EXPLORE THE WORLD: Guba, Azerbaijan; Image Gallery

Bank in Guba

A Masjid in Guba

Beautiful View of Guba

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan

Quba Mass Grave (Genocid Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan)

Guba mass grave is a grave site discovered in 2007 during the construction of a stadium in the town of Guba, in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani sources allege that it is the mass grave of Azeri, Jewish and Lezgi civilians killed by Armenian Dashnaks and Bolsheviks during the March days of 1918. Hayk Demoyan, director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, has pointed out that no foreign experts have examined the human remains, and that no documentary or archival evidence has been presented that mentions a massacre of Muslims having taken place in Guba.

Once the burial site was uncovered, a forensic expedition of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences was formed and sent to the location. On April 13, 2007, the first forensics report was released. According to the report, the preponderance of commingled skeletal remains suggests that the people were first executed and then thrown into the wells, 2.5 to 5 meters deep. The deepest wells had hundreds of human remains. The first finds reported 137 skeletons.

The archeological excavation works covered more than 500 sq miles and were completed on September 5, 2008. Gahraman Agayev, the leader of the forensic expedition, reported that two main wells and two canals with human bones were uncovered. The finds indicate that 24 skulls were of children, 28 were of women of various ages. Besides ethnic Azerbaijanis, there were also Jews and Lezgis. The names of 81 massacred Jewish civilians were found and confirmed.

In 2008 Lluís Maria De Puig, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, visited this mass cemetery commemorating the massacre and said that he was horrified. Members of the Diplomatic Academy of Germany, a Kuwaiti government delegation as well as students from Oman, Yemen, Pakistan, Belarus, India, Israel, Korea and Turkey.

Construction of a museum at the site of the mass grave is being planned. An initial amount of 1 million Azerbaijani manat (AZN) will be allocated for the construction.