Thoughts on a grave - Umud Mirzayev and Richardas Lapaitis visited the ruined Aghdam

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With the organization of the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) a group of Lithuanian journalists have paid a visit to the liberated city of Agdam on March 17. According to Eurasia Diary, there have been well-known journalists in the group, including a famous military journalist Richardas Lapaitis, who was awarded the 'Order of Friendship' of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Arunas Sartanavichius and Mantas Bartasavichius.

The Lithuanian journalists have visited the Juma Mosque in Agdam. This historical-architectural monument, located in the centre of the region, was built by an architect named Karbalai Safikhan Garabagh in 1868-1870. One of the monumental examples of Karabakh's unique religious architecture, the Aghdam Juma Mosque, has been built in the city of Agdam when it became an important trade centre in the region.

The Lithuanian journalists have also visited the Imarat Garvand Cemetery Complex as part of a visit to Aghdam. The tombs of the Karabakh khan family are located in the mausoleum complex. The mausoleum of Panahali khan of XVIII-XIX centuries is located in Imarat cemetery in Aghdam region. Next to the tomb was another tomb belonging to Panahali khan's son, Karabakh khan Ibrahimkhalil khan. A bust of Khurshidbanu Natava was also placed in front of the tombs. After the liberation of Aghdam region, as well as the city of Aghdam, it became known that Natava's mausoleum was destroyed by Armenians, her grave was insulted, excavated and her bones were taken out of her grave. Well-known French photojournalist Reza Deghati has also reported about it.

Besides that, the Lithuanian journalists, accompanied by IEPF President Umud Mirzayev, have visited the "Martyrs' Cemetery" destroyed by Armenians in the Aghdam region. There are about 1,200 martyr graves in the martyrdom area located in the area called Uzundere. Armenians demolished the graves of Azerbaijani martyrs and turned them into a ruin by carrying stones.

"About 30 years later, I came to the grave of Allahverdi Bagirov. The last time I was here was in July 1993, shortly before the occupation of this great industrial and historic city. What I saw then is incomparable to what we see now. The Azerbaijani flag was hung on each grave and there were many flowers. Not only those who died in Upper and Lower Karabakh, but also Khojaly people were buried in this cemetery. My heart ached when I came here to pray. Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and children have been buried here".

He said he first met Allahverdi Bagirov during the Nakhchivan War, one of the hardest battles of the First Karabakh War.

"He did not know there was a Lithuanian journalist here. The next day he came and told me that he did not know that I was a journalist here. Gultekin Askerova died there. Many young soldiers were killed. I could have died there too. He told me I would get you out of here myself. A. Bagirov was moving slowly and without haste. He had a unique masculine posture. He saw how many young soldiers had died in his life. We drove slowly. We crossed the farm. Suddenly he stopped. There we saw a gallows hangin on the tree. It was bloody and there was a hair on the rope. This is what I mean. What is this then? Is this Armenian civilisation? Does that mean when Armenians say peace? Is this their understanding of life, of holy places? I have not spoken about the citi yet ... There is nothing to talk about. The city was overturned and completely destroyed".

Umud Mirzayev compares the past and present of Aghdam: “You visited Aghdam a lot then. You have seen how beautiful this place is. There was peace in the city, there were peaceful and hospitable people".

Richardas Lapaitis: “I have written many times in my article about Aghdam. The beautiful houses here were probably in our resorts. These have been around for centuries. In the 1990s, during the Soviet era, our houses were simple. But here, even in the rubble, you can see how there were arches, how big buildings were. Almost all of them were historic buildings. It just hurts my heart".

U. Mirzayev: "This is a tragedy, vandalism and genocide of the XXI century".

R. Lapaitis: “During all this time, I was interested and looked at some shots. But I could not imagine the magnitude of the tragedy. Now the whole picture is open".

U. Mirzayev: “What was the condition of the building? They kept cows there. On what day were the tombstones laid?”

R. Lapaitis: “We have to show it to the whole world. Let them see the ancient Armenian civilization. We cannot deceive ourselves. It is impossible to talk about any friendship, to say one and keep the other. It should be shouted to the whole world. And we, foreign journalists, should do it, not you. Because it is important for mankind. Where in history has such a thing been seen? Cemeteries, holy places and mosques were not touched during any war ... ”

U. Mirzayev: “They dug every grave. That's terrible".

R. Lapaitis: “I do not bow before Allahverdi Bagirov only. Innocent people lie here. I bow to everyone. I believe that people have found their relatives here by force. In addition, mines are everywhere. People risk their lives. The graves were replaced by depressions. Are they sick? I can hardly restrain myself from speaking anymore. I try to be objective".

U. Mirzayev: “As an independent journalist, you came here by chance. You also came from Armenia. But you got acquainted with many people lying in this cemetery, not only with Allahverdi Bagirov. Not only Agdam, but all 7 districts have this vandalism. Everywhere, everything was wiped off the face of the earth. It's a terrible page".

R. Lapaitis: “Occupy for 30 years and put to this day. We came several kilometers to Agdam, fortifications were built everywhere. What were they thinking? About war, that is, about murders!”

U. Mirzayev: “You said a good word. They knew we would be back someday. That's why they destroyed it. They even burned what they built for themselves when they left here”.

R. Lapaitis: “It is a terrible sight. I bow before everyone, I bow before Allahverdi Bagirov".

U. Mirzayev: “I thank you and Arunas and Mantas, who are on this visit with you. I hope that after this visit, many of your compatriots will know what happened here. Talking and reading is one thing, seeing is another”.

R. Lapaitis: “Every grave is sacred. They are broken into small pieces. People collected it. The tombstone was taken out to keep pigs there. We have taken all this. No one can accuse us of being biased.

This city is our hometown. We show everything as it is. After Khojaly, Azerbaijani mothers told me near the Aghdam mosque to go to their homeland and tell them the truth. Nothing from you, but we want you to tell the truth, a little truth. See what we saw here ... ”

U. Mirzayev: “You have seen this terrible tragedy and people have miraculously escaped from here. How many people have been buried in front of your eyes. We know that".

R. Lapaitis: “Thank you. We have been together for many years. This trip was a difficult journey. Thanks to you, we can learn and see a lot".

The guests visited the Bread Museum in Aghdam. It is a museum of bread and bakery products, agricultural tools and their history. On November 25, 1983, the museum received its first visitors. The museum had about 2,800 exhibits. The museum was protected by the state of the Azerbaijan SSR as a local cultural monument. "Sunbul" cafe, which had a bakery in the area adjacent to the museum, served visitors. The complex also included a caravanserai.

As a result of the attacks of the Armenian Armed Forces during the Karabakh war, the museum has been hit twice by shells. The first shell has hit the third exhibition hall, but it hasn't been blown up. The second shell has hit the museum on August 12, 1992, when it was fired from the direction of Khanabad and Nakhchivanik villages of Askeran region, completely destroying the museum. Although an attempt has been made to extinguish the fire, the museum could not be saved, and as a result, about 1,500 exhibits in the museum have been arsoned.