8 November — Victory Day — is one of the most glorious pages in Azerbaijan’s modern history. What was experienced during the 44-day Patriotic War, the events that unfolded on the battlefield and the road to victory hold a special place in the memory of every Azerbaijani.
Globalinfo.az brings to readers the recollections of war veteran Afgan Zamanov, a living witness of Victory Day, about the start of the war, the events of the fighting and those days.
Note that Afgan Zamanov drew wide public attention with the video “Deymadi-deymadi” that he filmed during the war. The video was met with great interest on social media.
The interview covers the first days of the war, his departure for the front as a volunteer, the hardships he endured on the frontline and the marks the war left on his life.
We present part of the interview.
– Mr Zamanov, how do you remember 27 September 2020, the day the war began?
– Before the war began, there was a certain feeling in the air in Azerbaijan. Everyone was following the news and discussing what was happening.
At that time I was living together with my childhood friend Akbar Aliyev. He is now an officer and continues his service. At that time he was called to the region and he left. After that I also decided to go as a volunteer.
But before that — may God have mercy on him — after General Polad Hashimov was killed, a demonstration was held in Baku in support of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. All of Azerbaijan rose up over the death of Polad Hashimov. I took part in that demonstration too. We stayed there until morning, demanded that mobilisation be declared and achieved it. After mobilisation was declared, I registered.
By the time the war started I was already in the district. From there I also signed up for service as a volunteer. I was in contact both through my local area and with the call-up centre. As a result, I went to the front as a volunteer.
– People who took part in the war sometimes cannot forget certain scenes for the rest of their lives. Those moments pass before their eyes like a film. Do you have such experiences?
– It is not one shot, there are many such shots. Until about a year and a half ago I had serious problems. I could not sleep at night. My wife and God are witnesses that sometimes I woke up screaming.
Beyond what is experienced in wartime, even ordinary military activity, for example standing on a BMP and observing the road, can be hard and stressful for a person. It is not easy at all.
Later, after I started a family and my child was born, a lot changed in my life. My child was like a cure God gave me. I found consolation with him, became more attached to life and grew stronger.
Now I have moved some distance away from such stresses, but other problems still continue.
To watch the full interview:
Safura Bannayeva
Globalinfo.az
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