Dark days in Karabakh: 33 years since the Khojaly massacre

Children’s eyes were gouged out, pregnant women’s bellies were ripped open, people’s scalps were peeled off while still alive—countless atrocities were committed. No one was spared—not women, not children, not the elderly. Innocent people were mercilessly slaughtered. February 26 marks 33 years since hundreds of Azerbaijanis in Karabakh fell victim to one of the most horrific massacres in history. Below, we revisit the bloodstained history of this town, situated in one of the most conflict-ridden regions among the post-Soviet states.  

                                  Pretext for genocide

Karabakh has long been the epicenter of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, a struggle that escalated dramatically on the eve of the Soviet Union’s collapse. Before these events, Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan. However, the ethnic dominance of Armenians in the region was viewed by Yerevan as justification for annexation. According to the 1926 census, Armenians made up nearly 90 percent of the population in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, which had been established by Soviet authorities. By 1939, the demographic balance remained largely unchanged, with 133,000 Armenians and only 14,000 Azerbaijanis. However, by 1979, the number of Azerbaijanis had risen to nearly 38,000 due to migration, while the Armenian population had declined slightly to 130,000. Despite this shift, Armenians retained a numerical advantage. This demographic reality, coupled with rising nationalist sentiments, set the stage for bloodshed in Karabakh. Armenian political factions and their allies abroad began executing their long-planned strategy as the Soviet Union neared its collapse. The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was disregarded entirely.  

                                    Road to tragedy

The path to the Khojaly massacre was paved in the late 1980s, when sweeping changes began reshaping the Soviet Union. After Mikhail Gorbachev came to power, the policies of "Openness" (Glasnost) and "Restructuring" (Perestroika) were introduced. Previously suppressed socio-economic grievances surfaced, and in 1987, the Armenian population of Karabakh began voicing their discontent. Nationalist groups in Karabakh and Yerevan quickly seized the opportunity to push their agenda. In November 1987, Gorbachev’s economic advisor, Abel Aganbegyan, an Armenian, visited France, where he claimed that Gorbachev had agreed to transfer Karabakh to Armenia. This statement, published in the French communist newspaper "L’Humanité", became global news.  

As the USSR neared its disintegration, Armenian nationalist groups abroad increased financial and logistical support for organizations such as "Krunk," "Miasum," and the "Karabakh Committee." On February 18, 1988, Gorbachev’s decision to address the national question further exacerbated tensions. Two days later, on February 20, Armenian deputies of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast’s Supreme Council, who comprised 110 of 140 members, barred Azerbaijani deputies from the session and unilaterally passed a resolution seeking Karabakh’s transfer to Armenia. From that moment, the situation spiraled. As the Soviet Union crumbled, territorial disputes across its former republics erupted into violence. Armenia saw an opportunity and waited for the right moment to strike. 

On December 8, 1991, history was made—the Soviet Union ceased to exist as a subject of international law. While many former Soviet republics celebrated newfound independence, Azerbaijan faced growing uncertainty. Just two days later, the Karabakh Autonomous Administration announced a referendum on independence. At that time, Azerbaijanis comprised only 21 percent of the population in Karabakh, making the outcome predictable. As expected, the so-called “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic” was declared, with 99.9 percent of voters supporting "independence." Azerbaijanis did not participate in the referendum, which was neither recognized by Azerbaijan nor by the international community. The vote intensified political tensions, leaving force as the only remaining option.  

                     Night of horror: The Khojaly massacre

By late 1991, Armenian armed forces had set their plan in motion, targeting key strategic locations in Karabakh. They cut off roads leading to Khojaly and nearby villages, preparing for a full-scale assault. On the night of February 25, 1992, with support from the 366th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the former Soviet Union, Armenian forces attacked Khojaly. Using heavy artillery and tanks, they bombarded the town, which was of vital importance due to its strategic location and the only airport in the region capable of handling large aircraft. Khojaly, covering 936 square kilometers, had a population of around 7,000, though conflicts had reduced this number to 4,000. It was one of the few settlements in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast where Azerbaijanis were the majority. This made it a prime target for what would become one of the most horrific acts of genocide in Karabakh.  

By 5:00 AM on February 26, Armenian forces had taken full control of the city. Overnight, Khojaly was reduced to ruins. Armed Armenian officers mercilessly shot civilians attempting to flee through the mountains in freezing temperatures. The massacre continued into the morning, claiming the lives of 613 people.  

The Khojaly massacre left a permanent scar on human history. The brutality of the attack was unparalleled. According to official data, among the 613 victims:  
- 63 were children,  
- 106 were women,  
- 70 were elderly. 

Additionally, 487 people suffered serious injuries, and 1,275 were taken prisoner. The fate of 150 people, including 68 women and 26 children, remains unknown to this day. The bodies of the victims bore signs of extreme torture. At least 56 individuals were brutally mutilated—some burned alive, others scalped, with their eyes gouged out. Pregnant women were subjected to unspeakable violence. The massacre left 8 families completely wiped out, 130 children orphaned, and 25 children who lost both parents.  

Survivors who attempted to flee were ambushed and executed. According to the Russian human rights organization *Memorial*, over four days, 200 bodies were transported from Khojaly to Agdam. Many bore signs of desecration. A forensic examination of 181 bodies (130 men and 51 women, including 13 children) revealed that 151 died from gunshot wounds, 20 from shrapnel injuries, and 10 from blunt force trauma. Reports also documented cases of individuals being skinned alive.

A mother who survived the bloodshed, saving only her baby daughter and four-year-old son, recounts the horrifying events of Khojaly through tears:

"They even took away our hunting rifles. We had no way to defend ourselves. Only my husband managed to hide his weapon. We barely made it out of the burning city to the outskirts of Khojaly. Then we saw the militants chasing us and firing at us. They wanted to kill or capture us. My husband stopped and shot at them. He shouted, ‘Run! Don’t let them catch you!’ Some of our family members fell face down, struck by bullets. He fought with all his might. I ran barefoot, with my two children, hiding in the darkness among the bushes. As I moved further away, I could still hear his desperate cries—‘Run! Hide! Don’t get caught!’ We escaped, but he became a martyr…”

Unwavering courage: The heroism of Notik Kasimov

The war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Karabakh continued until 1994, marked by numerous acts of heroism that will forever remain in history. One such story is that of Azerbaijani soldier Notik Kasimov, whose defiant act stunned the world. Two months after the Khojaly genocide, Moscow’s "Ogonyok" magazine published an article titled "Fear" by journalist Konstantin Smirnov. The article featured a powerful photograph taken by Italian photojournalist Enrico Sarsi, showing a young Azerbaijani soldier—Notik Kasimov—standing unyielding before armed Armenian troops. Surrounded by enemy forces, he refused to surrender the Azerbaijani flag, holding onto it firmly. The image became a symbol of resilience and courage.

In 1991, at just 20 years old, Notik voluntarily joined the Karabakh Falcons battalion, led by Yakub Rizaev in Agdam. His most remarkable act of bravery took place in March 1992, when 31 members of his battalion seized a strategic hill near the village of Khramort in Agdam. As the battle raged on, casualties mounted, and the surviving members were forced to retreat. Notik and six of his comrades sought refuge in an ancient Albanian church on the hilltop. With no reinforcements arriving, his fellow soldiers gradually perished, leaving Notik as the last man standing. For five days, he fought off Armenian forces alone, preventing them from realizing that only a single Azerbaijani soldier remained in the church. The enemy, believing they were facing multiple defenders, struggled to overpower him.

Ultimately, the Armenian troops resorted to a ruthless tactic. They threatened to execute 20 Azerbaijani civilians captured in Khojaly. To convey this ultimatum to Notik, they sent Jafar Jafarov, a former school director from Khojaly who was among the prisoners. Upon reaching the church, Jafarov delivered the enemy’s message to Notik. Their conversation was one of unimaginable gravity.

Jafar Jafarov recounts the moment:  

“I looked up. The tricolor flag, which had been soaked overnight, was slowly swaying. I stared at the flag and cried. He was lying face down. I approached him and asked if he was wounded. He answered with difficulty: ‘No, I am not wounded.’ He asked for water, but there was none. So I gave him a few pieces of dry bread. He ate, even though he did not want to. Then he said: ‘My commander sent me here with six people. Three of them were killed by the Armenians, and I do not know about the rest. I have been alone for five days.’”  

Jafar asked Notik why he had not abandoned his post. In response, Notik said:  

“I gave my word to the commander. I cannot abandon the flag and the post. I waited for help, but it did not come.”  

Jafar conveyed the Armenians’ demands to Notik. Upon hearing them, Notik declared that he had two arrows left and would fight to the end. Jafar then made a startling request, asking Notik to shoot him with one of the arrows, saying he would rather die by his hand. After thinking for a while, Notik responded:  

“Okay, I killed you. But how can I agree to the execution of 20 prisoners because of me?”  

At that moment, Notik abandoned his intention to continue the resistance. He agreed to the Armenians’ condition to spare the lives of 20 Azerbaijani prisoners. As a sign of surrender, he fired into the air and called out to the enemy soldiers. The Armenian soldiers hesitated at first but advanced when they saw the school principal sent to negotiate. Notik surrendered to two Armenian soldiers, but not the Azerbaijani flag in his hand. They could only take it from him by killing him. Initially, the Armenian soldiers could not believe that Notik had fought alone for five days—it seemed impossible. To confirm, they shelled the church where he had been stationed once again. After ensuring that no one else remained inside, they took Notik with them, still holding the flag of his homeland. What happened to Notik Kasimov afterward remains unknown. According to some reports, his heroism instilled great fear in the Armenian field commander, Vitaly Balasanyan, and many Armenian soldiers. Some assume that the Armenian commander had him killed under severe torture.  

Notik’s courage is reminiscent of the great feat of Najmiddin Kubro in Urgench 800 years ago. However, in that instance, Najmiddin Kubro, a revered thinker and warrior, died at the age of 76 on the battlefield, seizing the enemy flag from the invaders during the Mongol invasion of the Khorezmshahs.  

When Genghis Khan’s forces besieged Urgench, Najmiddin Kubro was already known far beyond ancient Khorezm. Genghis Khan, having a favorable opinion of him, offered Kubro and his family safe passage out of the city. However, Kubro refused and chose to fight for his homeland. He was wounded twice in battle. According to historical accounts, after the first wound, he put on a cloak to conceal his injuries. After the second wound, he pulled the lodged bullet from his chest with his own hand and continued fighting. According to Alisher Navoi, in one attack, Kubro managed to seize the enemy flag from a Mongol soldier. Historical sources state that he held onto this flag even in his final moments. The Mongols were ultimately forced to cut off the Sheikh’s fingers to retrieve their banner. 

                  Deep consequences of the genocide  

For many years, Karabakh remained under Armenian occupation, delaying the process of restoring Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. However, by 2020, this period of injustice came to an end. On September 27 of that year, Armenian troops opened fire on civilian settlements near Nagorno-Karabakh. In response, Azerbaijan launched its long-awaited "Retaliation" offensive to reclaim its occupied lands. One by one, Azerbaijan’s historical territories were liberated. By the end of the 44-day war, the Azerbaijani army had freed five cities, four settlements, and 286 villages from Armenian control. More than 2,900 servicemen of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces lost their lives in the struggle for liberation. On the night of November 10, 2020, the “Ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh” statement was signed. As a result, Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, secured victory, while Armenia, which had relied on Russian support, faced defeat. The process of liberation continued in the following years.  

On September 19, 2023, tensions in Karabakh flared once again. Baku announced the start of a “local anti-terrorist operation” and demanded the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the region. Yerevan, denying the presence of Armenian forces in Karabakh, called the operation a “large-scale aggression.” Russia urged both sides to cease hostilities and return to diplomatic negotiations. On September 20, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced that an agreement had been reached to halt anti-terror measures in Karabakh with the involvement of Russian peacekeeping forces. Later, on September 28, Samvel Shakhramanyan, the president of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, signed a decree declaring the dissolution of the entity, effective January 1, 2024. The population was advised to consider Baku’s reintegration proposals and independently decide whether to remain in the region.  

However, the Khojaly genocide, like other massacres in world history, left an indelible scar on Azerbaijan’s history. The memory of this atrocity remains vivid, reinforced by the recent discovery of mass graves in February 2024 during major restoration and construction work in the center of Khojaly.  

At the site, forensic experts, alongside witnesses, examined bone fragments and conducted laboratory tests. The remains were determined to belong to at least four individuals, including a child estimated to be 4–5 years old. Evidence suggested that they had been tortured, bound with ropes, and buried alive more than 25 years ago. 

                      Memory of the unforgotten victims  

In February 1994, the National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan officially declared the Khojaly events a genocide. Since then, the Khojaly tragedy has been widely recognized as one of the most serious crimes against humanity. To date, 18 countries and 24 U.S. states have passed resolutions condemning the Khojaly events and recognizing them as genocide. On April 22, 2010, the European Court of Human Rights classified the events in Khojaly as war crimes or crimes against humanity. According to official data, the illegal occupation of Khojaly by Armenian armed forces, along with the widespread destruction and looting of state and private property, inflicted an estimated $170 million in damages on Azerbaijan’s state and citizens. Every year on February 26, memorial ceremonies and conferences are held in Azerbaijani embassies and diaspora organizations to honor the victims and keep their memory alive.