State Commission: Natig Gasimov believed to have been buried in Khojaly district

Natig Gasimov, who went missing in the first Garabagh war, is believed to have been buried in the Khojaly district (former Asgaran), Azertag reports citing the statement released by the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons.

It is indicated that Natig Gasimov was born in the village of Kichik Garamurad village of the Gadabay district of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1971. In 1991, in the aftermath of an attack of the armed forces of Armenia on the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, he participated in the defense of the Motherland by signing up for the “Garadagh Falcons” battalion established in the Aghdam district. On March 12, 1992, he was captured by the Armenian military during the fighting in the direction of Pirler (Khramort) village of the Khojaly district.

Natig Gasimov fought against the enemy onslaught alone for five days after his six comrades were killed during battles for the Albanian church located on a hill near the village of Pirlar of the Khojaly district. On the sixth day, on March 12, 1992, after he had run out of bullets, his capture by the Armenian military was witnessed by Russian and Italian journalists Konstantin Smirnov and Enrico Sarzi. His capture was described in an article called “Fear” in the 14th and 15th issues “Ogonyok” magazine published in Russia in 1992.

According to the testimony of Khojaly resident Jafarov Jafar Mahammad oglu, who had settled in the “Kur” rowing base in Mingachevir after being released from Armenian captivity, he was taken prisoner along with other residents of Khojaly and taken to a detention center of the Asgaran district police department on the day Khojaly was occupied by Armenian armed forces. After some time, the Armenian military took him to the village of Pirlar in an armored vehicle together with a foreign journalist in order to sending a warning message to the Azerbaijanis.

The Armenian military sent Jafar Jafarov to negotiate with the Azerbaijani soldiers who had entrenched themselves in the Albanian church, demanding that if they did not surrender, they would line up and shoot the hostages of the city of Khojaly.

Jafar Jafarov crawled to the church. However, he met only one Azerbaijani soldier in the church, Natig Salim oglu Gasimov. Natig Gasimov was exhausted by this tine, having fought alone and without any food or water for five days.

When asked by Jafar Jafarov why he hadn’t retreated when there was an opportunity, Natig Gasimov said, “My commander ordered me not to leave the position. Also, how could I leave the Azerbaijani flag flying above here?” he said and pointed to the flag on the building.

According to Jafar Jafarov, he conveyed the demand of the Armenian soldiers to Natig Gasimov and advised him not to surrender but retreat if possible. However, Natig Gasimov declared that he would not allow Khojaly residents to die for his life and surrendered to the Armenian soldiers, taking the Azerbaijani flag hanging on the building along.

According to reliable sources, the heroism and bravery of this fearless Azerbaijani soldier caused panic and psychological tension among enemy soldiers. Field commander Vitaly Balasanyan ordered to kill Natig Gasimov by subjecting him to horrific torture against the laws of war.

Since 1988, Vitaly Balasanyan was closely involved in inciting separatism and organizing terrorist acts, ethnic cleansing, Khojaly genocide and numerous war crimes in the former Nagorno-Garabagh autonomous region of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Later, he became the “deputy minister of defense” and “head of the security council” of the breakaway regime established in the Armenian-occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

As is known, contrary to the norms of humanitarian law, the Armenian side concealed information about the burial of all Azerbaijani citizens killed in the First Garabagh War, including Natig Gasimov, and continues this inhuman act to this day.

Natig Gasimov is currently registered at the State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons as a person missing in the First Garabagh War.

The State Commission continues the search for all Azerbaijani citizens who went missing in the First Garabagh War, including Natig Gasimov. Unfortunately, the State Commission does not have information about Natig Gasimov's burial place. However, it may be assumed that his body was buried in the Khojaly district (former Asgaran). The State Commission will carry out excavation and exhumation work in all of our territories freed from occupation, including the Khojaly district, of the graves presumed to belong to the persons who went missing in the First Garabagh War.