811th Lachin Alpine Rifle Regiment
The 811th Lachin Alpine Rifle Regiment (Azerbaijani: 811 сајлы Лачын дағ-атыҹы алајы/811 saylı Laçın dağ-atıcı alayı), or simply the Lachin Regiment (Azerbaijani: Лачын алајы/Laçın alayı), was a rifle regiment in the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, directly subordinated to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence, and designated for alpine warfare in Lachin District of Azerbaijan during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
| 811th Lachin Alpine Rifle Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Azerbaijani: 811 сајлы Лачын дағ-атыҹы алајы 811 saylı Laçın dağ-atıcı alayı | |
| Active | 27 March 1992–30 April 1992 (de jure) 15 October 1993 (de facto) |
| Country |  Azerbaijan |
| Allegiance | Azerbaijani Armed Forces |
| Branch |  Azerbaijani Land Forces |
| Type | Rifle regiment |
| Role | Alpine warfare |
| Size | 1,000+ (March 1992) |
| Garrison/HQ | Lachin (until April 1992) |
| Engagements | First Nagorno-Karabakh War
|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Arif Pasha |
| Chief of staff | Rafig Nagiyev |
The regiment was established on 27 March 1992, on the basis of Lachin Territorial Self-Defence Battalion. The regiment was abolished by the decree of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence on 30 April 1992, two weeks before the Armenian forces occupied Lachin. Despite this, the regiment continued its activity until late-1993, taking part in the battles in Lachin and Shusha.
History
editBackground
editIn the late 1980s, ethnic and territorial conflict broke out between the Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Initially, the Armenians carried out small attacks on the villages of Lachin District and buried primitive mines on the roads, which was mostly populated by the Azerbaijanis and Kurds. The district administration established a Defence Committee as the number policemen in the region was insufficient at the time. The Defence Committee was provided with an administrative building, transport and communication facilities on the instructions of the district administration. Thus, the first volunteers from Lachin, together with the local police, began to patrol the checkpoints in the border villages.[1]
Lachin Territorial Self-Defence Battalion
editİn late September 1991, the Azerbaijani authorities instructed local military officials to select several people from Karabakh and send them to Baku. In Baku, the military authorities identified commanders for the self-defence battalions, which were to be established in the districts of Karabakh.[2] Arif Pasha, who left Lachin for Baku, and was the chairman of the Lachin branch of the Azerbaijani Popular Front Party since late 1989, was selected commander of the Lachin Territorial Self-Defence Battalion (Azerbaijani: Лачын әрази өзүнүмүдафиә баталјону/Laçın ərazi özünümüdafiə batalyonu), which was also known as the Lachin Battalion (Azerbaijani: Лачын баталјону/Laçın batalyonu).[3]
After Arif Pasha returned to Lachin, a session of the Lachin District Executive Committee was held. Arif Pasha was confirmed as the commander of the battalion to be established in Lachin. It was recommended at the session to form a contingent of officers from 1 to 4 October, to gather soldiers and hold certain trainings from 4 to 8 October, and to report on the establishment of the Lachin Territorial Self-Defence Battalion on 9 October. On 28 September 1991, mobilisation was declared in Lachin District. Officers were appointed from 1 to 4 October, per the recommendation.[3] By the order of Arif Pasha, Rafig Nagiyev was appointed the chief of staff on 1 October.[2]
The battalion, initially consisting of 250 men, numbered 800 in December 1991 and more than 1,000 in March 1992.[1] According to the battalion commander Arif Pasha, after the mobilisation was announced in the district, there were 500 people in the line as of 10 October 1991. On 15 October 1991, 560 people were sworn in.[3]
811th Lachin Alpine Rifle Regiment
edit811th Lachin Alpine Rifle Regiment was established on 27 March 1992, on the basis of Lachin Territorial Self-Defence Battalion. Arif Pasha was the commander of the military unit, while Rafig Nagiyev was its chief of staff.[4] The regiment was abolished on 30 April 1992, by the decree of the then Azerbaijani Minister of Defence, Rahim Gaziyev, and was subordinated to the 704th Brigade, which was commanded by Elbrus Orujov. 18 days later, Lachin was occupied by the Armenian forces.[5] Raziyev later stated that he did not read the main part of the decree and blamed the General Staff for its abolition.[6] According to Arif Pasha, the regiment continued its activities after its de jure abolition.[7] According to Rafig Naghiyev, the regiment assisted the Azerbaijani forces in Dashalty during the Battle of Shusha in May 1992. Naghiyev stated that the regiment, which included policemen from Lachin, moved inside Shusha to assist the Azerbaijani forces, but they were not commanded by anyone.[8] After this, most of the servicemen in the 811th Lachin Alpine Rifle Regiment were transferred to the 896th Jabrayil Regiment, and took part in the Operation Horadiz.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b "Laçın niyə işğal olundu- Xəyanət, Xaos, yoxsa.?! - Sabiq qərargah rəisi danışır (MÜSAHİBƏ)" [Why was Lachin occupied - Betrayal, Chaos or not ?! - Former Chief of Staff speaks (INTERVIEW)]. Qlobal.az (in Azerbaijani). 15 May 2017. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Laçının işğalı ilə bağlı həqiqətlər - Laçın alayının sabiq qərargah rəisi danışır (MÜSAHİBƏ)" [Facts about the occupation of Lachin - Former Chief of Staff of Lachin Regiment speaks (INTERVIEW)]. Karabakh Media (in Azerbaijani). 6 May 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 2017.
- ^ a b c ""MTN-dən qaçırılmağımızda gizli nüanslar var..."" ["There are hidden nuances in our abduction from the MNS..."]. Hafta.az (in Azerbaijani). 2 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017.
- ^ Lachin, Sultan (19 May 2014). ""ANS" Çingiz Mustafayevin Laçındakı video çəkilişini təhrif edir" - ARİF PAŞA" ["ANS distorts Chingiz Mustafayev's video recording in Lachin" - ARIF PASHA]. Hafta.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ Zeynalov, A. (18 May 2017). "Əsgərləri qoyub qaçan Səfər Əbiyev Laçını belə satdı - Sabiq nazirdən AĞIR İTTİHAMLAR" [Safar Abiyev sold Lachin after leaving soldiers - SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS FROM THE FORMER MINISTER]. Yeni Çağ (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ Lachin, Sultan (17 May 2014). "Əsgərləri qoyub qaçan Səfər Əbiyev Laçını belə satdı - Sabiq nazirdən AĞIR İTTİHAMLAR" [Safar Abiyev sold Lachin after leaving soldiers - SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS FROM THE FORMER MINISTER]. Hafta Ichi (in Azerbaijani). p. 4. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Laçında eyni döyüşdə həlak olan şəhidlər anıldı" [Martyrs killed in the same battle were commemorated in Lachin]. Modern.az (in Azerbaijani). 15 July 2019. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Şuşanı təslim edən iki general: biri minaları təmizləyib, biri silahları çıxarıb – ŞOK!" [Two generals who handed over Shusha: one cleared mines, one took out weapons - SHOCK!]. Teref.az (in Azerbaijani). 15 May 2020. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ Arifgizi, Gunay (27 January 2020). "Müharibədə komandiri kövrəldən evin TƏK OĞLU: "Yaralı-yaralı dedi ki..."" [The only son of the house who saddened his commander in the war: "Wounded-wounded said that..."]. Teref.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.