GOING BACK HOME, TO GARABAGH

The whole world is talking about the historic victory of the Azerbaijani army and the liberation of Garabagh. One can find many reports in the media about the original inhabitants of Garabagh and the adjacent regions, who, as a result of the Armenian aggression, have been refugees in their native country for the past 30 years.

Probably few people know that Shahriyar Mammadyarov, a three-time European champion and the only two-time world champion among juniors, a member of the world chess elite, is actually from Zangilan. We visited the Mammadyarov family, which is also a host of three Azerbaijani grandmasters.

One of those who accepted congratulations on the day of the liberation of Zangilan was Hamid-muallim, the father and first coach of Shahriyar, Zeynab and Turkan Mamedyarovs. He perfectly remembers his native land: “I yet to realise the joy of this news. I hope you understand me well. To realise this, I must visit Zangilan. I thank Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani Army for this historic victory. I knew that our lands would be returned. Some people didn’t believe me. Zangilan is a very fertile and rich land. We had a very beautiful house there. There were many trees in the yard. I would like to restore the house upon my return.

“It is no accident that my children became interested in chess. There was a huge interest in chess in Zangilan. I was a weightlifter. But I have made my best to make the children interested in chess. About 150 children played chess in Zangilan. The most recognizable among them are probably my children. And the most famous of them is Shahriyar. I used to go to all his competitions with him. Now it is difficult for me to travel. At every competition I said that Shahriyar was from Zangilan, and that Zangilan belonged to Azerbaijan. Even the Armenian chess players knew this. I told this at various competitions to both Gabriel Sargsyan and Levon Aronyan, a member of the Armenian national team (Armenian chess players, R+). Once I told Sargsyan that sooner or later we will return. If Azerbaijan wishes, it will return Zangilan and other occupied territories in just a month. In response, he only glared at me angrily. Of course, sports are out of politics. But no one can come to terms with the occupation of his native land.

“I remember the Mammadbeyli mausoleum in Zangilan. There were green all around this sacred monument, which is located at the highest point of the village. There was an interesting and original gravestone with inscriptions inside... almost worn out words carved over the lines, mysterious expressions that were difficult to read... Zangilan is also famous for its plane trees. This zone is home to oriental plane trees, walnut trees and other valuable species that have no analogues in Europe. The plane tree forest, which was almost 500 years old, stretched for 12 kilometers in the Basitchai reserve. The reserve was established in 1974 in the Basitchai valley. The Oriental plane trees growing there are listed in the Red Book.

“Our family is looking forward to return to Zangilan soon. My daughters cried on the day the Azerbaijani flag was hoisted in Zangilan. The return of our lands was a joy bestowed upon us by the Almighty. I hope we will be able to hold chess tournaments in Zangilan, and my children will take part in these tournaments,” Hamid Mammadyarov said with hope and enthusiasm.

“I cannot express my happiness with words. We thank our Supreme Commander! We thank the Azerbaijani soldiers! Garabagh belonged, belongs and will belong to Azerbaijan!

“I was 7 years old when we left Zangilan. I remember well the time when the Armenian armed forces expelled us from our homes. Since then, I have seen my native village only in photographs. I miss my village, my childhood memories. I dream of going back to Zangilan, breathing in the air of my homeland. Almost 1 million internally displaced persons who lost their lands felt the same as our family. We returned our houses, mosques, graves of our ancestors, historical monuments, museums, culture and childhood memories,” said Shahriyar Mammadyarov, a member of the national chess team of Azerbaijan.

His sister, Turkan Mammadyarova, shares Shahriyar's joy. Being one of the key members of the national team, Turkan said that both her parents are from Zangilan. “Zangilan is free! Our joy has no bounds. Although I hardly remember Zangilan. I was only four years old then, but tears of joy are pouring from my eyes. I cannot even imagine the joy of those who have lived there their whole lives. It is a pity that my grandmother died as a refugee. My uncle just recently passed away, and he did not have a chance to see this day, unfortunately. May the souls of all our martyrs rest in peace!"

The middle child of the family, Zeynab Mammadyarova, who also played for the Azerbaijani national team, was also in the headlines after her recent response to the Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronyan. Aronyan’s posts on social networks made Zeynab angry: “Unlike others, we, athletes, had contacted with Armenians the most. I have come into contact with them at various competitions since 1995 both as a rival and as a chess player. At various times we have expressed opposite thoughts about the conflict between our countries. During our conversations, we tried to explain to them that the reality is not only the residence of Armenians on the territory of Azerbaijan, but also the atrocities committed by them in Garabagh, Shusha, Khojaly and other districts of our country.

“Chess is a game of intellectuals. However, Aronyan’s post full of lies disappointed me. Unlike the ‘pride’ of Armenia, Kardashian, I expected a more intelligent, foresight, humane call for peace from the grandmaster. Have the elite chess player Levon Aronyan  ever said that the occupied lands did not belong to Armenia? Does not he know that a foreign land cannot become a homeland? Has not chess taught you to be precise and peaceful? With the outbreak of the war, he began to support the Armenians through the establishment of a foundation, hence making himself famous. Are you collecting money to start a new war with Azerbaijan? The whole world knows that Garabagh is Azerbaijan! Long live the strong army of Azerbaijan!" Turkan Mammadyarova said.

The Mammadyarov family is looking forward to returning to their native land. Hamid Mammadyarov, who has recently celebrated his 60th anniversary, hopes to plant different trees in Zangilan. His children dream of participating in an international chess tournament in Zangilan.