30 Years Since the Tragic Dawn of Voskepar

On the morning of May 6, 1991, in the forest near the village of Voskepar, 20 police officers from the Novyemberyan police department and their four companions fell into a treacherous trap set by the Soviet army and the Azerbaijani OMON. This event is arguably one of the most tragic episodes of the Artsakh Liberation War.

Late in the evening of May 5, a call was received at the Novyemberyan police department reporting that Azerbaijanis had crossed the Novyemberyan border and were moving towards Voskepar. A group of police officers set out by bus and in a 'Niva' to protect the peaceful residents of the village. They traveled through the mountains because the road leading to the village was under Azerbaijani fire.

Before reaching the village, they were unexpectedly confronted by Soviet army soldiers who opened fire; the infamous “Kolco” (“Ring”) operation was underway...

11 police officers were killed on the spot, while the others were taken captive; three of them died in Azerbaijani prisons. Hours after this incident, Soviet soldiers deceitfully disarmed and captured the 45 police officers defending Voskepar and handed them over to the Azerbaijani OMON...