Khojaly Town

By admin on February 28, 2012 - 4:55 pm in About Khojaly / no comments

Khojaly was a settlement in Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan situated in the strategic point on the road Agdam-Shusha, Khankendi (Stepanakert) — Askeran and the only airport in Karabakh. Khojaly was the second largest town of Azerbaijanis in Nagorno-Karabakh with population more than 7 thousand people. Khojaly received a status of a town back in 1990, due to the increase of the population (many Turks — meskhets with families escaping from Fergana and Azerbaijan refugees from Armenia took shelter here), construction of new blocks of flats and branches of powerful industrial enterprises.

The population was mainly engaged in cattle breading, beekeeping, viticultu e, and farming. The town had a textile factory, 2 secondary schools and 2 junior secondary schools.Developments, which were taking place then, forced 54 Meskhetian Turkish families who left Fergana (Uzbekistan) as well as Azerbaijanis deported from Armenia and Khankendi to settle in the town.

Khojaly had been blockaded since October 1991. After the motor traffic was cut on October 30. helicopters remained the only transport. The last helicopter landed in Khojaly on January 28, 1992. This communication was also cut after the civil helicopter above Shusha was shot down,leaving 40 people dead. The electricity supply was disrupted in the town from January 2. The town was protected mainly by militia (police) and national army soldiers armed with small arms.

Late on February 25 the city was under the intensive fire from the town of Khankendi and Askeran. military hardware of the 366th regiment occupied military positions. A barrack and defense post were destroyed first. Part of infantry entered the town on February 26 between 13.00 and 16.00. The last post was annihilated at 19.00.

Since 26 of February 1992,  Khojaly is under occupation of  Republic of Armenia.