him over the objects in order for him to take pictures. Bodies, graves; yes, they all required a stomach. But we had to tell the world what happened. We found the ones who are alive and immediately inscribed what they said. I tried to identify the bodies, but there were the ones who were shot in the face and cannot be recognized. Some of the bodies’ scalps were skinned.”
- Armenian Journalist who witnessed the Hocali massacre and later settled in Beirut, Daud Kheyriyan, From his book ‘For the Sake of the Cross’ (p. 62-63), describes the violence as follows: “…The Armenian group called Gaflan, which is responsible from burning of the dead, brought and pile up 100 Azeri bodies to 1 km west of Hocali on March 2. In the last truck, I saw a 10 year old girl. She was injured from her head and hands. Her face was livid. Despite the cold, hunger and injuries, she was still alive. She was breathing hardly. There was the fear of death in her eyes. At that moment, a soldier called Tigranyan held her and threw her on top of other bodies. Then they have burnt all the bodies. I thought I heard a screaming among the burning bodies. There was nothing I can do. I went back to Şuşa. They have continued fighting for the sake of the Cross.”
International Reactions
International organizations such as UN, EU did not show the necessary importance to this massacre which took place in front of the whole world. During April-November 1993, United Nations Security Council adopted 822, 853, 874 and 884 numbered decisions. These decisions stated that Azerbaijani territories are occupied by Armenians. So far, no effort was showed in order to end the occupation. European Council Parliamentary Assembly stated that Azerbaijani territories are still under Armenian occupation with its 1416 numbered decision on January 25, 2005. UN and Western countries stayed as audiences to the massacre and occupations of Armenians and they have not showed a significant reaction. Following the May 1992 attacks of Armenia to Naxcivan, Turkey mentioned that she can intervene in order to protect the region in accordance with the 1921 Kars Agreement.
On May 7, 2003, “Vatan” (Homeland) organization which represents the Azeri people living in England sent a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation Committee. According to the reply, British Government stated that they are analyzing the Hocali massacre multilaterally and they are considering the Armenian massacre as a “crime against humanity.”
Also, the USA Congress International Relations Commissioner Don Barton invited the Congress to recognize ‘Hocali genocide’. In his speech in the Representative Council he stated “All the nations in the world should know and remember this. By recognizing Hocali genocide, USA Congress will break the long silence of the international community on this issue.”
In 1994, a cease-fire was declared between the two sides.
To Accept Karabakh Massacre as Genocide
The massacre in the Upper Karabakh region of Azerbaijan on February 26, 1992, overlaps with the international community’s crime definition of the genocide and the definitions of crimes against humanity.
The things Armenians and their supporters who participated in the Hocali genocide did are a genocide which is against human rights, international law agreements including Geneva Convention, Agreement on Human Rights Declaration, Citizen and Political Rights, Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict.
Besides, Hocali genocide is parallel to the definition of genocide in the second article of the ‘United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime Genocide’ which is accepted on December 9, 1948 and ratified on January 12, 1951 stating “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial o religious group”. The massacre took place in Hocali by Armenians is parallel to the UN Genocide Convention’s second article’s first two clauses over five. According to this article, to implement one of the five activities is enough for genocide to take place. The Hocali genocide matches with the related articles a clause which states “killing member of the group” and b clause which states “causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group”.
Besides, Hocali massacre shall be taken into consideration in accordance with the crimes against humanity which is defined Article 6 and Clause C of the Foundation Act and Court Decision of prestigious Nürnberg Court’s.
In Hocali a crime was committed according to the war crimes and other crimes, and also basic international documents.
What Should Be Done Regarding to the Hocali Genocide?
Bearing in mind the fact that the incidents took place in Hocali is characterized as genocide, the things should be done are mentioned as follows:
What Should Azerbaijan Do?
Azerbaijan should start the legal procedures regarding to the recognition of the massacre which take place in the Hocali town of the Upper Karabakh region as genocide in the international community. Azerbaijan government should apply to the International Court of Justice and file a claim in regard with the UN Genocide Convention which is accepted on December 9, 1948. In accordance with the necessary evidences all the political actors and military commanders participated in the Hocali Genocide, including the current President of Armenia, Robert Koçaryan and the Minister of Defense and the strong candidate of the future presidency Serj Sarkisyan, should be clearly specified and asked for their punishment. As both Armenia (in 1993) and Azerbaijan (in 1996) signed the UN Genocide Convention, they are bounded with the Convention. For example, Bosnia Herzigovina applied to this court and requested the adjudication of the former Yugoslavia President Slobadan Milosevic. During the trial, International Court of Justice judged Milosevic because of the slaughter of 7000 Bosnians in Srebrenitsa in 1995 and considered this slaughter as genocide.
On the other hand, Azerbaijan should use petrol trump card effectively in the Hocali issue and in other problems with Armenia.
What Should Republic of Turkey Do?
Azerbaijan Parliament recognized the massacre took place in Hocali in 1994 as genocide. Turkish Parliament should also do the same, and recognize this violence which has all the necessary information and documents as genocide. Furthermore, in coordination with Azerbaijan, Turkey should carry this topic to the international agenda and this issue should be seen as a strong argument regarding to the Armenian problem.
Ankara’s Keçiören Municipality recognized the tragic incidents in Hocali as “genocide” on March 9, 2005 and built a genocide monument. Other local governments, civil society organization and universities should also do the same.
What Should Turkish and Azeri Civil Society Organizations and Individuals Do?
Turkey and Azerbaijan should encourage individual Turks from all over the world to press a charge collectively to the Hague International Court of Justice. Especially, our brothers who lost their relatives and suffered a loss in Hocali should be encouraged to do so.
Civil Society Organization with resources and businessmen should facilitate the establishment of an institute in one of the European countries. Through this institution, issues should be evaluated on a scientific basis and further activities should be directed.
Scientific research should be supported in order to analyze the facts behind the Hocali genocide, Karabakh problem and in order to establish a set in front of the so-called Armenian genocide claims. Translation of research into foreign languages and publication of the works should be encouraged.
On the eve of the February 26, exhibitions should be organized around the world in order to describe the facts about Hocali genocide and Karabakh reality.
Azerbaijan National Assembly (Parliament) recognized February 26 as the “Hocali Genocide Day”. Every year on the 26th of February at 17.00 Azerbaijan public organizes a memorial ceremony for the victims of the Hocali genocide. These ceremonies should be coordinated all around the world.
Besides from explaining the Hocali genocide to our own people (especially to the ones who say “We are Armenians”), we should support this issue to be on the global agenda by publishing books in foreign countries and opening exhibitions. Besides from this, we have to keep this issue constantly on the agenda and we should share and distribute documents, articles and information regarding the issue.
Expressions of the Hocali(Karabakh) Genocide Witnesses
Cemil Cümşüdoğlı Memmedov: I went to Nehçivanik town to tell Armenians to have mercy for my grandchild. They have insulted me and sent me to their commander. He ordered us to be imprisoned. There were many women, girl and boy there. Then they brought us to Askeran. My wife, daughter and brother-in-law were there too. They removed our nails. Black people were kicking my face, jumping into air. I never heard from my wife, daughter and grandson.
Seriye Talibova: In front of my eyes, they cut the throats of 4 Mesket Turks, and 3 of my neighbors next to the grave of an Armenian soldier. Armenians tortured and killed children in front of their parents. Afterwards, they tip the corpses to the river by bulldozers.
Cemal Allahverdioğlu Orucov: They shot my 16-year-old son. They killed my 23-year-old daughter, her twin sons and my 18-year-old pregnant daughter.
Hatice Abdullayeva: My father, mother and 16-year-old sister were unable to withstand the cold after staying barefoot in the forest. I was held captive. They replaced me with a Dashnak prisoner. Now, I am deprived from my both feet.
Mirza Allahverdiyev: We ran to the forest after the attack of the Armenians. We have to stay with no water and food for three days there. In the evening of the February 28, they surrounded us. They sent us to death cells in Askeran. Each day, they took a few people and murdered them. They removed my golden teeth with pliers. They murdered my father, two siblings and my brother’s sons.
Nesibe Aliyeva: When we left the forest, Armenians start opening fire. They were 40 people. They murdered 26 people including my husband and my son.
Hatica Orucova: I was 8 years old. In front of my eyes, they murdered my father, my mother, my 6-year-old sister by shooting. Gunfire also came to me.
Muhammed Orucov: Armenians separated 10-13-15 year old girls among the prisoners and took them.
Cemil Memmedov: The tanks and armored carriers going to the town were demolishing houses and crushing people.
Taliboc Samed: They were murdering the ones immediately who raise their voices against the tortures. I will never forget the horror I faced during the imprisonment.
From the Doctor Reports
Following the genocide, analyzes took place over the bodies. Here are some cases from the doctor reports:
Orucov Telinan Enveroğlu: His scalp was skinned,
Abdülov Yelmar Enveroğlu: His scalp was skinned,
Aliekberov Tevekkül İskenderoğlu: He was died on the Nahçivanık road with a gun bullet, there is 10 stab wounds on the body.
Hasanova Fitat Ehedkızı: He was raped, his eyes were removed.
Hasanova Gülçohre Yakupkızı: There are gun wounds in his chest and stomach. His left hand was cut off from the wrist.
Hasanov Şohlet Usuboğlu: There is gun wound in his chest; his upper parts are cut off.
Selimov Bahadir Mikayiloglu: He was burnt on the Nahçivanik road, his sexual organs were cut off, his eyes were removed.
Abışov Ali Abdüloğlu: He was beaten with a crushing instrument; most of his bones were broken.
Aslanov İkbal Kuluoğlu: His sexual organs were cut off and burnt.
Sahip: A tank passed over his body.
Nuraliyeva Dilara Oruçgızı: Her eyes and breasts were cut off.
Abbasov Taleh Umidvaroğlu: His ears were cut off after his death.
Abişova Meruze Muhammedkızı: Her eyes were removed; her nipples and nose were cut off.
Kerimov Sarman Sultanoğlu: He was tortured by a bottle. His eyes were removed after his death.
Kerimova Firengül Muhammedkızı: Her body was chopped completely, her eyes were removed, her ears and breasts were cut off.
Kerimov Frunz Salmanoğlu: He was burnt alive.
Selimov Araz Bahaduroğlu: He was captured alive; he was beaten to death in front of his small child.
Hüseyinov Allahverdi Kuluoğlu: He was 88, he burnt alive.
İmam Agyar Salmanoğlu: This 3-year-old boy was murdered by burning.
Bedelov Tevfik: Violent things were done over his body, his ears were cut off and his eyes were removed.
Ferzeliyev Canan Binnetoğlu: He was burnt.
Mehmedova Tamara Selimkızı: Her eyes were removed, her breasts were cut off.
Nuriyev Hafiz Yusufoğlu: His hands were attached to a wire and his head was cut off.
Anonymous: His head and upper lip were cut off.
Anonymous: His scalp was skinned.
In front of these facts, every individual from all Turkish nations should work voluntarily and programmatically in order to introduce this violence as genocide. By this way, we will be able to pay our debts to the victims of the genocide. On the other hand, after learning these facts, we hope the groups which state that they are “Armenians” (Hepimiz Ermeniyiz), will stop being “Armenian” who tortured and killed prisoners including children.
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