Capture of Garadaghly

In the spring and summer of 1991, the violence during the First Nagorno-Karabakh war escalated into a partisan-style conflict between villages as raids were made and hostages were taken. In one of these events, six Azerbaijani villagers were killed in one attack by Armenian fighters in Garadaghly.{{cite book|last=de Waal|first=Thomas|title=Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan through Peace and War|year=2003|publisher=NYU Press|isbn=978-0-8147-1945-9 |pages=115}}

The assault began at 5am on 17 February 1992. The battle continued for 11 hours and resulted in the capture of Garadaghly by Armenian troops.Газ. "Бакинский рабочий", Т. Чалалзе. Сострадание. 1995. Arabo and Aramo units, and Monte Melkonian's units took part in the operation.{{cite book|last=Melkonian|first=Markar|title=My brother's road: an American's fateful journey to Armenia|year=2005|publisher=I.B. Tauris|isbn=978-1-85043-635-5 |pages=211–212}}{{cite web |url=http://www.1news.az/interview/20100817095722303.html |title=Ибад Гусейнов: "Монте Мелконян на коленях просил пощадить его жизнь" |author=Rizvan Guseynov |date=17 August 2010 |website=1news.az |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820023026/http://www.1news.az/interview/20100817095722303.html |archive-date=20 August 2010}} Survivors fled to Aghdam over the mountains.{{cite web|author=|date=14 December 2010|title=NATO academic forum: Violence in NK area|url=http://www.nato.int/acad/fellow/99-01/mekhtiev.pdf|publisher=NATO|page=10}} The attack on the village resulted in the deaths of more than 20 people and the injuries of 15 others.

Markar Melkonian, brother of Monte Melkonian, who participated in the capture of the village, describes in his book My Brother's Road that the fighters from Arabo and Aramo units gathered thirty-eight Azerbaijani captives, including several women and other non-combatants, in a ditch on the outskirts of the village. One of the captives in the ditch tossed a grenade, injuring one of the captors. The Arabo and Aramo fighters who were already "wishing to avenge the death of another comrade the day before, began stabbing and shooting their captives", until all died. One of the Armenian fighters doused several wounded Azerbaijani soldiers with gasoline and burned them alive. Melkonian's brother wrote that Monte was against killings - he commanded that "no captives were to be harmed".{{cite book|last=Melkonian|first=Markar|title=My brother's road: an American's fateful journey to Armenia|publisher=I.B. Tauris|year=2005|isbn=978-1-85043-635-5|pages=211–212}}

After the capture of Garadaghly, the Azerbaijani defence minister Tajeddin Mehdiyev was fired.

Letters had been sent by Azerbaijan to the United Nations, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Red Cross condemning the killing of Azerbaijani civilians.{{cite web|author=|date=17 February 2010|title=QARADAĞLI QƏTLİAMINDAN 18 İL KEÇİR|url=http://www.musavat.com/new/Qaraba%C4%9F_x%C9%99b%C9%99rl%C9%99ri/70743-QARADA%C4%9ELI_Q%C6%8FTL%C4%B0AMINDAN_18_%C4%B0L_KE%C3%87%C4%B0R|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521081417/http://www.musavat.com/new/Qaraba%C4%9F_x%C9%99b%C9%99rl%C9%99ri/70743-QARADA%C4%9ELI_Q%C6%8FTL%C4%B0AMINDAN_18_%C4%B0L_KE%C3%87%C4%B0R|archive-date=21 May 2010|publisher=Yeni Musavat}}

• Khojaly massacre
• Maraga massacre
• Capture of Gushchular and Malibeyli

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{{Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict}}

{{Anti-Azerbaijanism}}

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Category:Conflicts in 1992

Category:Battles of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War

Category:1992 in Azerbaijan

Category:February 1992 in Asia

Category:Mass murder in 1992

Category:Battles involving the Republic of Artsakh

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