Natiq Qasimov has finally been given a National Hero status. May you rest in peace

Natiq Qasimov was known for his heroic "Last Man" stand in a church near Pirlar village in Khojaly 1992. He was last one alive from small 7 man squad and said to be fought for 5 days before surrendering upon Armenian threats of executing 22 Azerbaijani civilian captives from Khojaly. His last photos and accounts of his last days were mostly documented by Italian wartime photographer Enrico Sarsini. There’s an excellent documentary about this called "The Son".

His whereabouts and eventual fate after Sarsini has departed Armenian camp remains unknown to this day. Many theories are thrown about, especially ones about him being still alive somehow but never were substanted. However it’s believed he has been tortured and slain after Sarsini left. He was 19 at the time of his death. "General" Vitali Balasanyan was the officer responsible for him and refused to acknowledge his existence despite his face clearly seen in photographs while he was interrogating Natiq.

Armenia to this very day refuses and hides the fates of both civilian and military captives from the first war. No investigation or official inquiry has been launched to this day. Yet grim discoveries of human remains during the construction works in Karabakh are telling gruesome accounts of their eventual fate. May all of them eternally rest in peace.