“The brother of the officer who was with us had died, but they did not tell him so that he would not be shaken on the battlefield. This thought hurt me on one side of my mind. I asked Nikati again, my father. He said That’s okay. But this came to my mind, I said, “Tell me, you’re dying, okay? “That word did not come to my father’s tongue. Later I realized that a father said to his son in the middle of the war: “You die!” It was perhaps the harshest word.”
This is on the eve of Victory Day. Oku.Az In an interview, said Ashraf Guliyev, one of the two brothers who received the “Participant of the Patriotic War” medal for the liberation of Fuzuli, Khojavand and Shusha. Ashraf and Nijat Guliyevin Oku.AzWe present the interview to:
– Two brothers from the same house and home went to war. How did your parents take it?
Salvation – The core of our patriotism comes from our parents. We were raised like this: connected to the land, the homeland, the people. From a very young age, our parents used to watch the programs broadcast on January 20, the Khojaly tragedies and the days of the occupation of our lands, and inform us about the events. That is, it has been absorbed into our brain and soul since childhood. That’s why we volunteered for the front in the April battles and later in the 44-day war.
Ashraf – They called us to train on September 21. First I got a call, then my brother. The war had not yet started, but there was tension on the front. Our parents were a little worried. We said we will go even if it is training or war. We spent a week training at the Pirekaşkül military unit. On the morning of the 27th we began fighting in the direction of Fuzuli.
– What feelings did you have in the first days of the war, full of emotion and tension?
Salvation – At first it was difficult. Because we saw that it is not like the battles of April. But the hardest thing for me was the idea that my brother was somewhere there, in that war. Our specialties were different and we were fighting in different directions. The first four days were very intense fighting. I couldn’t see Ashraf during those days. Four days later I saw him, heard his voice and we hugged. I could only say this: take care of yourself and entrust yourself to God. Then the fighting continued, we couldn’t see each other, but we could only know that we were alive. It was the greatest joy there. Because at that moment I was more worried about Ashraf than myself, and Ashraf was more worried about me than himself.
Ashraf – We couldn’t communicate often. We called home when we could. We knew it was safe to go through the house. But when fighting broke out around Shusha, communication was lost. During that period, about 10 days, I could not contact my home. I was very worried about Nijat. Then I called home as soon as the network was connected. I spoke to my father and mother, then I spoke to Nicat’s fiancée, she cried. I’m bad. They didn’t say what it was. I was worried too. I couldn’t express the question in my heart. I didn’t want to ask. But it ate me. They say my speech is dry, so I am. I didn’t know how to ask Nicat. My father’s voice was worried and my mother’s voice was weak. In the end, I somehow concentrated and asked Nicat. They said it was good. He was not satisfied with the word “good.” It happened that the brother of the officer who was with us died, but they did not tell him so that he would not be shaken on the battlefield, so that he would not be bad, so that he would not lose motivation. This idea also hurt one side of my mind. I asked Nicat again, my father said it’s okay. But I thought of this, I said, “Hey, you’re dying, okay?!” That word did not come to my father’s tongue. Later I realized that a father told his son in the middle of a war: “Die!” It was perhaps the hardest word to say. But he swore that Nijat is safe.
Despite this, I still had anxiety in my heart. I said, if Nijat calls, tell him to dial this number so that I can hear his voice. Sometime after an hour (this hour was too much for me, I couldn’t find solace) Nijat called me from an unknown number. His voice sounded different to me, I suspected. I started asking him questions that only the two of us knew. I was convinced after he answered me. After returning home after the end of the war, my father said they were worried about me. When there was no news for ten days, they even went to the morgues. And that’s why they cry when I call.
Salvation – Seeing that there was no news from Ashraf for ten days, our little brother also signed up for the volunteer front without being informed of his home. The people at home knew when the call came to the house. But since the two brothers were fighting, they didn’t take him.
– War is hard. But what was the worst part of the war?
Salvation – There was only one thought in my mind: how will we return from the war? After all, we both came out safely. If I am suddenly safe, if my brother is martyred, or left without limbs, or if I come back like this, how will our life continue after that? Or if we are both martyrs, what will happen to our parents? These thoughts were very heavy and painful for me. Furthermore, we had comrades in arms. The person you were talking to and laughing with a minute ago was a martyr a little later. The children next to us were dwindling. I was just afraid of losing. But I wasn’t afraid of myself. Still, I went to the front at the risk of becoming a martyr.
Ashraf – What Nicat said was also hard for me. But it was also the most difficult decision. It is very difficult to make a decision there, at that moment, in those circumstances. For example, there was a time when he was seriously injured near us. And they all had only one “jchut.” If you give it to someone, you will get hurt and may die from blood loss. But as soon as my first companion was injured, I didn’t have to think about anything, I immediately put my “jujut” on him. I thought if I’m going to be a martyr, let me be one.
The April battles were short-lived. But these battles were really tough. The battle may seem easy from the sidelines. But it is not. Believe me, when you kill an enemy for the first time, you can’t understand or accept it. But when you remember that they are guarding our land, oppressing us, committing genocide against the people of Khojaly and by order of the Supreme Commander, you understand that this step is correct.
Salvation – I was injured on October 13. They took me to Fuzuli hospital. I applied at the end of October and was back in the fray. Ashraf was there. I had to go too. We went together, we should have been together until the end. There is no higher peak than martyrdom, I thought that although we are martyrs, we are martyrs together.
– What protected you in the war? What do you think made you return safely?
Salvation – If there is a force that protects a person, no matter what happens, nothing happens to him. I am sure that the prayers of my parents and God, who accepted those prayers, protected us. There I asked God for one thing. Either we both return home safely together when we leave the house, or we both become martyrs. I believe in one God. There is nothing there but God. Neither friends, nor acquaintances, nor family…
Ashraf – One of my fears was about Nijat, who would be safe. I am a person of faith. For a person of faith, there is no higher peak than martyrdom, there is no higher moment than martyrdom. Sometimes I think I shouldn’t have been a martyr.
– Have you ever dreamed there?
Ashraf – Once I was very hungry. I fell asleep in the trench at midnight. I dreamed that I dipped bread in condensed milk and ate it with great pleasure. I woke up and found myself biting the collar of my jacket, it was wet. I quickly looked around to see if anyone saw me?! I felt very bad at that moment. Now I laugh at that memory.
Salvation – He was awake even when he slept because he was an explorer. I could hear what was being said and see what was happening. But I started having dreams mainly after the war. As soon as I closed my eyes, I saw images of war. Sometimes I was afraid to close my eyes. When I woke up, I didn’t know if I was in a dream or in a real war…
Ashraf – I had dreams before the war, as if they said there would be war. Since I have higher education, I served for one year. But in my dreams they said that I have six months of service left. They were calling to come and complete their service. It was probably a sign of that.
– Where and how did you meet for the first time after the war?
Salvation – I was in Shusha. Although I knew Ashraf was there, I didn’t know his exact location. We couldn’t meet there. We also met in Jabrayil. Since we were in the same military unit, we went down in parts. We arrived first. But there was still no news from Ashraf. The road was also bad. Sometimes the cars overturned. There were a lot of things happening. I was very worried when Ashraf came out. It was already dark when I knew he was coming. Calling his name, I wandered among the people. And there we met for the first time after the end of the war.
– Did you regret anything there?
Ashraf – I don’t. Once again, I was only worried about Nijat.
Salvation – I got engaged three days before going to the front. That’s all I regretted. If I suddenly became a martyr…
-How did you give your spouse hope when you were gone?
Salvation – I just said everything will be fine.
Mrs. Aydin
