159
gathering together, an Armenian. Amazasp’s aide from Constanti-
nople, told us that they spared a lot of Muslims because Mulla Haj-
jibaba had rescued a number of Armenian women. He even told us
that Shaumyan ordered them to exterminate all Muslims mercilessly,
and the only reason they did not do that is due to Mullah Hajjibaba.
I don’t know the name of this Armenian. Near the mosque I also met
a Guba-based Armenian Arutyun Mirzajanov who told me that even
should the Armenians murdered hundred times more Muslims, they
still would fall short of what the Muslims had done to the Armenians.
I saw no other Armenians I am familiar with.
My personal assets were not plundered, what was looted though
is the property of my daughters.
I have nothing to add to this.
Read aloud to and signed by the witness in Arabic characters
Translated by E.Khanbudaghov (certified by a signature)
Signed by A.Novatski, the member of the Commission
Reference: SARA, f.1061, op.1, d.96, ll.115-116(verso)
File No.71
Record of Examination
On this 27th day of December, 1918, in Guba
Novatski, member of the Ad Hoc Investigation Commission es-
tablished by the Government of Azerbaijan, examined the following
person as a witness, pursuant to Articles 307 and 443 of the Criminal
Proceedings Regulations:
Witness: Abasbey, Balabey oghlu Hassanbeyov, aged 43, li-
terate, resident of Baku, address of residence: 109, intersection
of Chardovaya and Persidskaya Streets.
On March 23, 1918, after the truce, I fled from Guba to Baku
with all my household of 8 persons. We walked out of home at 10
o’clock in the morning. When we were moving down the hill, along
the Trans-Caucasian railroad between the city and Balajary, we were
attacked by a grouh of more than 10 Armenian soldiers who stopped
us by screaming. Some of us scattered around, so the soldiers opened
fire. Since I am a sickly man, I could not escape. My family surrounded
Documents on the Devastation of Guba
Witness Testimonies of Residents of the Town of Guba