1994 Baku Metro bombings
Encyclopedia
The civilian attacks in Baku Metro
was a series of terrorist incidents in 1994. The first attack was perpetrated at the "20 January" metro station
, while the second one took place between the "28 May" and "Ganjlik" stations. As a result of the first attack, 14 people were killed and 49 wounded. The second attack resulted in 13 people killed and 42 injured.
The responsibility
was assumed by Sadval, a Lezghin separatist movement, now in oblivion. Eleven indirect perpetrators of the first attack were charged: two have been sentenced to life imprisonment
and nine others to 15 years. The lone perpetrator of the second attack was also sentenced to life imprisonment.
. The time bomb
planted under a seat in the head railroad car
detonated when it stopped at the station, killing the immediate perpetrator Oktay Gurbanov. The lead railroad car was destroyed and the station's roof partially collapsed. Among the victims was Azeri jazzman Rafig Babayev
, whose workplace was near the station. The work of Baku Metro has been temporarily suspended.
The second attack was perpetrated on Sunday, July 3. The bomb (a remote controlled gelatine explosive, according to Azeri intelligence authorities) detonated at 8:30 a.m. local time when the train, having departed from the "28 May" station, was in 500 m from the "Ganjlik" railway platform
. The majority of persons injured in that attack has been promptly released after medical assistance.
signed a decree on formation of the State Investigation Commission. During the investigation, Armenian intelligence officers, accused of involvement in the series of metro bombings in Baku as well as on Azerbaijani trains operating both in Azerbaijan and Russia, were taken into custody in Moscow
. The Russian citizens Kamo Fyodorovich Saakov, an ethnic Armenian, his wife Irina Alexandrovna Saakova and Anatoly Anatolyevich Ilchuk were arrested in July 1994, charged with preparations of the attacks. In August of the same year Saakov was sentenced to capital punishment
and Ilchuk to 15-year imprisonment for preparation of diversion, contraband and illegal custody of weapon. The investigation ended in early October, 1995.
On November 29, 1997 the Russian law enforcement bodies extradited
to Azerbaijan the 30-year-old Lezghin Azer Aslanov, who was charged with planting a bomb in the second attack. According to Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office, Aslanov was taken prisoner by Armenian military in January 1994 while serving in the Azerbaijani army and was commissioned by the Armenian
security service to plant the bomb in Baku.
Baku Metro
Baku Metro is a rapid transit system serving Baku the capital of Azerbaijan. First opened on November 6, 1967, during the time of the Soviet Union, it has the features found in most other ex-Soviet systems, including very deep central stations, and exquisite decorations that blend traditional...
was a series of terrorist incidents in 1994. The first attack was perpetrated at the "20 January" metro station
Metro station
A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". It is often underground or elevated. At crossings of metro lines, they are multi-level....
, while the second one took place between the "28 May" and "Ganjlik" stations. As a result of the first attack, 14 people were killed and 49 wounded. The second attack resulted in 13 people killed and 42 injured.
The responsibility
Responsibility assumption
Responsibility assumption is a doctrine in the personal growth field holding that each individual has substantial or total responsibility for the events and circumstances that befall them in their life...
was assumed by Sadval, a Lezghin separatist movement, now in oblivion. Eleven indirect perpetrators of the first attack were charged: two have been sentenced to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
and nine others to 15 years. The lone perpetrator of the second attack was also sentenced to life imprisonment.
The bombings
The first attack, a suicide bombing, occurred on Saturday, March 19 at the "20 January" metro station at 13:00 local timeAzerbaijan Time
Azerbaijan Time, or AZT, is a time zone used in Azerbaijan. The standard time zone is four hours ahead of UTC with summer time one hour ahead of the standard AZT, being UTC+05:00....
. The time bomb
Time bomb
A time bomb is a bomb whose detonation is triggered by a timer. The use time bombs has been for various purposes ranging from insurance fraud to warfare to assassination; however, the most common use has been for politically-motivated terrorism.-Construction:The explosive charge is the main...
planted under a seat in the head railroad car
Railroad car
A railroad car or railway vehicle , also known as a bogie in Indian English, is a vehicle on a rail transport system that is used for the carrying of cargo or passengers. Cars can be coupled together into a train and hauled by one or more locomotives...
detonated when it stopped at the station, killing the immediate perpetrator Oktay Gurbanov. The lead railroad car was destroyed and the station's roof partially collapsed. Among the victims was Azeri jazzman Rafig Babayev
Rafig Babayev
Rafig Farzi oglu Babayev was an Azerbaijani jazz composer and pianist. In 1978 he was conferred the title of Honoured Artist and in 1993 the title of National Artist of Azerbaijan....
, whose workplace was near the station. The work of Baku Metro has been temporarily suspended.
The second attack was perpetrated on Sunday, July 3. The bomb (a remote controlled gelatine explosive, according to Azeri intelligence authorities) detonated at 8:30 a.m. local time when the train, having departed from the "28 May" station, was in 500 m from the "Ganjlik" railway platform
Railway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
. The majority of persons injured in that attack has been promptly released after medical assistance.
Investigation
Following the attacks, President Heydar AliyevHeydar Aliyev
Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev , also spelled as Heidar Aliev, Geidar Aliev, Haydar Aliyev, Geydar Aliyev was the third President of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from June 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him.From 1969 till 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet...
signed a decree on formation of the State Investigation Commission. During the investigation, Armenian intelligence officers, accused of involvement in the series of metro bombings in Baku as well as on Azerbaijani trains operating both in Azerbaijan and Russia, were taken into custody in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. The Russian citizens Kamo Fyodorovich Saakov, an ethnic Armenian, his wife Irina Alexandrovna Saakova and Anatoly Anatolyevich Ilchuk were arrested in July 1994, charged with preparations of the attacks. In August of the same year Saakov was sentenced to capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
and Ilchuk to 15-year imprisonment for preparation of diversion, contraband and illegal custody of weapon. The investigation ended in early October, 1995.
On November 29, 1997 the Russian law enforcement bodies extradited
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
to Azerbaijan the 30-year-old Lezghin Azer Aslanov, who was charged with planting a bomb in the second attack. According to Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office, Aslanov was taken prisoner by Armenian military in January 1994 while serving in the Azerbaijani army and was commissioned by the Armenian
security service to plant the bomb in Baku.