The Baraki Barak massacre was a war crime perpetrated by the Soviet Army on 10 September 1984 in the Baraki Barak District, Logar Province, Afghanistan, during the Soviet–Afghan War. Reports indicate 40 people were killed.[1]
| Baraki Barak massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of Soviet–Afghan War | |
 Map of Afghanistan with Logar highlighted | |
| Location | Baraki Barak District, Logar Province, Afghanistan |
| Date | 10 September 1984 |
| Target | Afghan civilians and anti-communists |
Attack type | summary execution, massacre |
| Deaths | ~40–45 |
| Perpetrators |  Soviet Union |
| Motive | reprisals against civilians for anti-communist resistance members |
According to the Human Rights Watch report, based on eyewitness testimonies, the Soviet army occupied the Baraki Barak District on 6 September during the Logar offensives. They were expecting reinforcements from the Afghan Democratic Republic army in Kabul, but one of the officers defected to anti-communist resistance members, taking a large part of convoy with him. As reprisals, the Soviet army arrested 40 local civilians, tied them up, poured gasoline over them and set them on fire, burning them alive.[1]
According to a March 1985 Congressional Record report, 45 people were killed in the area. 30 were killed while on their way to Iran; some were burned alive with petrol; others had dynamite tied up to their backs and were blown up. Allegedly some were maimed by Russians. A man was robbed and shot in the foot.[2]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Human Rights Watch 1984, p. 40.
- ^ "Congressional Record – Senate" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. 6 March 1985. p. 4578.
Bibliography edit
- Human Rights Watch (1984). "Tears, Blood and Cries. Human Rights in Afghanistan Since the Invasion 1979–1984" (PDF). New York, Washington D.C. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
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