She started her journalistic career at “Baku” newspaper, and then began working as a special correspondent for Molodezh Azerbaijana (The Youth of Azerbaijan). Prior to the beginning of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, Salatin was writing about contemporary issues of society. However, after the war broke out, Salatyn frequently visited the front line and provided press coverage from hot spots. Her family and colleagues tried to persuade her not to go to the front line jeopardizing her life. In such cases she would usually say: “If nobody goes, then who will?”
On 9 January 1991, the 29-year-old journalist was on her way to Shusha to prepare a story for the newspaper. At the 6th kilometer of the Lachin - Shusha highway, next to the village of Boyuk Galaderesi, the vehicle in which she was travelling was shot upon by Armenian militants firing from at almost point-blank range with machine guns and sniper rifles. The investigators counted 113 bullet holes in the vehicle. As a result of the attack, Salatin Asgarova died instantly.
Asgarova was buried in the Alley of Martyrs in Baku.
The attackers – Arno Mkrtchian, Hrachik Petrossian, A. Mongasagian and Garik Arustamian – were identified and arrested. They were later released and handed over to the Armenian authorities on May 8, 1996.
Salatin Asgarova was posthumously honored with the title of the National Hero of Azerbaijan under the presidential decree No.294 dated November 6, 1992.
Currently, a Baku street and a vessel in the Caspian Sea, and the village she died nearby carry her name.
Journalist Jeyhun Asgarov is the son of Salatin Asgarova.
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