Alif Hajiyev
Alif Haciyev Latif oglu (Azerbaijani: Əlif Hacıyev Lətif oğlu) (June 24, 1953 – February 26, 1992) was an Azerbaijani officer, Commandant of Khojaly Airport and National Hero of Azerbaijan.[1]
Alif Hajiyev | |
|---|---|
Alif Hajiyev during First Nagorno-Karabakh War. | |
| Born | June 24, 1953 Khojaly, Azerbaijan |
| Died | February 26, 1992 (aged 38) Khojaly |
| Allegiance | Republic of Azerbaijan |
| Years of service | 1990-1992 |
| Rank | Major, Commandant of Khojaly Airport |
| Commands held | Khojaly garrison |
| Battles/wars | First Nagorno-Karabakh War |
| Awards | National Hero of Azerbaijan 1993 |
Early years
Alif Hajiyev was born on June 24, 1953, in Khojaly.[2] From 1971 through 1973, Hajiyev served in Soviet Armed Forces and was stationed in Minsk, Belarus. In 1974–84, he held various positions in Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belorussian SSR and militia of NKAO of Azerbaijan SSR. In December 1990, Alif Hajiyev was appointed head of administration and commandant of Khojaly airport. In December 1991, Hajiyev was promoted to a rank of major.
Khojaly Massacre
Alif Hajiyev helped the completely surrounded town survive for a few months with no gas and electricity, limited supply of food.[3] When the Armenian offensive from three sides started on February 25, Alif gave an order to evacuate the town. The few defenders along with Hajiyev escorted the crowd of civilians along the Gorgor river valley overnight to the open plain near the village Nakhichevanli, just six miles away from Azerbaijani positions in Şelli village of Aghdam, where the Khojaly Massacre took place on February 26.[4]
Death
Alif Hajiyev was one of the Azeri combatants escorting hundreds of Azerbaijani civilians fleeing Khojaly. While crossing a road in groups, civilians were defended by Hajiyev who exchanged fire with Armenian troops. While covering the third group, Hajiyev was shot dead while changing magazines.[5] The bullet hit him in the head. Hajiyev was one of 40 defendants of the city which were stationed in Khojaly. Only 10 survived.[6] more than 200 Azerbaijani were killed during these events.[7] Hajiyev was buried in Martyrs' Lane, Baku.[4]
Honors
He was survived by his wife, Gala Hajiyeva.[4] He was posthumously awarded the title of the National Hero of Azerbaijan.
See also
References
- ^ Elman Mammadov (Autumn 1999). "Running For Our Lives. Massacre and Flight From Khojali". Azerbaijan International: 54–56. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
- ^ Mammadova, Havva (2005). Ходжалы: шехиды и шахиды : армянский терроризм как составная часть международного терроризма [Khojaly: martyrs and princes: Armenian terrorism as an integral part of international terrorism] (in Russian). Dom skazki. p. 191. ISBN 9789952210217. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
- ^ Pope, Hugh (2005). Sons of the conquerors: the rise of the Turkic world. Michigan: Overlook Duckworth. p. 59. ISBN 1-58567-804-X. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
- ^ a b c Goltz, Thomas (1999). Azerbaijan Diary: A Rogue Reporter's Adventures in an Oil-Rich, War-Torn, Post-Soviet Republic. Michigan: M.E. Sharpe, Inc. pp. 122–129. ISBN 0-7656-0244-X. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
- ^ "The Independent (London), 12 June 1992". Justice for Khojaly. from the original on 5 April 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
- ^ Список жертв армянского террора в Ходжалы [List of victims of armenian terror in Khojaly] (in Russian). Nash Vek. February 23, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
- ^ "Human Rights Watch World Report 1993 – The Former Soviet Union". Hrw.org. from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2014.