Armenians who refused to transfer money to ‘Krunk’ organization of the Armenian separatists were killed over the night from February 27 to 28, 1988. Armenian Grigoryan Eduard Robertovich, whose nickname was Pasha headed the insurgence. Grigoryan had the list of people`s names and addresses that did not support the organization. 

People’s Artist of Azerbaijan, Afag Bashirgizi was questioned as she tried to calm people who gathered in squares risking her life. 

Femida.az/AzVision.az presents the interview with People’s Artist of Azerbaijan, Afag Bashirgizi, who is a witness of Sumgayit Events. 

- What happened in Sumgayit on that day? 

The first deputy of the Party Committee of Sumgayit phoned me saying that there was a turmoil in the city. They needed our support to calm people down. There was an awful scenery when I arrived there. The square was full of people. 

- How did you realize that Armenians organized those events? 

You could distinguish active protestors for their special clothes in the square. Their black coats and Scottish scarves drew my attention. One in every five people had the same clothes. Sumgayit was a city of workers. One of the organizers of those events was caught in these clothes. They had a big list of Armenians. The target was not all Armenians. Only Armenians who did not support ‘Krunk’ organization were being killed. They did not enter the Armenians’ houses who supported the organization. At first, it was impossible to understand it. 

- They wanted to kill you too. 

At that time I was considered as an assailant of the Sumgayit Events. Academic Aganbekian wanted to arrest and kill famous people like me in order to deepen the situation. For that reason, Aganbekian was sending telegrams to the Armenian organizations. Even they took my posters from the club. They were trying to give me death penalty. 

- How long did the trial continue? 

9 months and 14 days. The Special Body of Moscow was leading the first six months of the trial. Afterwards, the Special Intelligence Body of Russia began to lead the trial. 

- How did you survive? 

They did not have any proof to arrest or shoot me. They had to have my videos calling to kill Armenians. On the contrary, I allowed Armenians to hide in my house. 

I was hiding 14 Armenians 

- How could you risk to host Armenians at such a state of tension?

I have hidden 14 Armenians and their guests in my one-roomed flat. They were Edik, Shura and her daughter, her husband, an Armenian couple and their son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Two days after, at around 01:30, I send them to the Tugh village of Azerbaijan`s Fuzuli region.

- Have you ever met them later?

No, I have never received any news from them. They were in the Tugh village. The last time we met he said, the people who were not the member of `Krunk` organization had been listed by the above-mentioned people in black coats. 

I was offered to sell those Armenians out for money 

- Did you know the people offering money to you?

It was impossible to recognize them, but they had hardly recognized me, too. As I hosted Armenians, someone had sneaked me. Suddenly, the door was knocked down. Two people in black coats stood at door together with 2-3 children. When I opened the door, they did not recognize me, but the children came with them did. Pointing at me the children said,`She is Afag Khanum`. `Is there any Armenian in your house?`- said one of them. The two people looked at each other surprisingly. They greeted me sincerely. They sounded Azerbaijanis. They were speaking in Azerbaijani fluently. Of course, later I realized that they were not Azerbaijanis, but Armenians.

- How did you handle the situation?

I was so excited. I have hidden some of them in bathroom, and the others in the kitchen. One of the people in a dark coat told me,they had been informed that I hosted Armenian people in my house.They would give me a lot of money if I told them where the Armenians hid. 

`Shame on you! Why are you offering me money? What does it mean? Do you really think that 14 people can fit into a one-roomed flat?`- I said.

- Have you ever seen any Armenian corpses during the Sumgayit Events?

No, I didn`t see. When I went back to the square, the whole situation was unmanageable. People were terrified. They were saying that,`a busload of corpses of Azerbaijani people were brought to the sea shore. Armenians cut their heads off.` When we demanded to bring the very people to the square, they went out of sight. They were the members of the `Krunk` organization. 

Their aim was to enrage Azerbaijanis against Armenians with such rumors. As a result, Azerbaijanis paid the prices of the Sumgayit Pogrom which was planned by Armenians. 

More about: Sumgayit-Events