Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

May 8 marks the occupation of the cradle of Azerbaijan's culture -the beautiful and ancient town of Shusha.

The largest town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, this cultural center which is the capital of the historical Karabakh Khanate fell under Armenia's occupation on May 8, 1992.

After seizing Shusha, the Armenian invaders completed the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the region's actual breakaway from Azerbaijan.

The Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha with the aid of the Soviet 366th regiment, killing and disabling hundreds of innocent Azerbaijani civilians, expelling the entire population of the town, and destroying, burning down, and looting numerous cultural, religious, and historical monuments.

As a result of the occupation, 195 civilians were killed, 165 others were wounded, 22,000 were displaced, and 68 were taken hostage by the Armenians. Their fate is unknown to this day.

Armenian sources have reported that the operation to occupy the city was planned by former Soviet Colonel Arkady Ter-Tatevosyan, who was previously the commander of the Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenians used disorganization and unexpectedness to their best advantage, created panic, and prevented any organization of defense forces. However, street fights continued for a long time, but disorganized Azerbaijani armed forces had to leave the city.

Among the Armenians who were involved in seizing Shusha was Robert Kocharyan, who became Armenia's President and governed the country from 1998 to 2008.

Once the town was captured, many Armenians went there for looting and razed much of the town to the ground.

As a result of the occupation, a number of historical and cultural monuments in Shusha have been destroyed, including 279 religious and 104 historical and cultural monuments.

The numerous cultural and historical sites seized in Shusha by the Armenian vandals include the Gala walls, Ganja gates, Castle of Panahkhan, Library of Panahkhan, Govharaga mosque, Saatly mosque, the Castle of Agabeyim Aga, Caravansara, Khan Palace, Khan Cave, Gakhal Cave, and Shusha Castle.

The Shusha museum with over 5,000 exhibits was looted by the Armenians in 1992, a great treachery against Karabakh's 250-year-long history.

Due to the purity and freshness of its air, Shusha used to hold a special place among resort lovers. The Turshsu summer pastures, the Shakilli, Isa and Yukhari Dashalti (Samilin) springs, and the well-known Jidir Duzu valley were extremely popular with local people and visitors.

Shusha's natural resources were also plundered and seized by the Armenians. After the occupation, the Armenians have used natural resources such as facing stone, clay, construction stone, fresh underground waters, and mineral waters for their own purposes.

Although Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions are Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, the Armenian armed forces still have them under their control and plunder the country's natural recourses. The double standards of the international community play a great hand in it.

Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war.

Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994 but Armenia continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal.

Peace talks mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. have produced no results so far.