Shahbaz Guliyev, an Azerbaijani civilian who was held captive by Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh for six years, fired new allegations about his 2014 trip to Kalbajar, which was then under Armenian control. Speaking via live streaming on local online outlet Xural TV, Guliyev claimed that he and his partner Dilgam Asgarov were sent to Kalbajar on the orders of then-Deputy-Prime-Minister Ali Hasanov.
We were sent to Kalbajar right from Ali Hasanov’s cabinet. They handed us over guns, grenades and sent us off. They called me and told me “The state needs you.” At first they wanted to send me alone. I said, “Dilgam knows those places better”. Back then Dilgam was in trouble with the police in Shamkir. They took him out of jail and had him accompany me as a guide.
Shahbaz Guliyev
Guliyev added that a cassette he once gave to Hasanov was later shown to him by Armenians when he was captive.
What happened in 2014: In July 2014, Asgarov, Guliyev, and another civilian Hasan Hasanov traveled to Kalbajar district, which was then under control of the Armenian army, allegedly to visit their relatives’ graves. As a result, Armenian forces took Asgarov and Guliyev hostage and killed Hasanov. The two were brought in to the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Court. Asgarov was sentenced to life in prison, and Guliyev 22 years.
How they were freed: As a trilateral statement between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia was signed on November 10, 2020, which ended the 2020 war over Nagorno-Karabakh, one of the points was the release of prisoners of war and hostages from both sides of conflict. On December 14, 2020, Asgarov and Guliyev were returned to Azerbaijan along with other Azerbaijani prisoners of war as part of exchange mediated by Russian peacekeeping command in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Reaction: Ali Hasanov, in response, stated that he doesn’t even know Guliyev and advised to contact Asgarov.
