Alif Hajiyev

Alif Haciyev Latif oglu (Azerbaijani: Alif Haciyev Lətif oğlu) (June 24, 1953 – February 26, 1992) was an Azerbaijani officer, Commandant of Khojaly Airport and National Hero of Azerbaijan.[1]

Alif Hajiyev
Alif Hajiyev during Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Born(1953-06-24)June 24, 1953
Khojaly, Azerbaijan
DiedFebruary 26, 1992(1992-02-26) (aged 38)
Khojaly
AllegianceRepublic of Azerbaijan
Years of service1990-1992
RankMajor, Commandant of Khojaly Airport
Commands heldKhojaly garrison
Battles/warsNagorno-Karabakh War
AwardsNational Hero of Azerbaijan
1993

Early years

Alif Hajiyev was born on June 24, 1953, in Khojaly.[2] From 1971 through 1973, Hajiyev served in Soviet Armed Forces and was stationed in Minsk, Belarus. In 1974–84, he held various positions in Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belorussian SSR and militia of NKAO of Azerbaijan SSR. In December 1990, Alif Hajiyev was appointed head of administration and commandant of Khojaly airport. In December 1991, Hajiyev was promoted to a rank of major.

Khojaly Massacre
A memorial to Hajiyev

Alif Hajiyev helped the completely surrounded town survive for a few months with no gas and electricity, limited supply of food.[3] When the Armenian offensive from three sides started on February 25, Alif gave an order to evacuate the town. The few defenders along with Hajiyev escorted the crowd of civilians along the Gorgor river valley overnight to the open plain near the village Nakhichevanli, just six miles away from Azerbaijani positions in Şelli village of Agdam. That's where the mass killing of Azerbaijani civilians by Armenian militants occurred in the early morning hours of February 26 which became known as Khojaly Massacre.[4]

Death

Alif Hajiyev was one of the few Azeri combatants escorting hundreds of Azerbaijani civilians fleeing Khojaly. While crossing a road in groups, civilians were defended by Hajiyev who exchanged fire with Armenian troops. While covering the third group, Hajiyev was shot dead while changing magazines.[5] The bullet hit him in the head. Hajiyev was one of 40 defendants of the city which were stationed in Khojaly. Only 10 survived. 613 Azerbaijanis died on February 26.[6] Hajiyev was buried in Martyrs' Lane, Baku.[4]

Honors

He was survived by his wife, Gala Hajiyeva.[4] He was posthumously awarded the title of the National Hero of Azerbaijan.

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See also

References
  1. Elman Mammadov (Autumn 1999). "Running For Our Lives. Massacre and Flight From Khojali". Azerbaijan International: 54–56. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  2. Mammadova, Havva (2005). Ходжалы: шехиды и шахиды : армянский терроризм как составная часть международного терроризма [Khojaly: martyrs and princes: Armenian terrorism as an integral part of international terrorism] (in Russian). Dom skazki. p. 191. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  3. Pope, Hugh (2005). Sons of the conquerors: the rise of the Turkic world. Michigan: Overlook Duckworth. p. 59. ISBN 1-58567-804-X. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  4. Goltz, Thomas (1999). Azerbaijan Diary: A Rogue Reporter's Adventures in an Oil-Rich, War-Torn, Post-Soviet Republic. Michigan: M.E. Sharpe, Inc. pp. 122–129. ISBN 0-7656-0244-X. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  5. "The Independent (London), 12 June 1992". Justice for Khojaly. Archived from the original on 5 April 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  6. Список жертв армянского террора в Ходжалы [List of victims of armenian terror in Khojaly] (in Russian). Nash Vek. February 23, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
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