24 Years Since Armenian Pogroms in Sumgait, Azerbaijan – February 1988

It is difficult to define the exact number of victims of Sumgait massacre due to refusal of Azerbaijani government to help. Based on the data provided by the Prosecutor’s office of Azerbaijan, the Prosecutor’s office of the USSR announced that 26 citizens of Armenian nationality perished in Sumgait (“Izvestiya”, 03.03.1988). Below is the incomplete list of innocent victims of Sumgait.
Lola Avagyan, born in 1961
Place of residence: Sumgait, block 45, 10/13, apt. 37
On February 29th, 1988 after her apartment was attacked, Avagyan was undressed and taken to the street. They made her dance, stabbed her with knives, cut her breast, stuck her body with lit cigarettes, and raped her. After death the body was mutilated; relatives recognized her by the little finger. Her father, Pavel Manvelyan said he had been in three morgues in Sumgait, Baku and Mardakyans (20 km away from Baku), and found body of his daughter in Mardakyans; she was number 71 among other corpses. Pavel Manvelyan testified in Moscow and signed the testimony. He has seen more than 100 piled dead bodies in three morgues. L. Avagyan’s husband, Alexander Avagyan was beaten within an inch of his life.
Yury Avagyan, born in 1936 in the village of Mohrenes, Hadrut region, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District
Place of residence: Sumgait, 3 micro district, 5/2, apt. 47
“Cerebral and ventricle hemorrhage, calvarium fracture, head wounds, burns all over the body” (After his apartment was attacked, Avagyan was taken to the street, beaten, cut up, burnt in the fire).
Albert Avanesyan, born in 1955
Address: Sumgait, block 5, 19/28, apt. 1
Acute hemorrhage, left lung and intercostal artery injury, penetrating stab and cut wounds on left side of the thorax. Albert was murdered with his brother Valery in the street.
Valery Avanesyan, born in 1957
Place of residence: Sumgait, block 5, 19/28, apt. 1
Cerebral and ventricle hemorrhage, compound wound of left zygomatic region, rib fracture, penetrating stab and cut wound of abdomen, mesentery injury. Valery was murdered with his brother Albert in the street.
Misha Ambartsumyan, born in 1941 in the village of Zamzur, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 4 micro district, 18/24, apt. 2
Murdered in the street. “Burn shock, third-degree burn of 2/3 of body surface, comminuted fracture of cranial bones, cerebral hemorrhage”
Artash Arakelyan, born in 1937 in the village of Chardakhlu, Shamkhor region, Azerbaijani SSR.
Place of residence: Sumgait, block 41A, 5A, apt. 9
“Cerebral hemorrhage, fracture of cranial bones and ribs, lung injury. Blunt trauma. Charred corpse”.
Armo Aramyan, born in 1928 in the village of Kyatuk, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 3 micro district, 6/2, apt. 21
“Cerebral membrane and ventricle hemorrhage, fracture of cranial bones”. Was murdered together with his son Arthur; his wife was saved by a miracle.
Arthur Aramyan, born in 1963 in the village of Kyatuk, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 3 micro district, 6/2, apt. 21
“Cerebral membrane and ventricle hemorrhage, fracture of cranial bones”. Was murdered together with his father; his mother was saved by a miracle.
Vladimir Arushanyan, born in 1936 in the village of Arjadzor, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 3 micro district, 6/2, apt. 16
“Cerebral soft membrane and ventricle hemorrhage”. His wife, R. Arushanyan (officially recorded as missing), was also killed.
Razmella Arushanyan, born in 1939 in the village of Chldran, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 3 micro district, 6/2, apt. 16
EXTRACT FROM AN APPEAL: COMRADES! On 28.02.88 about 24:00 citizen Razmella Arushanyan, born in 1939, left the central checkpoint of the tube-rolling mill; she is missing. Last time she was seen naked among an outrageous crowd of people on Mir Street near the railway crossing.
INVESTIGATORS:
PAVLOVSKY S.
KOZLENKO A.
Arshak Babayan, born in 1931 in the village of Akaku, Hadrut region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 4 block, 27A, apt. 12
He was killed at home. “Cerebral soft membrane and ventricle hemorrhage, fracture of cranial bones and left ribs, blunt trauma of the body”.
Yelena Babayan, born in 1932 in the village of Metsashen, Martakert region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 12 micro district, 29, apt. 52
According to her husband Artyusha Babayan, she was beaten on February 28th on her way home from work. She lied at home motionlessly until March 16th. The ambulance refused to take her to hospital. Yelena Babayan died on March 16th.
Alexander Gambaryan, born in 1926 in the village of Verkhny Chaylu, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 3 micro district, 17, apt. 40
Was killed at home by a crowbar blow. Craniocerebral injury.
Emma Grigoryan, born in 1930 in the village of Armyanskie Borisy, Shahumyan region.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 3 micro district, 5/2, apt. 45
Naked, she was taken to the street from the 4th floor and set on a bench in front of the doorway. They burnt cigarettes on her body, raped her, smashed her head, broke the ribs, stuck a metal pipe into her vagina.
“Shock, hemorrhage, rupture of posterior wall of vagina, rectum wall injury, retroperitoneal haematoma, fracture of II – VI right bones and X thoracic vertebra”.
Nikolay Danielyan, born in 1939 in the village of Badara, Askerna region, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 3 micro district, 4/2, apt. 25
Was taken to the street together with his wife and son. His wife was also killed; son was badly wounded.
“Cerebral membrane and ventricle hemorrhage, cranial bones fracture, blunt head trauma”.
Seda Danielyan, born in 1938.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 3 micro district, 4/2, apt. 25
Was taken to the street together with her husband and son; was killed after malicious insults. “Cerebral membrane and ventricle hemorrhage, cranial bones fracture, blunt head trauma”.
Garry Martirosov, born in 1954.
Place of residence: Baku, Lenin Ave, 43, apt 16
“Cerebral hemorrhage, cranial bones fracture, 3rd- and 4th-degree burns all over the body. On 29.02.88 in 15:30 – 16:30 was taken out of a ”RAF” or “UAZ” minibus near the railway crossing; was beaten; then burnt.
Soghomon Melkumyan, born in 1931 in the village of Jilan, Hadrut region, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District
Place of residence: Sumgait, block 41A, 26, apt. 21
Was killed with his wife and three children. “Burn of the body, open penetrating craniocerebral injury”.
Raisa Melkumyan, born in 1934 in the village of Jilan, Hadrut region, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District
Place of residence: Sumgait, block 41A, 26, apt. 21
Was killed with her husband and three children. Was taken naked to the doorway. After the murder the teenagers scoffed at the body. “Acute hemorrhage, chopped calvarium wound, rectum wound with hemorrhage, fracture of 5th right rib, grazes and bruises over the body”.
Igor Melkumyan, born in 1957 in the village of Jilan, Hadrut region, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District
Place of residence: Sumgait, block 41A, 26, apt. 21
Was killed with his mother, father, sister and brother. After being beaten was burnt alive. “Burn shock, 2nd and 3rd degree burns of the body. Carbon monoxide gassing. Compound occiput wound.”
Irina Melkumyan, born in 1961 in the village of Jilan, Hadrut region, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District
Place of residence: Sumgait, block 41A, 26, apt. 21
Was killed with four other members of her family – mother, father, and two brothers. Was raped, then taken naked to the street. Was burnt after being mocked at and beaten. “Cerebral membrane and ventricle hemorrhage, chopped head wound, fractures of calvarium and skull base, charred corpse”.
Eduard Melkumyan, born in 1960 in the village of Jilan, Hadrut region, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District
Place of residence: Sumgait, block 41A , 26, apt. 21
Was killed with his mother, father, sister and brother. Accomplished his military service in the Soviet Army in Afghanistan. “Cerebral membrane and ventricle hemorrhage, cranial bones fracture. (Was burnt and mutilated so much that his body was recognized by the shoes.)
Phiruza Melkumyan, 70 year old
Was born in the village of Garnakar, Martakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District
Place of residence: Sumgait, 17 micro district, 51, apt. 59
Was killed at home on February 29 at 16:00. She was beaten, then her body was cut by numerous axe blows. Her screams were heard throughout the whole 17 micro district; no one came for help.
Yersilya Movsesova, born in 1902 in Martuni region of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District.
Lived in Baku, was killed in Sumgait, 3 micro district, 6/2A, apt 18.
“Cerebral hemorrhage, fracture of cranial bones, multiple rib fracture, blunt head and body trauma”. Among other wounds 31 knife wounds were recorded.
Shahen Sarkisyan, born in 1927 in the village of Karakend, Martuni region, of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District.
Place of residence: Sumgait, block 5, 14, apt. 16
“Radial fracture of occipital bone, fracture of sternum and 6 ribs…Death was caused a severe craniocerebral injury”, thus 62-year old carpenter Shahen Sarkisyan was dying, being thrown out by the outrageous mob from his car on Mir street (STREET OF PEACE) in Sumgait (Moskovskie Novosti, N 21, 22.05.88)
Rafik Tovmasyan, born in 1956 in the village of Vank, Martakert region, of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 3 micro district, 6/2, apt. 8
Acute hemorrhage. (Was defending himself during 8 hours with his father-in-law at their neighbours’ place, the Trdatovs. Azeri gangsters tried to get into the apartment through the broken partition of the neighbouring apartment, the balcony of the upper floor and then with the help of the ladder of the fire engine that came to help. Was killed in the unequal fight.)
Gabriel Trdatov, born in 1925 in the village of Kerkenj, Shemakhi region, Azeri SSR.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 3 micro district, 6/2, apt. 6
Was defending himself with his son, wife and two neighbours (Hrant Adamyan and his son-in-law – Rafik Tovmasyan) during 8 hours from gangster Azeris who tried to get into the apartment through the door, the broken partition of the neighbouring apartment, the balcony of the upper floor and then with the help of the ladder of the fire-engine that came to help. He got 3 knife wounds, two axe blows, his left eardrum burst from a stone blow. He died in the hospital on March 4 night.
Tamara Mekhtieva, 70-75 year old
Was born in the town of Sisian, Armenian SSR.
Place of residence: Sumgait, 3 micro district, 16, apt. 49
A single woman with no relatives. Was killed and thrown out to the hallway. A neighbour saw her dead body.
Arusyak Sayan, born in 1914 in Fizuli.
Place of residence: Sumgait, block 14, Azizbekov Str. 38/5, apt. 8
On February 29 Sayan’s state of health deteriorated abruptly due to events happening in the city. She was refused emergency medical aid; the refusal motivation was: “Armenians should have it more”. She died the same day. Arusyak Sayan’s body was buried on March 1st without her daughter’s and relatives’ participation; they could not leave the city committee building where troops evacuated the Armenian population of Sumgait.
A several month old infant
Died in the building of Vurgun club, where troops evacuated part of the Armenian population of Sumgait. The baby died on the hands of Badasyan Zaven. There were no wounds or bruises on his body, but the chaos, insanitariness, and absolutely absence of medical care during the first days allow to consider the baby a victim of Sumgait tragedy. On March 6th, after the baby’s death all the Armenians were forced to leave the club building due to the reason that any moment dysentery and typhus epidemic may burst out in the club.
Source: http://sumgait.info/