The 1990 Tbilisi–Aghdam bus bombing, also known as 1990 Khanlar bus bombing occurred on 10 August 1990, in the vicinity of
Khanlar, when an explosive device blew up in a bus 12.5 km away from
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...
's second largest city,
Ganja
''Ganja'' (, ; ) is one of the oldest and most commonly used synonyms for cannabis flower, specifically marijuana or hashish. Its usage in English dates to before 1689.
Etymology
''Ganja'' is borrowed from Hindi (, IPA: �aːɲd͡ʒa� ...
.
Fatalities
The bus with 60 passengers on board was travelling from the
Georgian capital of
Tbilisi
Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი, ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), ( ka, ტფილისი, tr ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia ( ...
to the
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...
i town of
Aghdam
Aghdam () is a town and the nominal capital of the Aghdam District of Azerbaijan. Founded in the 18th century, it was granted city status in 1828 and grew considerably during the Soviet period. Aghdam lies from Stepanakert at the eastern foot ...
.
Fatalities reports range from 15
[ to 20.] The number of the wounded with various degrees of injuries range from 16 to 30.[
]
Perpetrators
The bombing was allegedly carried out by two ethnic Armenians. Azerbaijan alleged that they were operatives of the possibly non-existent militant organization '' Vrezh''. The organization's debut was the bombing of a Tbilisi-Baku
Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...
bus on 16 September 1989, leaving 5 civilians dead and 27 injured.[
The two men were Armen Mikhailovich Avanesyan and Mikhail Mikhailovich Tatevosov (Tatevosyan). Azerbaijani security forces claimed to have arrested them before their next plot on the same Aghdam–Tbilisi route, planned for 17 June 1991 was realized.]
The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan charged and found them guilty in May 1992, sentencing Avanesyan and Tatevosyan to death and 15 years of imprisonment, respectively. Tatevosov was later exchanged for an Azerbaijani hostage in Tartar District of Azerbaijan in May 1992.
See also
* 1994 Baku Metro bombings
*1991 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown
On November 20, 1991, an Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 military helicopter, carrying a peacekeeping mission team consisting of 13 Azerbaijani government officials, two Russia, Russian and one Kazakhstani Ministry of Internal Affairs officials, three Azerba ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tbilisi-Aghdam bus bombing
First Nagorno-Karabakh War
Mass murder in 1990
1990 crimes in Azerbaijan
Bus bombings in Asia
20th-century mass murder in Azerbaijan
Terrorist incidents in the Soviet Union
Improvised explosive device bombings in Europe
Terrorist incidents in Azerbaijan
August 1990 in Asia
August 1990 in the Soviet Union
Terrorist incidents in Asia in 1990
Terrorist incidents in Europe in 1990
1990s murders in Azerbaijan
Bus bombings in Europe
Improvised explosive device bombings in Asia
Terrorist attacks attributed to Armenian militant groups
Improvised explosive device bombings in 1990