Colonel Bakhyshov on Azerbaijan's Khojavend Operation: Scouts chose death over captivity

Azerbaijani scouts who took part in a key military operation in Khojavend in 1997 fought to the last bullet and ultimately chose death over falling into enemy hands, according to a retired officer who led the mission.

Colonel (Ret.) Khatai Bakhyshov, a recipient of the Order of the Azerbaijani Flag and former commander of the reconnaissance unit involved in the operation, shared the details in an interview with local media, Caliber.Az reports.

“Under orders from the Defence Minister, a group of scouts was deployed to Karabakh in 1997 for a combat assignment,” he recalled.

“They fought for three days, using every last round of ammunition. When they realised capture was inevitable, they detonated grenades to avoid falling into enemy hands.”

Colonel Bakhyshov noted that it took six months of negotiations before the bodies of the fallen Azerbaijani servicemen were exchanged for several Armenian remains. He credited the efforts of the late national leader Heydar Aliyev for the exchange.

The fallen soldiers were buried in Baku’s Second Martyrs' Alley and posthumously honoured with the "Azerbaijan Flag" order. A memorial has since been erected at the site of their sacrifice, symbolising national resilience and commemorating their role in the struggle for territorial integrity, which was later fully restored following the Azerbaijani Army’s victory under President Ilham Aliyev.

To recall, on October 9, 2020, the town of Hadrut and several surrounding villages were recaptured by Azerbaijani forces as part of a broader counter-offensive launched on September 27.

The liberation marked a turning point in the conflict, paving the way for the eventual capture of Shusha. The Azerbaijani Army’s unexpected tactical approach played a decisive role, catching opposing forces off guard.

Fierce fighting began on October 7, culminating two days later in the seizure of strategically important positions in and around Hadrut. On the same day, the villages of Chayli, Yukhari Guzlak, Gorazilli, Gyshlag, Garajalli, Afandilar, Suleymanli, and Sur were also brought under Azerbaijani control.

On March 16, 2021, President Ilham Aliyev raised the national flag in Hadrut, symbolising the town’s official return to Azerbaijani administration.

By Aghakazim Guliyev