There are heroes who have passed through the most difficult and terrible days of war and inscribed their names in history. One of them is the National Hero of Azerbaijan, the legendary warrior Natiq Gasimov, known to everyone. He is the hero who resisted the enemy for five days, hungry and thirsty, in a temple where the Azerbaijani flag was hoisted, and did not retreat...
The Modern.az website continues its “Last Photo of a Martyr” column to preserve the cherished memory of heroes who sacrificed their lives for the homeland. Our current presentation is dedicated to National Hero Natiq Salim oglu Gasimov.
February 24, 1992
According to the martyr's brother, Nofal Gasimov, this is Natiq's last photo taken before he left for the front.
“He had this photo taken on the 24th of the month and left directly for Karabakh from there. After Natiq went to war, I went and picked up the photo. A short time later, news of his disappearance arrived.”
One of the details that makes this photo even more poignant is that it was taken with the girl Natiq loved. According to his brother, the arm of the hero's beloved girl is also visible in this photo.
Our interlocutor states that the Khojaly tragedy was a turning point in Natiq's life.
“A few days after the tragedy, a letter found at home revealed that he had joined the “Karabakh Falcons” detachment led by Yaqub Rzayev. In the letters he addressed to us, he wrote that he could not sit comfortably at home while our people were being massacred in Karabakh and the honor of our mothers and sisters was being trampled upon. He was determined to go to the front. However, Natiq seemed to sense that he would not return. Perhaps taking this commemorative photo with the girl he loved also stemmed from that.”
In addition to all this, Italian-born photographer Enrico Sarzini, unknowingly, later captured Natiq Gasimov's unyielding spirit, fearlessness, and courage against the enemy in full detail. In one of the photos, Natiq carries the tricolor flag, accompanied by Armenian militants. That photo was published in an article titled "Fear" written by Konstantin Smirnov, which appeared in the April 1992 issue (№ 14-15) of "Ogonyok" magazine, one of the most popular periodicals of the former USSR. The photo depicts Natiq proudly walking between two bearded Armenians after heavy battles, holding our tricolor national flag.
Natiq Salim oglu Gasimov was born on January 2, 1971, in the village of Kichik Garamuradli, Gadabay district. After some time, he moved with his family to the city of Mingachevir. After graduating from school, he worked as a locksmith at Azerbaijan DRES and as a projectionist at the “Kosmos” cinema. He completed his military service in the Internal Troops in Russia's Krasnoyarsk region.
After being discharged from the army in 1991, he stayed with his family for only 20 days and then voluntarily went to defend the homeland. He participated in several fierce battles as part of the “Karabakh Falcons” battalion, earning the special admiration and respect of his comrades-in-arms with his patriotism and kindness.
By the decree of the President of Azerbaijan dated June 25, 2024, Natiq Salim oglu Gasimov was posthumously awarded the title of "National Hero of Azerbaijan".
Currently, Natiq Gasimov's name is among the symbolic graves of the missing in the Alley of Martyrs in Mingachevir.
