Malibeyli and Gushchular Massacre
Encyclopedia
Malibeyli and Gushchular Massacre 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, Ashaghi Gushchular
, Yukhari Gushchular
of Shusha district of Azerbaijan
on 10-12 February 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War
.
Helsinki Watch Committee
reported violence to civilians, killing of women and children, targeting of civilian structures in Malibeyli and Gushchular by Armenian forces.
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. 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. 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. Since October of 1991, the residents were confined to their villages and the only way in and out was by helicopters. 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. The villages were ethnically cleansed and burned. 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. 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.
The massacre
at Malibeyli and Gushchular was followed by Garadaghly
, Agdaban
and Khojaly massacres
.
Asagi Qusçular
Aşağı Quşçular is a village in the Shusha Rayon of Azerbaijan....
, Yukhari Gushchular
Yuxari Qusçular
Yuxarı Quşçular is a village in the Shusha Rayon of Azerbaijan....
of Shusha district of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
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...
on 10-12 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...
.
Helsinki Watch Committee
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
reported violence to civilians, killing of women and children, targeting of civilian structures in Malibeyli and Gushchular by Armenian forces.
Overview and massacre
AzerbaijaniAzerbaijani people
The Azerbaijanis are a Turkic-speaking people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in the neighbourhood states, Georgia, Russia and formerly Armenia. Commonly referred to as Azeris or Azerbaijani Turks , they also live in a wider area from the Caucasus to...
populated villages of Malibeyli and Gushchular (administratively separated as Ashaghi Gushchular and Yukhari Gushchular) of Shusha district of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
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...
are located in the highlands of Karabakh region, close to the regional center of Shusha
Shusha
Shusha , also known as Shushi is a town in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus. It has been under the control of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic since its capture in 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War...
. The villages had a population of nearly 4,000 people and shared the same village administration. 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. 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. Since October of 1991, the residents were confined to their villages and the only way in and out was by helicopters. The last helicopter to flow into Shusha district was shot down by Armenians on January 28
1992 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown
On January 28, 1992 the Azerbaijani transport helicopter Mil Mi-8 was reportedly shot down by a heat-seeking missile near the Azerbaijani town of Shusha....
. 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
Abdal, Azerbaijan
-External links:*...
of Agdam district and required passing through Armenian held villages. Most of the members of Armenian armed units were Armenian volunteers from Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. They beat and killed captured civilians. The villages were ethnically cleansed and burned. 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. 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.
The massacre
Massacre
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...
at Malibeyli and Gushchular was followed by Garadaghly
Garadaghly Massacre
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.-Overview:Garadaghly is a village in Khojavend...
, Agdaban
Agdaban massacre
Agdaban massacre was the killing and forced displacement of Azerbaijani civilians by Armenian forces in the village of Agdaban on 8 April 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War....
and Khojaly massacres
Khojaly 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...
.
Famous people
- Alabbas Gara oglu Isgenderov, National Hero of Azerbaijan, who defended Malibeyli but was killed in Qazançı, AgdamQazançi, AgdamQazançı is a village in the Agdam Rayon of Azerbaijan....
in 1992
See also
- List of massacres in Azerbaijan
- Khojaly MassacreKhojaly MassacreThe 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...
- Agdaban massacreAgdaban massacreAgdaban massacre was the killing and forced displacement of Azerbaijani civilians by Armenian forces in the village of Agdaban on 8 April 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War....
- Garadaghly MassacreGaradaghly MassacreGaradaghly 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.-Overview:Garadaghly is a village in Khojavend...