Chingiz Mustafayev was and will ever be with us

It’s difficult to believe, but 16 years have passed since the first Azerbaijani TV reporter, National Hero of Azerbaijan Chingiz Mustafayev parted with us. He was only 32 then. We consider he is among us - look at the monument erected to the memory of the victims of Armenian-committed Khojali genocide - Chingiz is looking at them, as he did previously; in the name of these victims, in the name of Azerbaijan, in the name of today and future of Azerbaijan – Azerbaijan without war, refugees, children losing their mothers and fathers - he risked his life, everyday and every hour…

Fate decreed, Chingiz Mustafayev’s name was ever connected with Qarabaq, with its aches, blood, thousands of ruined lives, hundreds of missing and still not found women, old men, children…

When they say Chingiz Mustafayev – the first what is remembered is Chingiz hardly holding back his burst of sobbing on the air, when the camera with which he filmed a field studded with bodies of Khojali residents sprang in his arms with rage and ache. He did his best for such tragedies never repeated - he gave his life for this. And he would do the same if he had to make choise again. And this was Chingiz Mustafayev…

He was born on August 29, 1960. He graduated from Azerbaijan State Medical Institute, worked as doctor in Azerbaijani Devechi region, then – senior doctor of Engineering-Construction Institute. Chingiz Mustafayev is a national hero of Azerbaijan. He is one of Azerbaijan’s most noted journalists, even though the corpus of his work spans less than a year. With no formal journalistic training, he created a video anthology of the Qarabaq War - documenting the brutality of a war that ultimately cost his own life.

Chingiz Mustafayev was a doctor by speciality, at the same time he loved art, music, journalism. Chingiz was the first who opened the music center “Disco” in Baku, took part in folk group “Ozan”, Youth Studio “Eksprompt” (Extempore). But his interest in reporter’s activity, journalistic investigations proved to be stronger. Thus Chingiz opened “215 KL” studio which brought a new, fresh breath to Azerbaijani television. And Chingiz became a favorite of TV viewers with his TV programs such as “215 KL presents”, “Nobody is forgotten”, “Face to Face” etc.

The films shot during the bloody January 20 events in Baku proved Chingiz as a reporter. And world community got information about barbarism committed by Russian servicemen in Baku on the night from January 19 to 20.

When Armenians began undeclared war against Azerbaijan Chingiz fully devoted himself to journalism. One could see him in every hot front line. But Chingiz was not only a front reporter. He also organized youth to see the front-line areas. Those who were with Chingiz in the front-line remember Chingiz shouting at the top of his voice and calling on the soldiers not to withdraw. Witnesses of the events of that period told Chingiz saved them from real death in dangerous situations.

…When the bodies of the victims of Khojali genocide committed by Armenian against Azerbaijanis were sent to burial Chingiz could not know that he will meet with them again, three and some more months later … now in “Martyrs’ Avenue” on June 15, 1992. Chingiz Mustafayev was killed in the bloody battles for Azerbaijani Nakhchivanik village in Daqliq Qarabaq.

But today, after 16 years, Chingiz Mustafayev is with us - looking at the victims of Armenians committed Khohali genocide, in the name of whom he risked his life. He sacrificed his life in the name of Azerbaijan, in the name of today and future of Azerbaijan – Azerbaijan without war, refugees, children loosing their mothers and fathers…