Guba, April-May 1918. Documented Pogroms of the Muslims

110

pieces and burned to ashes. As it was established later, the unit led

by Amazasp left behind 122

totally devastated and looted Muslim-

populated residential areas in Guba Uyezd, such as Davachi, Saa-

dan, Charkhaneh, Darazarast, Zaghlyjan, Alikhanly, Eynbulag, Arab

Al-Mammad, Aghasibeyli, Kelany, Arab-Khamiye, Tughay, Nardarin,

Siyazan, Rahimli, Sura, Gulimlar, But-But, Andrey-Abad, Khalillar, Ga-

ragashly, Ashaga-Kushi, Sarvan, Amirkhaim, Tura. Aykun, Jey, Kybla-

Grez, Gara-Gurtly, Karaj, Narijan, Khudat, Lower Budug, Khachmaz

Station, Old and New Khachmaz, Murshid Sube, Azizlyar, Garagilly,

Nabur, Khasbulat, Bibishi, Babashlu, Ashali, Mehrali, Bey-Gyshlaq,

Guyu-Guraki, Dendenik, Mursali-Gyshlaq, Charkhi, Khyrda-Oymaq,

Garachayly, Lanluk-Oba, Khyzry Feriz, Er-Qoj, Gluli, Hassan-Efendi,

Arab, Arab-Sof, Gara-Baghy, Chahmakly, Jagatay, Kazsiniye-Ilkhy, Ava-

ran, Khural, Chilakir, Khazri 2, Ajiakhur, Zubul, Dustair, Okur, Greater

Muruq, Gijan, Kusary, Imam-Gulu, Yukhary-Zikhur, Hassan-Gala, Urva,

Ashagelik, Lower Leki-Khel, Old Khudad, Avkhchik, Zeykhur, Kuzun,

Chatkun, Ghezun, Yesab, Nughedy, Amsar, Aski-Igrih, Dashty-Yatagh,

Teki, Kamysh-Kyshlaghi, Alibey-Gyshlaq, Igrikh, Anygh, Lower Khuch,

Alpan, Digah, Elzik, Mirza Mammadkand, Uchken, Hajji Gayib Gysh-

laq, Susay, Khuch Bala, Jim, Buduk, Rustov, Yengikend, Tlyabi, Chichi,

Sahub, Nudin, Zirgva, Akhurcha

60 men, women and children were murdered and 53 persons

wounded in the course of the devastation of the villages named

above. Devastation of households, premises and public facilities fol-

lowed by loot of personal assets and livestock resulted in an overall

damage equal to 58,121,059 rubles

inflicted to the local residents.

As it may be concluded from Ghelovani’s testimonies, Amazasp’s

squad was sent to Guba with exclusively punitive mission following

the instruction of Commissar Shaumyan

, without any knowledge or

consent of other commissars. Selection of troops was made by the

then Military Commissar Korganov

, so the squad was manned ex-

clusively by ethnic Armenians, all of them members of

Dashnaktsu-

tyun

party and led by a zealous Dashnaktsutyun activist Veluntz. The

squad was styled

‘Punitive’,

with no political agenda to be pursued

whatsoever.

This fact was admitted by Amazasp himself who, addressing the

residents of Guba made it absolutely clear by stating: “I am the hero

of the Armenian nation and the advocate of its interests. I was sent