JABRAIL'S MUSEUMS

 

Jabrail's  Museums

 

The region of Jabrayil is the administrative region of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In the south and the south-eastern part, it neighbors with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Its area is 1050 km2; the population is 72,700 (01.01.2011). The central town is the city of Jabrayil. The region's territory has been occupied by the Armenians (August 23, 1993) But our glorious army released this city on October 4, 2020.

         The region covers the following districts and villages.- city of Jabrayil; districts of Gumlag, Khalafli; Khudaferin, Mahmudlu and villages of Yarahmadli; Khudaverdili; Gurbantepe; Shahveledli; Khubyarly; Imambaghi; Horovlu; Chapand; Safarsha; Chereken; Papy; Efendiler; Balyand; Garajally; Doshulu; Suleymanly; Dashkesen; Ghyshlag; Guychag; Sheybey; Nuzgar; Shahvelli; Niyazgullar; Tinli; Govshudlu; Haji Isagly; Goshabulag; Shukurbayli; Shykhalyagaly; Fuganly; Dejel; Amirvarly; Sarychally; Mazra; Yukhary Mazra; Soltanly; Kechal Mammadli; Yanarkhach; Alykeykhaly; Mashanly; Hasanly; Mehdili; Chakhyrly; Minbashyly; Sadi; Agtepe; Kavdar; Mirek; Huseynalylar; Hajyly; Tulus; Dag Tumas; Garagach; Sofulu; Chelebiler; Dag Mashanly; Gazanzemi; Soyudlu; Ashaghy Maralyan; Yukhary Maralyan; Karkhulu; Jafarabad; Isagly; Galachyg; Hovuslu; Sirik; Ashaghy Sirik; Shykhlar; Mollahasanli; Asgarkhanly; Khalafli; Garer; Kudlar; Nusus; Tatar; Gumlag; Mastalybayli; Goyarchin; Veysalli; Boyuk Marjanly; Yukhary Marjanly, Khanagabulag; Chullu; Derzili; Dash Veysalli; Yukhary Nusus; Ashyq Melikli; Niftalylar; Gushchular; Hasangaydy; Mahmudlu; Chochug Marjanly.

 

 

Jabrail is the motherland of intellectuals and noblemen, statesmen and public figures, prominent representatives of science, culture, literature and art. The acade micians Mehti Mehtizade, Ashraf Huseynov, 3 Corresponding Munber of the National Cademy of Science, scores of doctors and candidates of sciences the Societ Union hero Jamil Ahmadov, 7 heroes of socialist labor, 6 national heroes of Azerbaijan, a large number of skilled workers, writers, poets, journalists and people art are natives of the Jabrail region.

 

    History and Ethnography Museum of Jabrayil Region

 

History and Ethnography Museum of Jabrayil region was established on December 8, 1980. Nearly 19 thousand exhibits related to Jabrayil Region were collected in the museum.
During the attacks of the Armenian Armed Forces to Jabrayil Region in 1993, nearly 16 thousand museum pieces were salvaged. A number of immovable museum pieces, in total, over 2 thousand exhibits were destroyed by the Armenian invaders.

Jamil Ahmedov’s Memorial Museum

 

 

The memorial museum of the Hero of the Soviet Union Jamil Ahmedov born in Jabrayil village of the Jabrayil region was established in 1985, as a branch of the History and Ethnography Museum of Jabrayil region.
The memorial museum was constructed in the courtyard of the secondary school named after Jamil Ahmedov by the resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers. The museum covering a total area of 100 square meters was consisted of three rooms. Jamil Ahmedov’s bust was put up by the well-known sculptor Omar Eldarov.
At the beginning the museum contained about 500 exhibits, and then the number of exhibits increased to 800.
A very small number of museum pieces were handed over to the museum center in Baku a while before the occupation of the Jabrayil region by the Armed Forces of Armenia in 1993. At the present time those exhibits are kept in the Independence Museum of Azerbaijan.
Jamil Ahmedov is the People’s Writer Sabir Ahmedli’s brother.

 

Our claim for compensation against Armenia

We will not carry out reconstruction work in the liberated Karabakh. We must create a zone to be built from scratch. We have to start all over again, from its infrastructure to its economy. At this starting line, nothing will be built on the old and dilapidated economy. We must build a new economy where there is nothing. We must have a conceptual approach to the question of where to start.

The first step we must take is to return to the talks on the economy that has been destroyed in Karabakh for 27 years. We need to think about turning the economic scale of this damage and years of destruction that lasted for years back. We must file a claim for economic compensation as a result of this aggression by the Armenian state. And we should not get bogged down in the question of where to start.

Before starting work in Karabakh, we must group the damage caused to the country's economy over the years and take it to international courts. After making it the subject of a lawsuit, we must start construction work here. My opinion as an economist is that we need to coordinate the two activities here. Rather, we need to determine for ourselves the answer to a two-pronged question:

• Determine the requirements of international law in this area and the forms of appeal to it;
• Determine the methodology for calculating the damage to the moral and psychological condition of people, starting with the economy.

Forms of compensation under international law

The international community has its own language and style. International law, on the other hand, has provisions and legal keys to which it can refer. International law also clearly stipulates compensation for damages. Article 31 of Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts states that the responsible State is under an obligation to make full reparation for the injury caused by the internationally wrongful act. Then, Article 34 of this act defines the forms of reparation. Again, referring to international law, it will be clear that full reparation for the injury caused by the internationally wrongful act shall take the form of restitution, compensation, and satisfaction.

Restitution – The State responsible for an internationally wrongful act is under an obligation to make restitution, that is, to re-establish the situation which existed before the wrongful act was committed, provided and to the extent that restitution is not materially impossible or does not involve a burden out of all proportion to the benefit deriving from restitution instead of compensation.

Compensation – The State responsible for an internationally wrongful act is under an obligation to compensate for the damage caused thereby, insofar as such damage is not made good by restitution. The compensation shall cover any financially assessable damage including loss of profits insofar as it is established.

Satisfaction – The State responsible for an internationally wrongful act is under an obligation to give satisfaction for the injury caused by that act insofar as it cannot be made good by restitution or compensation. Satisfaction may consist of acknowledgement of the breach, an expression of regret, a formal apology, or another appropriate modality. Satisfaction shall not be out of proportion to the injury and may not take a form humiliating to the responsible State.

These forms of reparation (compensation and restitution) can be applied either singly or in combination. This article is mentioned in the UN Resolution on Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law adopted on December 16, 2005.

Damage to Azerbaijan regarding Nagorno-Karabakh

The classification of damages is multi-vector: (i) damage to the lives and psychology of our citizens, who are our most valuable resource, (ii) damage to the industry, agriculture, and production in general, (iii) severe environmental damages and assessment of their impacts, (iv) billions in damage to destroyed infrastructure, etc.

We must file a claim for compensation against occupying Armenia. According to a UN report released in 2000, Azerbaijan suffered $ 53.5 billion in damage during this period. We are talking about the damage done to our country only for 7 years. The scale of these losses will be even greater if we calculate the damage done to our country until 2020, when our lands are liberated from occupation.

In world practice, there are various ways to calculate the economic damage caused by both interstate and civil wars. The synthetic control method is among the methods proposed by my dear colleague Gubad bey. According to the requirements of this method, we compare an occupied district with a district within Azerbaijan corresponding to the population, GDP, and other parameters and determine the annual income of this district. And in the end, multiplying that number by 27, we can calculate the economic damage done to the district.

If this calculation shows that Armenia really has to pay 10 billions in compensation to Azerbaijan, then how can a state with foreign debt exceeding 60% of GDP and foreign exchange reserves of $ 2.6 billion be able to pay it? This is the most difficult and topical question.

One of these ways is the way of contribution. When calculating the amount of damage caused after a peace agreement in certain periods, the other party who is unable to pay it may offer its territories as a material equivalent in exchange. The United States bought Louisiana from Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803 for less than 7 cents per hectare. Azerbaijan may also demand land in exchange for the damage done to it. Then we can choose Zangazur. The return of Zangazur can be both a form of compensation and a celebration of historical injustice.

By Mohammed Talibli

turan.az/ext/news/2020/11/free/analytics/en/130386.htm

Agdam city is the Hiroshima of the Caucasus

 

'Hiroshima of Caucasus' - 'France 24' gives reportage about liberated Aghdam - VIDEO

“This city was so devastated that it is sometimes called "Hiroshima of the Caucasus." Aghdam, with a population of 40,000 in the late 1980s, is ‘a ghost town’ today,” ‘France 24’ TV channel reported.

‘France 24’ has prepared a special reportage on Azerbaijan’s liberated Aghdam. 

It was reported that Aghdam, located half an hour from Khankendi, was Azerbaijan’s fortress. Today, the only building left in Agdam is a mosque. This city was of great strategic importance during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War 30 years ago. The loss of the city in 1993 was a turning point in the war. The defeat forced residents to flee. Today IDPs return and see destroyed buildings in Aghdam. 

Before restoration, security must be ensured. Like other liberated regions of Azerbaijan, Aghdam is full of mines. Authorities have already launched a remote-controlled demining machine.

The head of ANAMA's operational headquarters, Idris Ismayilov stated that about 4,500 anti-personnel mines, about 2,000 anti-tank mines and nearly 750 different types of bombs were found and neutralized.

It is also noted that Azerbaijan has estimated the damage in the liberated territories at more than $ 100 billion and will apply to the courts for compensation from Armenia. 

Taghlar cave

                                                                       Taghlar cave

Taghlar cave is an archaeological site that was inhabited by prehistoric humans of the Mousterian culture during the Paleolithic. The cave is located in Azerbaijan, in the southern part of Böyük Tağlar village, on the left banks of the Guruchay River.Ancient people lived here 64-24 thousand years ago.

The cave was discovered during the Paleolithic archaeological expedition of Academy of Science of Azerbaijan under the leadership of M.Huseynov in 1960. Excavations in the Taghlar cave can be divided into two stages:

Cleansing of the existing sections was carried out to study stratigraphy and lithology of sediments and the occurrence of cultural residues in 1976-1982.Vahid Hajiyev and Mammadali Huseynov gave the first information about the stratigraphy of the cave as a result of 1963-1964 excavations. R. Sultanova published an article on the geological features of the cave in 1973. 

Bone remains of animals found starting from the first year of excavations in the cave, and they were carefully classified in 1977-78.

Within the framework of the International INTAS-2000 program, European scholars including Professor Henri de Lumley conducted scientific research of archaeological, paleontological and paleoanthropological findings of multilayer Taglar and other Paleolithic caves in Azerbaijan in September-October 2002.

Material and cultural artefacts found at the Taglar cave were exhibited in 1981 in Musée de l'Homme in Paris.

Beginning in 1963, archaeological excavations were carried out in the cave and more than 7,000 stone tools and over 2,000 faunal fossilized bones were discovered and six cultural sediment layers were identified at the site. Pottery shards of the Middle Ages, the Bronze Age and Copper Age were found right underneath the top layer. Indices of the Mousterian culture were found in between the 2nd and 6th layer. Numerous work-pieces of tool making, red, black, brown, grey, white and other colors have also been discovered in the inventory of the cave.

The remains of large mammals such as horse, noble deer, bull were found in the 5th layer. From the 5th layer, remains of bones of small mammals were also released in 1977 by M.B.Suleymanov. This collection was investigated by A.K.Markova in the 1980s and in 2009. The collection includes fragments of the lower and upper jaws of rodents with molars and incisors, as well as individual samples of incisors and molars. Those bone residues belong to six species: Microtus obscurus, Ellobius lutescens, Cricetulus migratorius 

Allactaga williamsi. Based on the ecological features of fauna relics of the cave, it is assumed that arid-steppe and semi-desert landscapes dominated around Taghlar cave during the period of ancient people lived here. There were also detected pieces of some species of rodents which are not believed that they have inhabited in this cave. 

Now this beautiful place is ours.This is a part of our history.We should always save our history,culture,territory and dignity.

 

                                                                                                                   Shahbeddinova Laman

Agdam is our! Karabagh is Azerbaijan!

Aghdam is our! Karabagh is Azerbaijan!

Aghdam – Ghost Town

Aghdam was founded in the 18th century and granted city status in 1828. Before the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, butter, wine and brandy, machine, and silk factories, an airport and two railway stations functioned there.

The district was occupied in 1993. Some 70,000 people were since displaced and settled in the nearby Azerbaijani provinces of Tartar and Barda. The Armenians managed to occupy  8467 sq.km of the territory of Aghdam region, i.e 77.4 percent of the total area.The occupied Aghdam city and 89 villages were destroyed on unprecedented brutality and razed to the ground. For the defence  of Aghdam 5897 people were killed, 3531 became invalids, 1871 children were orphaned. Thousands of people have become physically disabled, more than 126 thousand citizens of Aghdam have been displaced from their native land. The people of Aghdam have longed for their homeland for 27 years.

Aghdam national heroes:

Allahverdi Bagirov

Hidayet Rustamov

Canpolad Rzayev

Rovshen Huseynov

Fazil Mehdiyev

Muxtar Qasimov

Yelmar Edilov

Nadir Aliyev

Faiq Aghayev

Natiq Ahmadov

Shirin Mirzeyev

Asif Maharramov

Alabbas Iskandarov

Bakhskeyis Pashayev and hundreds of more immortal heroes…

However, as a result of the Second Karabakh War, which began on September 27, 2020, and the agreement signed, Aghdam came under the rule of Azerbaijan as a whole. Azerbaijani citizens visited Martyrs’ Alley to celebrate liberation of Aghdam region after 27 years.

Pearl of Aghdam

Tea House

The tea house was based on the idea of the academician Khudu Mammadov during Sadig Murtuzayev’s post as first Secretary of the Agdam District Party Committee of the Central Committee of the Azerbaijan SSR. Naik Samadov was chief architect of the Tea House project. In the project, masonry was only used on the first floor. The remainder consisted of metal construction. It was decided to place the tea house near the mosque after discussion with Khudu Mammadov. The tea house was inaugurated on 26 July 1986. In addition to the regional officials, Vafa Guluzade, the head of the Culture Department of the CP CC of Azerbaijan SSR, also participated in the opening ceremony. In 1993, the Tea House was burned down by the Armenian Armed Forces.

Bread Museum

Aghdam Bread Museum was the second in the world, and the first and only bread museum in the USSR.

Among the exhibits collected in this museum are petrified ancient grain samples, rare grain species, numerous valuable books, manuscripts and other materials related to the development of grain growing, ancient agricultural tools: bricks, ordinary and toothed sickles, grain threshers, hand mills and other tools existed.

The museum itself has a very interesting history. So, in the very center of the city there was an old mill that was in ruins. During the difficult years of the war, this mill became the only breadbasket in Aghdam, so it was considered a sacred place and it was considered inadmissible to touch it. The idea that this mill would later function as a bakery is welcomed by all.

Well-known grain academician Imam Mustafayev brought these grains from his rich grain collection along with other samples, which significantly increased the value of the museum. Hundreds of people's bread samples were obtained.

When a Russian woman, a participant in the siege of Leningrad, heard the museum's question, she brought a hundred and fifty grams of charred bread, which she had not eaten to the point of death, and gave it to the museum. Samples of bread were sent from the cosmonaut campus. About two thousand samples of grain were collected in the museum in a short time.

But, unfortunately, this wealth was destroyed during the invasion by Armenian Armed Forces.

 

Aghdam Mosque

The mosque was built by the architect Karbalayi Safikhan Karabakhi from 1868 to 1870. The mosque was built in the typical style for mosques in Karabakh region, which included the division of stone columns on the two-story gallery and the use of domed ceilings. Mosque was one of the few buildings of the town that was not destroyed during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. The Agdam Mosque was the only structurally whole building in the city, which Armenians vandalized it with graffiti, and used it as a stable for cattle and swine for years. After the ceding of Agdam back to Azerbaijan The first Friday prayer after 27 years was held in the mosque by the last imam of the mosque and Azerbaijani soldiers.

On November 23, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Victorious Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the city of Aghdam, liberated from occupation. The head of state raised Azerbaijan's tricolor flag in Aghdam. The national flag of Azerbaijan is now flying proudly in Aghdam, liberated from occupation after 27 years. President Ilham Aliyev presented the Holy Quran he brought from Mecca to the Aghdam mosque.

Prepared by Nasibli Gunay and Anvarli Saltanat.

#aghdamisour

#karabaghisazerbaijan

#azerbaijaniarmy

Karabakh,Penakhali khan

After the overthrow of the Afshar Empire led by Nadir Shah the prominent state official Panahali bey Djavanshir founded one of independent states of Azerbaijan - Karabakh. He was born in the Saridjaly village of Karabakh. Mirza Djamal, the vizier of Karabakh khanate wrote: "Late Nadir shah after occupying Karabakh, Ganja, Tiflis and Shirvan provinces, invited all the working people of cities and villages in his place and gave them job among his servants and paid them salary, they gained respect and ranks.

Panakhali's brother Farzali khan, who protested against these measures was put to death. In period of the Shakh staying in Khorasan, Panakhali bey took the occasion and run away to Karabakh province together with his relatives and closes in 1737-1738. Shah informed about his escape sent couriers after him to prevent him from running away. Nadir shah instructed the leaders of Azerbaijan, Ganja, Tiflis and Shirvan to catch Panah khan wherever they see him and send to the shah's residence. Though by the order of the shah Panah ali and his family were tormented and set a penalty, that did not work.

Thus, Panah ali khan dodged the responsibility to subdue to Nadir shah and bid to rule his native Karabakh in the most democratic way. As a result, an independent Azeri state-Karabakh khanate established following the death of Nadir shah.

After the declaration of the establishment of independent Karabakh khanate the main goal was to strengthen it. The first measure taken by Panakhali was to return those Muslims driven by Nadir shah to their native land. The return of displaced families and their resettlement of their native land strengthened Karabakh khanate. The future khan of Karabakh 15 year-old Ibragimkhalil was among those who had been first to return.

 In period of Karabakh khanate establishment it did not comprise cities as Tebriz, Ardebil, Ganja, Shamakhy, Baky, Nakhichevan, Sheki, Derbend. However, the existence of such politico-economic centers would play a great role in the further development of the khanate. Beside military-political works Panah Ali also made a great progress in the military installations and establishment of towns.

One of the first steps taken in this sphere was the construction of the Bayaty tower named after the ancient Azeri-Turkish tribes bayats in 1748. "The khan assembled his family, relatives and aged men there. The people surrounding him and those who heard about his progress and kind treatment moved to the Bayaty tower from Tebriz and Ardebil.

Panakh khan's activity in the sphere of creation of an independent state promoted his official recognition. "Mirza Djamal wrote: "Adyl shah's order on the attachment of the title of "khan" to Panakh Ali and on his appointment the ruler of Karabakh khanate along with valuable dressing-gowns, golden saddled horses and a sword designed with precious stones were brought to the tower Bayaty by the close man of Serdar Amir Aslan in 1161 by the Muslim calendar, in 1745 by Christian calendar (1748 is correct).

In fact Adil shah's order was a behindhand document. The real title had been deserved much earlier than the order and regardless of it.

An unsuccessful raid of Sheki khanate to Karabakh played a great role in the recognition of Panah Alia as a leader of Karabakh khanate. Sheki khan Hadjy Chelebi, following his unsuccessful Bayaty battle announced: "Panah Ali has previously been a silver without coin. But we came and attached him this coin and went away" (or "Pahah Ali declared him khan while I confirmed it by my defeat").

These words of Hadji Cheleby turning to a popular saying had even much power than Adil shah's order. Ahmed bey Djavanshir wrote:"…After the victory (The Bayaty battle-Y.M, K.S) the legend about Panah Ali's courage subdued all Muslim tribes, residing in Karabakh, to Panah Ali with no resistance".

At the same time the Bayaty battle proved the vulnerability of the tower to further historical events. Therefore, it was necessary to construct a new one. Mirza Adygozel bey wrote: "Panah Ali khan built a tower in Ternekut best known as Shahbulaghy. He also constructed Mosques, houses and bazaars and public baths from stones and limestone. After the works were completed he settled there in 1165 (1751)".

The Kurekchay agreement

With the strengthening of Panah khan the feudal lords-monarchs, supporting scarcity, increased their subversive activity. It was necessary to prevent that by some military methods. Otherwise, the khanate would lose its territorial integrity. The original sources also confirm that.

Mir Mehdi Khazani wrote impartially: "The five of Karabakh districts have been separated and each acquired its own name…". Mirza Adygozel bey wrote about the Karabakh feuds-meliks: "Dizag is one of these feuds. Its ruler is Melik Yegan. He escaped from Lori and in period of Nadir's ruling he was appointed the melik and gained respect by an order of the shah.

The second is in Varan. Melik Shahnezer was its ruler. He is of a more ancient family and has bigger inheritance. His ancestors were the aristocrats of Goycha. Then they escaped and came to Varan province and lost their heads from the wealth they had in their lands.

The third is Khachyn. Its is ruled by the son of Hasan Djalalyan. Their majesty designed the power in a proper way and became a ruler. This family which died of this ruling career was not the independent ruler of the region. At last the state flag of the late Panah khan Djavanshir and the sun lightened every corner of Karabakh province. At that time the Khyndyrystan Melik Mirza khan by the order of these immortal state officials minted coins in the name of… After that his son Allahverdi and grandson Melik Gehreman also glorified their country.

The fourth is Chilebord district. Its ruler was Allahqulu. His ancestors were from Maghaviz. They came and became the rulers of Chilabord and settled at vaster areas in the middle stream of the Terter river. They turned the Cheymukh tower, which had a very hard destiny, into there shelter, home and land ( Cheymukh is a brief name of Chilebord" They ruled Chilabord in the most democratic way and thus became famous. .. Nadir shah gave him a title of sultan and a gown…

The fifth is the Tbilisi district. The ruler is Malik Usub. His ancestors came from Shirvan and stayed in Talysh village for some time. Some of them have been the rulers more than once. Later Melik Usub occupied the Gulistan tower and settled there."

Karabakh feud lands

Name of a land	Arrival in Karabakh
	Period	From
Varanda	1603	Goycha region
Chilebord	1637	From Zangezur (Sunik)
Khazyn	Established in the 18th century	Local
Dizag	Established in the 18th century	From Lori province
Gulistan (Talysh)	Early 18th century	From Shirvan (Nidj village of Gabala sultanate

Thus, except for Khachyn other rulers of Karabakh and their ancestors were not the native Karabakh residents and they had moved to the region from other places. They were not Armenians, they represented former Albanian generations. Therefore, it's incorrect to justify the territorial claims of Armenian nationalists and to regard the said rulers as the followers of Armenian state structure. On the other hand, alien rulers after the capture of power in Karabakh did not manage to unite the country.

They lived isolated and could not overcome the limits of leaders feuding with each other. Moreover, as mentioned above, none of them, except for Khachyn were original Karabakhians in period before 17th century. "The rulers represented those standing for the feudal division". The separatist centrifugal activity of the rulers hammered the process of centralization current in the khanate and in the whole country.

Their participation in the raid on Karabakh stroke a hard blow to the independence of Karabakh khanate. Therefore, the steps taken by meliks for prevention of the separatist movements were rather a struggle with plots against the independence of Karabakh khanate.

Melik Shahnazar was the first among the five feudal lands to recognize Panah Ali's power. That was due to the marriage of Ibragimkhalil to Melik Shahnazar's daughter Hurzat.

After the defeat of Khachyn melik at Ulubab Ballygaya he recognized the power of Panah khan, while the hostile policy of Dizag, Chilebord and Talish lands lasted for several years. Ahmed bey Djavanshir wrote:" The Dizag ruler Yegan who collected and saved all money of neighbor provinces after a sharp resistance was killed together with some of his relatives and sons while others were turned into Islam…

The ruler of Chilabord Allahgulu Sultan first subordinated to his power then was accused of betrayal and killed by the order of Panah Ali khan. His brother Melik Hatem Talish united with the Melik Usub and within a long period of time resisted the attacks of Panakha Ali's troops to their lands, however, after the defeat at Mardakerd village they fell back to the impregnable Chermukh tower, locating in the upper stream of the Terter river.

After a year of staying in the tower, he had to seek refuge in foreign countries together with his family. However, he did not give up his political activity. Thus, he and his antecedents (his son Melik Medjnun) constantly attacked Karabakh…". The path of Panakh Ali's progress in overriding the feudal lands was followed by his son Ibragim khan.

Among the Karabakh feudal lands, Melik Yesay of Dizaq, Medjnun of Chilebord and Beyleryan of Gulistan refused to subdue to Ibragim, while Melik Shahnazar of Varanda and Mirza khan of Khachyn recognized his power and joined the patriotic troops created by Ibragim.

The allies encircled the Tug tower in 1781. Melik Yesay surrendered and the power transferred to Melik Bahtam. Soon he turned out to be a betrayer as well.

Beginning from 1783 Russia also started to interfere with Ibragim khan's struggle against separatist feudal lords. By the help of local meliks Russia, willing to occupy South Caucasus attempted to establish a Christian state or the support for itself in Azerbaijan. At that time owing to his high diplomatic capacities Panah ali managed to assemble all hostile feudal lords in Shusha. Proving their betrayal by some documents he imprisoned them.

Melik Medjnun was imprisoned while Melik Bahtan due to his misdemeanors was delivered to the khan of Ardebil. The ally of the feudal lords, the Catholicos of Ganjasar monastery Yohannes was caught together with his brother and punished.

However, the prisoners of Shusha managed to escape. They ran away to Tbilisi and initiated a plot against Karabakh khanate under the support of Georgian tsar Irakli the Second (1744-1798) and Russian colonel Burnashov. The enemies, launching crusades to Karabakh khanate, neared Ganja. However, these crusades were unsuccessful due to the beginning of the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791. Ibragim khan managed to defend and preserve the integrity of independent Karabakh khanate.

                      

Agha Mohamed Gadjar (1742-1797), who seized power in Iran in the summer of 1795, attacked Karabakh khanate. The 33 day war of Shusha was an unfortunate one. After Shusha he moved on Tbilisi. Due to the raid of the Russian troops led by V.Zubov, Agha Mohamed Gadjar fell back. With the death of the Russian tsarina Elizabeth the Second (1764-1796) Zubov was recalled to Russia. Agha Mohamed Qadjar again attacked Karabakh, occupied Shusha yet was killed there in 1797.

The invasive activity of Russia strengthened in the South Caucasus, including Azerbaijan in late 18th-early 19th century. In 1801 Georgia was annexed to the empire, Azerbaijan's Djar-Belokan (1803) community and Ganja khanate (1804) were occupied.

Under such conditions Ibragim khan struck an agreement with the commander of Russian troops P.D.Sisianov (1802-1806) in Kurekchay. The agreement stipulated for Karabakh khanate to be annexed to Russia as a Muslim country-the Azerbaijani land. The Kurekchay agreement, that reflected the reality, is the most reliable document which proved that Karabakh, including its mountainous part belongs to Azerbaijan.

Releasing from the thraldom of the Russian Empire, which lasted for approximately 120 years, the Azerbaijani people established a new independent state in the Northern Azerbaijan. The Declaration of Independence of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic stated that the lands of Northern Azerbaijan, once occupied by Russia in accordance with the Gulistan (1813) and Turkmenchay (1828) agreements are the legal heritage of Azerbaijani people. The first article of the declaration read: "Beginning from this day the people of Azerbaijan will have their sovereign rights. Azerbaijan, that consists of Eastern and Southern Transcaucasia, is a legal independent state". The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic issued its politically and legally substantiated map. It tried to spread its power on the entire historical area of Karabakh. At that time the newly established Republic of Armenia laid its groundless claims to Karabakh, but the government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic opposed these claims. During the talks with the Foreign Minister of the Ottoman state in Istanbul, November 18^th 1918, A.M.Topchubashov (1862-1934), the chair of the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic said: "The Karabakh issue raised by Armenians does not concern only 5 or 10 villages, it covers all four districts: Shusha, Djavanshir, Djebrail and Zangezur. This territory belongs to only one nation and even though the number of Moslems and Armenians is not equal, there is no reason to talk in terms of domination of Armenians, because they are not native residents of these areas. These are those moving to the region from Turkey after the war with Russia…Finally, Armenians do not live separately in Karabakh itself, they form mixed settlements with Azerbaijanis. Nevertheless, we stand for the peaceful settlement of the problem".