National Heroes of Azerbaijan
Brave Shusha resident, hero SPPU member
He was born and grew up in one of the most picturesque corners of Azerbaijan. Immensely loved this land and she loved her child, who was subsequently forever entered into its warm embrace…
Rizvan Rahman oglu Teymurov was born on April 16, 1967 in the Gushchular village of the Shusha district of Azerbaijan. After finishing his study in rural high school, he began to work in the farm, and in 1985 he was called up for active military service in the ranks of the former Soviet army, which had served in the Russian city of Omsk. After demobilization from the army Rizvan returned home, but soon left to the city of Arkhangelsk Russia for work. But was able to work there for just three years, a great love for the Motherland and severe anxiety for its destiny, caused by the separatist incidents of Armenians, forced him to return to his native land. By the time all the citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan nationality were driven from their homes, many of them were killed and wounded. And in Nagorno-Karabakh continued moral and physical oppression against peaceful Azerbaijanis: their homes were destroyed and burned, and they were tortured, killed.
Endure all of this was impossible. As soon as was established Special Purpose Police Unit (SPPU) at the Shusha District Police Department, Rizvan voluntarily entered into its ranks. This group, consisting of fearless, brave fighters-patriots, showed a sample of heroism during operations on neutralization and disarmament of the Armenian soldiers in the villages of Garadagly, Syrkhavend, Umudlu, Meshali, Jamilli, as well as in the city of Khankendi. And one of the most active police officers in these operations was Rizvan. R.Teymurov visited almost all parts of Karabakh, he bravely fought the enemy forces around Khankendi, Kerkidzhahan and in other settlements, has repeatedly found himself face to face with the apparent death, but nothing frighten that young man.
Early in the morning of 9 December 1991, Rizvan had to go to the next operation, and thus he was in the night should have at least a few hours rest. But something couldn’t let him to sleep, though he was very tired after a hard day of fighting. He got up and decided to go to the comrades in battle, fighting in Kerkidzhahan. But suddenly, the Armenian soldiers went on the offensive. There was a bloody battle. After a few hour battles, the enemy, having met a powerful obstacle and suffering heavy losses, was forced to retreat.
As always, and in this fight Rizvan distinguished himself by his courage and endurance, was an example to friends in battle, and caused significant damage to military equipment and manpower of the enemy. But it is a pity that this fight was for him the last. In the battles for Khankendi- Kerkidzhahan R.Teymurov died the death of heroes…
Then he was still single…
On October 8, 1992, Rizvan Rahman oglu Teymurov was posthumously conferred the honorary title of the National Hero of Azerbaijan by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan.
The hero was buried in his native village Gushchular of the Shusha district, that now 21 year under Armenian occupation.
One of the streets of Nizami district of Baku city named after the hero.
Gadir NASIROV,
“Voice of Karabakh”
Jamil HASANLI, doctor of historical sciences, professor
Nagorno-Karabakh: old misconceptions in new interpretation
(beginning in the previous issues)
Why Caucasian Bureau wanted to solve Karabakh problem “completely secretly”?
Formation of soviet regime in Armenia on 29 November 1920 made a chance for the communists for raising Karabakh problem again to agenda. Due to proclamation of soviet regime in Armenia, the chairman of Azerbaijan Revolutionary Committee Nariman Narimanov and national commissar over external affairs Mirza Davud Huseynov sent congratulation letter to Armenian revolutionary committee on 30 November. But there was a great difference between the essence of the letter-telegram and resolution of Politbureau and Orgbureau of CC ACP of 30 November. The underlined contradiction also appeared among speeches of the chairman N. Narimanov at the assembly of Baku Soviet about formation of soviet powers in Armenia and the Declaration of 1 December 1920. It was mentioned at the declaration: “Soviet Azerbaijan, going towards the struggle of the brother Armenian nation against the dashnaks who shed blood of our best friends communists in Armenia and Zangazur, states that any territorial problem can’t be the reason for massacre of two neighbor nations – Armenians and Muslims from now; territory of Zangazur and Nakhchivan provinces is inseparable part of Soviet Armenia; villagers of Nagorno-Karabakh has a right for self-determination, all military activities in Zangazur will be stopped, and soldiers of Soviet Azerbaijan will be taken out” (Communist, 1920, 2 December).
It should also be mentioned that the essence of the Declaration of 1 December was contrary to resolutions adopted by CC ACP on 4 and 30 November. As the article of the project of Russian-Armenian agreement was discussed at the assembly of Politbureau of CC ACP on 4 November 1920 in non-participation of I. Stalin and G. Orjonikidze, it was also decided that “the article with suggestion of transfer of Nakhchivan and Zangazur to Armenia was adaptable neither from political nor strategic view of point”. But on the contrary to the underlined decision, related with the victory of soviet powers in Armenia there was adopted a decision about transferring Zangazur to Armenia, and Nakhchivan problem wasn’t even touched at the assembly of CC ACP on 30 November. It seems that’s why B. V. Legran talked about transfer of only Zangazur among three mentioned territories to Armenia on 2 December as the fact confirmed by Soviet Russia. (Radiogram of B. Legran to G. Orjonikidze. 02.12.1920 // Russian state archive of social-political history. p. 16). But also Nakhchivan was mentioned as the land transferred to Armenia together with Zangazur at N. Narimanov’s Declaration of 1 December. Professor of Humboldt University Yorg Baberovskiy proclaims that in summer of 1920 year under pressure of Orjonikidze Narimanov had to promise the concession of Zangazur, Karabakh and Nakhchivan to Armenia. (Yorg Baberovskiy. Enemy is in everywhere. Stalinism in Caucasus. p. 237).
Text of the Declaration which was published at Baku press was distorted by Orjonikidze before it appeared on newspaper. On 1 December at the encrypted telegram to B. Legran and G. Chicherin he wrote: “Azerbaijan gave up and gave Nakhchivan, Zangazur and Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia” (Encrypted telegram of G. Orjonikdze to B. Legran and Chicherin. 01.12.1920. p. 12). Similar message he also sent to V. I. Lenin and I. V. Stalin on 2 December. There was written: “Azerbaijan officially confirmed the transfer of Nakhchivan, Zangazur and Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia yesterday” (G. Orjonikdze’s message to V. Lenin and I. Stalin. 02.12.1920). On 4 December this “happy” news was published in the newspaper “Pravda” on the initiative of I. Stalin and basing on the distorted telegram of G. Orjonikdze, there was published also the article of I. Stalin at the same day at the same newspaper about proclamation of soviet regime in Armenia. Then the underlined article was included into the IV volume of I. Stalin’s works which is being based on today often (Pravda, 1920, 4 December). Appears a question: was G. Orjonikidze thoroughly informed of the problem or he made this mistake intentionally? After proclamation of soviet regime in Diljan, G. Orjonikidze had a conversation with Amayak Nazaretyan where he said basing on N. Narimanov’s declaration: “Today there was held splendid assembly of Soviet in Baku where Narimanov read the Declaration of Azerbaijani government about that there wouldn’t be any border between Soviet Armenia and Azerbaijan, from today the territory of Zangazur and Nakhchivan provinces would be considered as inseparable parts of Soviet Armenia and Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh would be introduced the right of self-determination. Richness of Azerbaijan – oil and petrol – is the property of both republics”. A. M. Nazaretyan, strongly getting surprised of the information, shouted: “Bravo, Azerbaijanis!” (Conversation between A. M. Nazaretyan and G. K. Orjonikidze by direct wire. 01.12.1920).
(to be continued)
Nurani GASIMOVA, political analyist
History of Armenian terrorism
(beginning in the previous issue)
“Dashnak trace” in holy Bukhara
Contemporary history of Central Asia still waits for objective and unprejudiced researcher. This mainly concerns period of establishment of “soviet rule” in this region, in which soviet Russia was forced to be the rival of Turkey. For example, in Bukhara emirate by that moment there was influential organization of “Young Bukharians” or jadidists supported proclaiming of democratic republic in Bukhara. Besides in Central Asia, except for Tadjiks the nationalism was severely mixed with panturkism – that was the period of “non-traditional Islam”, however Wahhabi preachers did not come yet.
It is not known who was struck by “excellent idea” to rely on dashnaks while struggling with “Basmachi”, or calling things by their proper names – with rebel war for independence of Central Asia. But dashnak squadrons frequently just renamed as Red Army units.
In 1922 Semen Budenniy headed Turkestan front, was replaced by Gaspar Voskanov, who with understandable eagerness started “liquidation” of Enver-pasha – undisputable leader of armed struggle for independence in Central Asia.
During the Soviet period official historiography named Enver-pasha as “head of Basmachi” and “spy of international imperialism”. And they even do not bother to remember that prior to his leave to Central Asia, Enver-pasha, fleeing from Turkey through Germany, lived for some period in Moscow, took part in Congress of Eastern nations in Baku and supported “Lenin’s national policy” while severely opposing Kemal pasha Ataturk – new leader of Turkey.
Now, it would be expedient to decline from a subject. According to historians, any state is a “black case” and no one could know intentions of its authorities: details of adopting of crucial decisions, deep motives stay behind the closed doors, and if later someone publishes memoirs, events there will be probably described taking into account “requirements of the moment”. However, many facts indicate that rendering assistance to Mustafa Kemal and his supporters, Moscow was not driven by sympathy to Turkish revolution.
Historians, especially those in countries with authoritarian regimes, due to certain reasons, try not to remember this, but de-jure up to 1922, unless the Turkish Parliament adopted a law about dethronement of sultan and abolishment of caliphate, the Ottoman Porte was the government of Turkey. No one believed that the Turkish army, after heavy defeat in the World War I, might resist Entente and their own government. On this background, assistance rendered by Russia to those whom sultan Vaheddin named as “rebels” and conclusion of beneficial agreements, such as Kars and Moscow, most probably was dictated by desire to maximally weaken positions of Turkey. For the same goal, those in Moscow showed warm attitude to Enver pasha – in order to have “an ace behind the sleeve” against Kemal pasha Ataturk. Even after Enver pasha went to Central Asia to initiate rebellion among Moslems of Britain’s India, Lenin, Trotskiy and Dzerjinsky “bombarded” armed units deployed in Turkestan front by telegrams: “Enver must be taken alive”.
But soon after, Voskanov sent a noteworthy telegram to Akop (Yakov) Melkumyan, commander of the I Turkestan cavalry brigade: “I need dead Enver. Read. Think. Immediately burn it”. Then Yakov Melkumyan outspokenly talked to Armenian journalists: “I killed Enver”. According to Melkumyan, death of Enver pasha is continuation of terror by dashnak “Nemesis”.
(to be continued)
Herald of a just cause of Azerbaijan
As you already know, dear readers, last issue of our newspaper founded 9 years ago by the president of the Association for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan (ACSDA), the deputy of parliament of Azerbaijan Elkhan Suleymanov, was the 100-th.
In connection with this event recently held a round table on “The Truth of Karabakh in the newspaper “Qolos Karabaxa”-“Voice of Karabakh””, organized by the Public Association for “Protection of the Rights of Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in Azerbaijan” (PA PRMIDPA).
Opening the action with an opening speech, the chairman of PA, the professor Nadir Abdullayev reminded to participants of the Round Table of the factors causing need of establishment of the above-named newspaper, and informed on the directions of its activities. He marked that, spreading in more than 60 countries of the world, this newspaper has a mission to bring the world’s attention just cause of Azerbaijan, the true essence of the Karabakh problem. The chairman emphasized that release of similar press organ in the conditions of an inhaling of permission of a question of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict within more than two decades, otherwise, the negotiation process which has got into the deadlock, is of great importance on a way to achievement of a victory by Azerbaijan in the modern information war.
Made a report on the above subject, the editor of the “Qolos Karabaxa”-“Voice of Karabakh” newspaper Gadir Nasirov noted that in case of establishment of the newspaper the purpose actively to be involved in process of finishing of the just cause of Azerbaijan, truth of Karabakh to world community was set. “Against the modern information war in the conditions of annexation by Armenia of one fifth part of the territories of Azerbaijan and continuation of holding of these lands under the occupation to this day, ejecting from the motherland more than one million of our relatives, plotting of incommensurable material, moral, physical damage to our country and its citizens, this step had the huge value”, – he told. According to the editor, edition of the newspaper in two languages – Russian and English – also it was dictated by its propaganda mission.
The speaker marked that on newspaper under the headings of “Azerbaijan”, “Karabakh”, “Policy and Society”, “Karabakh War”, “Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan”, “History and Armenians”, “Intrigues of the Armenians”, “World and Armenians”, “Genocide of Azerbaijanis”, “Khojaly”, “National Heroes of Azerbaijan”, “Glorious Pages of History of Azerbaijan”, “Black Pages of History”, “Blood Memory”, “Armenian Terrorism” and so on, are generally printed and materials on subjects of the valid history of Azerbaijan, about culture, traditions, outstanding persons of the Azerbaijani people, about roots, history and serious consequences of the Armenian-Azerbaijani war, about the damage done to this undeclared and continuing for 25 years of war, Azerbaijan and the citizens of this country, about the hard life of more than one million people turned by the Armenian armed gangster formations into refugees and internally displaced persons, about the negative features of Armenians, including, about their congenital passion of assignment of others lands different methods, including and bloodshed, with unrealizable dream of creation mythical “Great Armenia”, about tens existing in a pattern the Armenian terrorist organizations and made by them countless terrorist acts against Azerbaijanis and Turks and so on.
According to G. Nasirov, on newspaper the special place was taken by the materials relating to some historical documents on attempts of Armenians to capture the lands of Azerbaijan, and also to the documents accepted by the international organizations, including the UN Security Council in connection with the last Armenian-Azerbaijani war, to a course of the negotiation process on settlement of this conflict, to the long and useless activities of the Minsk OSCE Group authorized to settlement, to double standard, and sometimes to absolutely unfair approach to the sides of the conflict of the international public and some international organizations.
The editor brought following statistics to attention of participants of action: “In the 100 issues of the “Qolos Karabaxa”-“Voice of Karabakh” newspaper printed still over 1700 materials from which about 1400 are directly related to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, more than 820 are analytical articles, 670 are connected to historic facts, tens materials are devoted to genocide of Azerbaijanis, national values of our people, the negative features of Armenians, 320 are written by foreign-language authors, and 110 articles are materials of people of science. In numbers issued still, articles about life and a fighting way of hundred National Heroes of Azerbaijan are printed”.
G. Nasirov emphasized that each issue of this newspaper being the single foreign-language publication in the country with special mission, directed on promotion of the truth of Azerbaijan, the actual reasons of the Karabakh conflict, the newspaper which it is possible to call the herald of the just cause of Azerbaijan, extends in higher bodies of the republic, the ministry and the State Committees, in higher educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, in the embassies of the countries accredited in our country and in representations of the international organizations, and also through the country of Ministry of Foreign Affairs it is sent to embassies of Azerbaijan abroad, etc. At the same time the editor reported that all materials of each issue of the newspaper take place with an internet site of the Public Association www.azerbaijanfoundation.az. Further the speaker gave the facts on newspaper distribution on different channels, responses in connection with the newspaper, including the views of some ambassadors, and also response of the Armenian side and emphasized one, it is possible to tell, an improbable case. So, in one of issues of the independent information and analytical international Armenian newspaper “Noah’s Ark” there was republished from the “Qolos Karabaxa”-“Voice of Karabakh” newspaper article “Khojaly – the most terrible tragedy of the last century” which authored by him, but with the second title added by Armenians “the ARMENIAN FASCISM and the Chronicle of tragedy”.
Together with all this G. Nasirov with a heavy heart emphasized that we, that is, the Azerbaijani side under-exploit the “Qolos Karabaxa”-“Voice of Karabakh” newspaper – very acceptable means of promotion – within the above-mentioned national purpose. The matter is that many Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations show improbable indifference to a question of distribution of the newspaper in the countries of their living. The State Committee relation on operation with Diaspora of Azerbaijan to this question is the same careless.
Speakers in the debate – the chairman of the Public Association of Movers Liberty Tahmasib Novruzov, the chairman of the Public Council on Human Rights Enver Gafarli, chairman of the Council of Elders of Karabakh Asif Mammadov, President of the Fund of Struggle Against Corruption in Azerbaijan professor Namik Akhundov, chairwoman of Public Union for Support to Captives and Hostages “Way of Grief” Esmira Orujova, chairman of the Public Association “The recognition of Khojaly genocide” Shamil Sabirogly, a spokesman for the Karabakh Liberation Organization Nasir Jafarov, a writer and researcher Hagani Ismail, chief consultant of the Executive Power of the Lachin district Yagut Jabbarli, chairman of the Public Association of Social Welfare Citizens Irada Rizazade and others congratulated the staff of the Public Association and the newspaper “Qolos Karabaxa” – “Voice of Karabakh” in connection with the publication of the hundredth issue of the newspaper, noted the important role of this organ in the modern media war over the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, have expressed their wishes of the event.
Copies of the 100-th issue of the above-named newspaper were distributed to participants of action.
L.ZEYNALOVA,
“Voice of Karabakh”