Today marks 5 years since Azerbaijan's second largest city, Ganja, was once again subjected to missile fire by the Armenian Armed Forces during the Patriotic War. As a result of that attack, which occurred in the autumn of 2020, innocent people lost their lives, and significant damage was inflicted upon the city's civilian population and infrastructure.
Among the eyewitnesses of the Ganja terror are Sevil and Huseyn.
The Modern.az website has interviewed Sevil Aliyeva, who witnessed those bloody moments.
“Although 5 years have passed since then, I cannot forget that night. Those were inexpressibly difficult moments that left an indelible mark on one's memory. The fact that the terror occurred at an unexpected time – in the middle of the night – made everything even more difficult. At that moment, I experienced true helplessness for the first time in my life.”
These words were spoken to our website by Sevil Aliyeva, who lost both her parents during the Ganja terror.
Ms. Sevil also spoke about the moments when her husband saved her:
“I don't remember the exact time, but it wasn't long before I heard my husband Talish's voice. He arrived before everyone else. First, he helped me, trying to get me out of the house. But I told him I couldn't leave my parents there. We went into their room, where an unimaginable scene prevailed – sounds were mixed together. Cries of anguish were heard everywhere. Among those sounds, I also heard my father's voice... He was already taking his last breath. Although he was covered with stones and soil, his voice was still audible. As soon as Talish understood the situation, he picked me up and forcibly took me out of the house.”
Our interviewee also spoke about her husband's selflessness:
“Talish and I studied in the same class and were also neighbors. Life always kept us together. He never left me alone in any difficult moment. Although we were young, he always tried to be my support. Over the years, he became the person I trusted most, my closest friend, my confidant, and finally, truly my husband. This is a great happiness for me,” she stated.
Sevil Aliyeva also emphasized that getting through those days was not easy:
“May God spare any child from such pain. Those ruins, the cries of people, the lifeless bodies could not be erased from my sight or my hearing. For months I couldn't sleep; each time, my father's last voice echoed in my ears. It is still very difficult for me to talk about these things.”
“After a while, I understood that I had to live,” she added:
“Because I had a brother entrusted to my care. Now, in addition to being his sister, I also had to be his mother and father. With this thought, I tried to grasp a thread of life and move forward.”
According to Sevil, her brother Huseyn was not at home that day:
“Because he was scared, he was staying with my grandmother in Shamkir. He was eight years old at the time. Now he lives with me and is in the eighth grade. Huseyn loved my mother very much and for a long time did not believe in her loss. For months he waited, hoping that perhaps my mother would come, or at least call. But with time, he, like me, found strength. I drew support from him, and he from me.”
It should be noted that Sevil Aliyeva will become a mother in the near future.
