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Umud Mirzayev compares the past and present of Aghdam: “You visited Aghdam a lot then. You have seen how beautiful this place is. There was peace in the city, there were peaceful and hospitable people".
Richardas Lapaitis: “I have written many times in my article about Aghdam. The beautiful houses here were probably in our resorts. These have been around for centuries. In the 1990s, during the Soviet era, our houses were simple. But here, even in the rubble, you can see how there were arches, how big buildings were. Almost all of them were historic buildings. It just hurts my heart".
U. Mirzayev: "This is a tragedy, vandalism and genocide of the XXI century".
R. Lapaitis: “During all this time, I was interested and looked at some shots. But I could not imagine the magnitude of the tragedy. Now the whole picture is open".
U. Mirzayev: “What was the condition of the building? They kept cows there. On what day were the tombstones laid?”
R. Lapaitis: “We have to show it to the whole world. Let them see the ancient Armenian civilization. We cannot deceive ourselves. It is impossible to talk about any friendship, to say one and keep the other. It should be shouted to the whole world. And we, foreign journalists, should do it, not you. Because it is important for mankind. Where in history has such a thing been seen? Cemeteries, holy places and mosques were not touched during any war ... ”
U. Mirzayev: “They dug every grave. That's terrible".
R. Lapaitis: “I do not bow before Allahverdi Bagirov only. Innocent people lie here. I bow to everyone. I believe that people have found their relatives here by force. In addition, mines are everywhere. People risk their lives. The graves were replaced by depressions. Are they sick? I can hardly restrain myself from speaking anymore. I try to be objective".
U. Mirzayev: “As an independent journalist, you came here by chance. You also came from Armenia. But you got acquainted with many people lying in this cemetery, not only with Allahverdi Bagirov. Not only Agdam, but all 7 districts have this vandalism. Everywhere, everything was wiped off the face of the earth. It's a terrible page".
R. Lapaitis: “Occupy for 30 years and put to this day. We came several kilometers to Agdam, fortifications were built everywhere. What were they thinking? About war, that is, about murders!”
U. Mirzayev: “You said a good word. They knew we would be back someday. That's why they destroyed it. They even burned what they built for themselves when they left here”.
R. Lapaitis: “It is a terrible sight. I bow before everyone, I bow before Allahverdi Bagirov".
U. Mirzayev: “I thank you and Arunas and Mantas, who are on this visit with you. I hope that after this visit, many of your compatriots will know what happened here. Talking and reading is one thing, seeing is another”.
R. Lapaitis: “Every grave is sacred. They are broken into small pieces. People collected it. The tombstone was taken out to keep pigs there. We have taken all this. No one can accuse us of being biased.
This city is our hometown. We show everything as it is. After Khojaly, Azerbaijani mothers told me near the Aghdam mosque to go to their homeland and tell them the truth. Nothing from you, but we want you to tell the truth, a little truth. See what we saw here ... ”
U. Mirzayev: “You have seen this terrible tragedy and people have miraculously escaped from here. How many people have been buried in front of your eyes. We know that".
R. Lapaitis: “Thank you. We have been together for many years. This trip was a difficult journey. Thanks to you, we can learn and see a lot".
The guests visited the Bread Museum in Aghdam. It is a museum of bread and bakery products, agricultural tools and their history. On November 25, 1983, the museum received its first visitors. The museum had about 2,800 exhibits. The museum was protected by the state of the Azerbaijan SSR as a local cultural monument. "Sunbul" cafe, which had a bakery in the area adjacent to the museum, served visitors. The complex also included a caravanserai.
As a result of the attacks of the Armenian Armed Forces during the Karabakh war, the museum has been hit twice by shells. The first shell has hit the third exhibition hall, but it hasn't been blown up. The second shell has hit the museum on August 12, 1992, when it was fired from the direction of Khanabad and Nakhchivanik villages of Askeran region, completely destroying the museum. Although an attempt has been made to extinguish the fire, the museum could not be saved, and as a result, about 1,500 exhibits in the museum have been arsoned.
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