The liberation of Shushi is of a great and invaluable moral significance

PanARMENIAN.Net - From November 1991 up to the first half of 1992 over 4740 shells were fired at Stepanakert from Shushi, Djangasan, Kesalar, Gaibalu. As a result 111 people were killed and 332 were injured, 370 houses were left in ruins. Moreover, there was no connection with Armenia through the Lacin corridor. In the result of the blockade there was lack of electricity, gas and healthy water, and the economics of the whole republic was in a very poor condition

After some successful operations at the end of 1991 and at the beginning of 1992, the liberation of Khojalu on February 25-26 of 1992 and the opening of the airport created all the economic, military and physiological preconditions for liberating Shushi.

The self-defense of the village Karintak on 25-26 January of 1992 was of great significance, when the small detachment of the Armenian volunteers was able to resist the counterattack organized by the huge army of the enemy from Shushi. By April 27, 1992 in Shushi, from where the population was replaced, a huge number of military equipment was established.

For liberating Shushi the Armenian side took a number of diplomatic and decisive actions. In its appeal to the UN Secretary General, CSCE Head and a number of countries, the attention was attracted to the genocide of the Armenian population and particularly to the slaughter in Maraga in April, 1991.

The military operation of liberation of Shushi was carried out on May 8 - 9. This military operation is one of the greatest ones in the Armenian History and brought a radical turn in the course of military operations of the Karabakh Liberation Movement.

The operative plan was worked out under the supervision of A. Ter-Tadevosyan right after Khodjalu was liberated. The plan was drawn in the moths of March - April, after the position, and the number of the enemy troops was clarified. The enemy was much larger in number. By April 28 the operation directions, the commending officers and the availability of forces were already clarified.

The attack was supposed to launch on May 4, but for some different reasons (lack of ammunition, bad weather etc.) it was postponed. At night on May 8, 4 attacking and 1 backup group of 1200 fighters made the attack.

The outcome of the military actions was already predetermined on May 8, when the subdivisions took very favorable positions. Seizure of the military actions in the evening of May 8 made it possible for the enemy to leave the city through the corridor.

At the noon enemy's first military plane and helicopters launched the attack. A number of Armenian units, as well as Shushi and Stepanakert were fiercely bombarded. Later it turned out that the aim of the air attack was liquidating of the few military ammunition depots left in Shushi, as well as the whole city, however they failed. The Church Khazanchetsots, where the Azeri kept their ammunition depots, also survived. The operation was almost done by the evening. On May 9 the old Armenian city-fortress was liberated.

This was 15 years ago and every year the Armenian Nation honors the memory of those who gave their life for independence, and the political figures who disdained the memory of about 10 400 victims for sake of power were left in shame.