of local crime detection unit Majid Gasymov were looted. Among the

patrimonial estates plundered and set ablaze there were the ones

belonging to esteemed local landlord families like the Shykhlyarskis,

the Ibrahimbeyovs, etc. A.Zizikski’s household was not spared either.

An interesting though wordy testimony by O.O.Gank, veteri-

narian of Guba Uyezd, provides another proof of forced exodus of Guba’s

Christian population threatened by bombardment and arson during

retreat of Ghelovani’s and Armenian squads. According to this docu-

ment, Christian women and children fleeing Guba did not suffer as

they were convoyed by the Lezghins and sheltered in the house of

Ibrahim-bey Shykhlyarski. (see File No.87)

Section 3

of the book, also comprising two parts, includes files

pertaining to the devastation of villages of Guba Uyezd. The first part

provides testimonies of rural community elders and villagers revealing

the details of attacks by Amazsp’s units on the villages of Guba Uyezd

on their way to Guba and back. What becomes clear from the testimo-

nies is that majority of village residents were warned about imminent

attacks of Armenian militants by either Guba townsfolk or residents of

neighbor villages. This saved dozens of thousands of lives. The testi-

monies describe cases of atrocities and extreme brutality of Armenian

soldiers who spared neither infants nor women, nor the elderly ones.

This part of the collection also comprises records of victims’

medical examinations conducted by A.Novatski assisted by a physi-

cian. The records were held to identify the degree of bodily harm

inflicted by the Armenian attackers. All testimonies by rural residents

mention the number of homes, mosques and other facilities set afire,

as well as killed and wounded villagers. Meanwhile some testimonies

also report of armed resistance to the Armenian squads.

Applications and requests by rural residents of Guba Uyezd re-

porting the damage inflicted as a result of arson, destruction of store-

houses and other facilities, livestock lifting and theft of other personal

stuff are also found in this part of the book.

The third part of this section deals with verdicts (conclusions) by

rural communities of Guba Uyezd regarding the damage suffered and

in compliance with the format offered by the Ad Hoc Investigation

Commission. The conclusions were compiled by common gatherings

of all residents in each village affected to provide all required data

such as the number of men, women and children killed, wounded

Events of 1918 in Guba in the Context of Plans for Mass Extermination

of Azerbaijan’s Muslim Population