The Khojaly genocide perpetrated by Armenian nationalists at the end of the 20th century is considered one of the most serious crimes against humanity. Vestnik Kavkaza presents the chapters from the 'Through Their Eyes: Witnesses to Khojaly Massacre' book, which has become a valuable resource for studying the genocide and bringing the truth about it to the world community. Each of the Khojaly survivors has their own story.
The horror witnessed by Isak Agayarov and Syadagyat Huseynova has also tested their fidelity, love and spiritual unity. They got married in 1980. Their stars aligned, they created a warm and cozy home. The happy couple had three children - 11-year-old Nabi, 8-year-old Sevinge and 7-year-old Raman. The young family lived with Isak's parents. Since 1988, a dark period started in their life, trouble has knocked at their door. Like all Khojaly residents, they were on permanent alert, there were problems with food.
In February 1992, the situation in Khojaly escalated to the limit, and the mother-in-law insisted that Sedagyat and her children should go to her sister's house, which was located near the helipad. At the first opportunity, Sedagyat had to board a helicopter with the children and leave Khojaly, it was a chance to escape. Isak was on duty at the watch 24 hours a day. On the night of February 25 to 26, heaven and earth quaked from hailing bullets and screams. Walls were trembling and cracking at the seams. The house plunged into darkness, everything around was buried in the snow. Sedagyat khanum talks about the events of those days in a half-whisper, as if fearing that a lump in his throat, rolling with memories from experienced horrors, would catch his breath. She tries to prevent her husband from hearing her story. His nerves, already frustrated, give up completely when they remember the events of those years. The woman tightly locks the door and, wiping away her tears, continues her bitter narration: “Having exchanged glances with our sister, we understood each other without words. We had to leave ...” Two women and seven children went on a dangerous road. Having reached the Gargar River, they took the children in their arms to cross it. Then the road to the unknown began, it was full of dangers, fear and horror.
Sedagyat was 33 years old back then. Sarah was two years older. They were born and raised in Khojaly, so they knew the area very well. On that fateful night, the sisters headed to Agdam. Darkness and constant danger mislead them. Suddenly, the sisters realized that they had almost reached Khankendi. Changing direction, they came across a group of travelers and joined them. On the approach to Abdal-Gyulably, they were heavily shelled by Armenians. The men walking ahead gave them sign to stand still. Frenzied Armenian barbarians, sparing no one, shot innocent people. By a twist of fate, the sisters and children were not hurt. Thanking the Almighty, they set off again. For five days they were wandering without food and water. There was blood on snow everywhere. Two women and seven children followed in bloody traces. The children were starving, suffering from thirst, asking where the father was, why he was not going to help them.
He had many trials as well. Returning home, Isak did not find his wife and children - they had already gone to Sarah. Taking his mother and father, he barely got out of this pitch-fire hell. Isak used his last ounce of strength to walk. Having found a more or less safe place for his parents, he left them and returned to help defenseless women and children, after which, taking the elderly father and mother, he moved forward. With a shudder, Sedagyat shudders at these memories: “We were split of in different directions. I knew that Isak would rush to help us at the first opportunity, but how to explain it to the children ?! And then my sister, completely exhausted, fell in the snow. I prayed to her: “Sarah, get up, we must rescue the children from this hell.” I tried to help her up, but it was too late ... Then three my darlings died away, Sarah’s children also died from the severe frost and hunger. With my last ounce of strength I started on way with my sister’s eldest daughter. What happened then, I don’t remember, I woke up already in Agdam hospital." Sedagyat was taken to the Republican Clinical Hospital named after Mirkasimov, where she had an operation on her legs. A couple of days later, Turkish journalists who were filming in the hospital asked the doctor to show Sedagyat's legs. And only then the woman realized that her frostbitten toes were amputated...
Memories return her to the sad events of the past: “I spent two months in the hospital. Once, a nurse said that a man was waiting for me in the corridor. It was Isak, who made strenuous efforts to find me. I asked him not to come back. I could not look at him anymore. It seemed to me that our marriage had come to an end. I considered myself a withered, barren, chopped-off tree ... But Isak resolutely said that he would never leave me! He said that there's war in our homeland, and it's not just we're in trouble. Isak visited me at the hospital every day. "
Sedagyat persisted, but Isak stood his ground. She surrendered under the onslaught of her husband’s perseverance and unshakable fidelity: “I just left the hospital. We were with relatives who survived the tragedy. And suddenly I saw that my father-in-law and mother-in-law were coming to us, surrounded by several elders. Everyone was silent. Apologizing to the elders, Isak spoke first. He asked me to marry him again, saying that we must forget the tragic outcome of our 12-year married life as a nightmare, turning this sad page.
So, members of a once large family found refuge in the Naftalan sanatorium. In 1993, Isak and Sadagyat gad a baby oy. All relatives could not stop looking at the baby. They named him Raman in honor of the deceased seven-year-old brother. In this child, the family sought reassurance after the tragic death of three little angels. Three years later, Raman had a sister, who was named Arzu. Now Arzu has her own family, Raman is also married.
Now the Isak family lives in one of the high-rise buildings in the town for refugees and internally displaced persons. He and Sedagyat are expecting a grandson. The time will come and the trunk of this family will grow new branches. Love for the native land, respect for the souls of the deceased will certainly return this family to Khojaly. The Armenian fascists, who shed innocent blood and committed monstrous genocide, will certainly appear before the court of history and justice. The cruel crimes committed by them will haunt them from century to century, from generation to generation. It is unlikely that their stillborn conscience will wake, but time will judge everyone ...
