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Former Military Commandant of Fuzuli and Khojavend: â€œThe decisions passed by courageous, brave Mahammad Asadov didnâ€™t satisfy authoritiesâ€ â€“ EXCLUSIVE

18 November 2011 10:48 (UTC +04:00)

Moscow. Farid Akberov â€“ APA. The military commander served in 1991, in Khojavend and Fizuli regions of Azerbaijan, Lieutenant-General Alexander Volokh expressed position to shooting down of a helicopter by Armenians near Garakend village of Khojavend region on November 20, 1991.

Lieutenant-General Volokh told APAâ€™s Moscow correspondent that if had gotten the positive response to the request to Interior Ministry on prolongation of assignment term, he would have been in that helicopter. Saying that he was a close friend with former Azerbaijani Interior Minister Mahammad Asadov, Volokh said that Asadov asked him to extend the assignment term: â€œAsadov was courageous, brave person who could pass the important decisions in tight situations. His decisions were not satisfying the authorities. I was respecting him. We had a great belief to each other. Thatâ€™s why he asked me to write a request on extension of my assignment term, because our assignment term was till the certain period. The other commandant had to replace me upon my assignmentâ€™s completion. But I was skeptical about the extension of my assignment term. I knew that they would not extend my assignment term. I said it to Asadov. My doubt had basis: nobody shared my opinion on stopping the aggression and supporting the people who suffered from the aggression. But despite it, Asadov asked me to write a request. Wordless, I wrote a request, because I am a warrior who doesnâ€™t like to retreat. I got the negative response to my request. They didnâ€™t need my servicesâ€.

Lieutenant-General Volokh said that the newly-appointed commandant had tensed the situation: â€œBecause he was out of touch with the problem. At night I carried him to Special Police Forceâ€™s battle position on the mountain. He asked the warriors in the battle position â€œListen, why you are fighting? Do so, let them capture Nakhchivan, and give Karabakh to youâ€. The soldiers answered him orderly. They said that both Nakhchivan and Karabakh were Azerbaijani lands. Then the new commandant said he didnâ€™t new that Nakhchivan was Azerbaijanâ€™s territory so far. It was very strange that a man sent here by the authorities didnâ€™t keep the track of events. But the decision was passed, he replaced me. I returned home. It was difficult for me to digest it. A week later when I was at home I heard the scream of my wife. She called me crying. I asked her what happened. She said that the helicopter with Asadov on board, had blasted. You know, if I had gotten the positive response to my request on extension of my assignment term, I would have been in the helicopter blasted in Garakend. I regret that Asadov died. I visit his grave during my every visit to Azerbaijan.

Volokh said that the other generals who died in the incident, have been forgotten: â€œIt causes regret. The killed generals tried to help Azerbaijani people, who were victims of the aggressionâ€.