Russian expert shares memories of Azerbaijani surgeon who saved lives in quake-hit Spitak Between conflict and humanity

In an interview with Caliber.Az, Russian military expert and publicist Vladislav Shurygin, a witness of the Spitak quake that hit Armenia in 1988, shares his memories of Azerbaijani doctors participating in saving the lives of quake victims.

- A devastating earthquake occurred in Armenia 35 years ago. As far as we know, Vladislav Vladislavovich, you were in the disaster area and you certainly remember that Azerbaijan was not indifferent to this tragedy either. Would you like to share with us how you remember this tragedy, which you later wrote about in Zavtra daily?

- Yes, as a military journalist I was actually at the scene of the tragedy. I witnessed how an Azerbaijani military surgeon, who worked in the Leninakan hospital, helped the injured Armenians. At that time there were already serious tensions between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, and, by the way, this Azerbaijani surgeon told me about a curious case. According to him, an elderly Armenian man with broken legs tried to jump off the operating table immediately after he was told that it was an Azerbaijani surgeon and not an Armenian who was operating on him.

- So, in December 1988, the hysteria against Azerbaijan in Armenia was already in high gear.

- In full swing, we can say.

- The very fact that Azerbaijanis took part in the liquidation of the aftermath of the earthquake in Armenia is being denied by the Armenian propaganda. Did you see any Azerbaijanis among the rescue workers?

- Azerbaijanis were not present as an organised unit in Spitak because Moscow decided not to send them after the plane carrying Azerbaijani rescue workers crashed in Armenia. However, Azerbaijanis may well have been among the rescue workers from other parts of the former Soviet Union.

- So you believe that the crash of the plane with the Azerbaijani rescuers on board on its way to Armenia wasn't at all due to bad weather conditions?

- Absolutely not. The plane could not have been shot down. Rather, it was due to the bad weather conditions and the pilots, unfortunately, could not reach the barometric altitude.

- In any case, this gesture of goodwill by Azerbaijan was not appreciated in Armenia. In addition, the Armenians are continuing to show their usual black and bitter ingratitude towards Russia as well. In your opinion, will Armenia finally be on the road to the West?

- You know, I am quite indifferent to all the actions and movements of Armenia and I understand that in its present form, it has no value. It's Armenia's choice to go to the West, but I am not sure that the next leaders of Armenia will continue this endeavour. Armenians want to feel part of the big European family, and they keep emphasising that they have huge communities in France and the US. Still, it is pointless for a country that has no economy to build crystal bridges. The only way out for Armenia is the establishment of relations with Azerbaijan and integration into the system of the "Silk Road", cross-border transport corridors through Türkiye, Georgia and further to Europe.

- The EU mission in Armenia is expanding. What are the benefits for Yerevan?

- Nikol Pashinyan expects to get some money from the EU and believes that flirting with the West in defiance of Russia will result in a shower of gold. But whether the West needs Armenia is an open question. At best it needs it as a counterweight to Türkiye. But if Armenia goes to the West, it will not be a great loss for us. Maintaining relations with Türkiye and Azerbaijan is much more important for us.

- After serious failures in Africa, France has set its sights on the Caucasus. What does it expect to achieve in this region?

- This reminds me of the proverb about an elephant eating 200 kg of oranges a day. The elephant would probably eat that much, but who would give it to him? Paris is being kicked out of Africa, where it has had a serious presence for at least a couple of centuries, and no one is going to let it into the Caucasus. At best, France will have a microscopic presence somewhere in Armenia to satisfy its ego. It will have no real influence here. The future of the region will be determined by three main players: Türkiye, Russia and China. And Azerbaijan, as a regional power, will keep the balance between these three players within the framework of its interests, as it pursues an independent policy.

- How high is the probability of a peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan?

- Since there is no subject for bargaining, I think the probability is quite high. Azerbaijan has regained all its territories, and the military junta in Karabakh has been defeated. There is a saying that peace is always signed by the side that loses; as we know, that side is Armenia.