A terrorist attempt in Baku, an incredible rescue operation of an Azerbaijani psychic

From the mid-1980s, the policy of reconstruction and transparency was carried out in the USSR. Many things that were previously forbidden were now allowed. One of the few bans and restrictions still in place was the restriction on foreign travel.

In the USSR, from the first years of the Soviet government, the “exit visa” was applied – it was necessary to get permission to leave the country. Achieving this was not an easy task. Various authorities had to give consent, and they were responsible for their consent. If the person they agreed to go abroad stayed in “damn capitalism”, the punishment could be severe. Obviously, someone did not want to risk and cause a headache, the safest thing was not to agree.

In 1967, Stalin’s daughter Svetlana Alliluyeva went to India to bury Bracesh Singh, with whom she lived in a civil marriage. USA sought asylum from the embassy. The incident was a big scandal for the USSR. The daughter of the man who led the country for 30 years did not want to live here, moreover, she took refuge not in any other country, but in the main enemy. Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev dismissed KGB chief Vladimir Semichastny free instead of more trust took advantage of this event to appoint Yuri Andropov.

During the years of reconstruction, the freedom to go abroad developed more slowly than other freedoms. But there was some progress here. For example, since 1988, athletes were given the right to play in foreign clubs. There has been an increase in the number of artists and other professionals working abroad. Even if the USSR had not collapsed, it was not difficult to understand that one day the exit visa restriction would completely disappear (in May 1991 cancellation has been done).

Despite this, in the last years of the USSR, attempts to hijack planes still continued. For example, in 1988, the “Yeddi Simeon” jazz group, consisting of members of the Ovechkin family, tried to hijack the plane by carrying firearms. Five of the 11 family members (and 4 others) perished resulted in being However, after a few years, they could leave the country completely freely.

The subject of this article was in 1989 Baku weather It is about the attempt that took place in the port, but fortunately ended without death and without blood. In certain respects, this event is unique.

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On the evening of March 30, 1989, Bina weather to the port of Voronezh-Astrakhan-Baku flight Tu-134 plane landed. At that time, one of the passengers (later identified as Stanislav Skok. Skok was suspected of embezzling the funds of the department where he worked) tried to hijack the plane.

He stated that there was an explosive in his bag in the baggage compartment of the plane, and if he pulled his hand from the button on his watch for 5-6 seconds, explosion will happen. In addition, he said that he had two companions among the passengers. 500,000 until 8 in the morning dollarsdemanded 500,000 German marks and a flight to Pakistan.

About the event Azerbaijan KGB chairman Ivan Gorelovsky was informed. A few hours later, the special-purpose group “Alfa” of the Soviet KGB arrived from Moscow. The group was led by Hero of the Soviet Union Viktor Karpukhin.

In the last years of the USSR, terrorist incidents could not be hidden as before. There was a certain amount of publicity and freedom of the press. Therefore, great importance was attached to the perfect operation. A year ago, during the incident related to Ovechkin’s family, 9 people were killed precisely because of a senseless anti-terrorist operation perished happened, and the plane was completely burnt (the operation was not carried out by “Alfa”, but by ordinary militia forces).

One of the main conditions of a successful anti-terrorist operation is to have maximum information about the problem you are facing, especially about the number of terrorists, the weapons they have. Now to Bina weather the forces gathering at the port wanted to determine whether Skok’s bomb and accomplices were really on the plane.

Terroristflour without his knowledge, all the baggage of the plane was emptied and searched by minesweepers. No explosives were found in any of the bags. Special listening devices were also placed in the cabin of the plane. According to the received information, the terrorist often put his mouth to his jacket, said words as if talking on a walkie-talkie, and gave instructions to someone. But attempts to identify those two people did not help.

It is good that the bomb was not found in the luggage news though he didn’t rule out it being somewhere else, including in the bag over Skok’s shoulder. The terrorist himself did not remove his hand from his watch, as if confirming what he said about the button on his watch. It was necessary to exclude any unpleasant coincidence.

At that time, it occurred to someone to involve Tofig Dadashov, a famous psychic living in Baku, in the operation. At this time, two goals were set before him: to prolong the time, which is a traditional tactic in such situations, and terroristflour of the bomb, as well crime to determine whether or not they have partners.

Dadashov, who was brought to the airport at approximately 07:30, was given certain instructions. He should have told the terrorist that there is not so much foreign currency in Azerbaijan, they bring it from Moscow. For that, you have to wait until 11 o’clock. During the conversation, the psychic also had to use his special skills to clarify the matter of the bomb and the accomplice.

The captured Tu-134 was kept in the far corner of the airport for security purposes. Tofig Dadashov was taken to the side of the plane by KGB lieutenant colonel Alexander Kuryanov in his service car. Approaching the trap, Dadashov starts talking to Skok from below (the terrorist was against his going up).

Himself Azerbaijan The psychic, posing as an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, repeats what he was told about the money. The terrorist agrees to wait. After a two-minute conversation, Dadashov returns to Kuryanov and says: “He has neither a bomb nor a partner. go imprisonment so. That’s why you get an order.” Offer although attractive, such self-reliance is unacceptable during an anti-terrorist operation. Together with Kuryanov Dadashov, they return to the headquarters leading the operation.

Here the psychic shares his conclusions. Alpha commander Karpukhin again explosion wants to minimize the probability. At this time, Dadashov offer makes two KGB officers sitting on the plane as ordinary passengers to start a conversation with Skok and what happened in Armenia earthquake let them say that the USSR needs funding because of it. In his opinion, these words will make the terrorist feel embarrassed and he will light a cigarette. At this time, it is necessary to hold the arms and push them out of the plane. If the bomb is in the shoulder bag, explosion will happen outside.

Offer it is received and transmitted to the staff via radio communication, and the members of the staff also deliver it to the KGB officers. Everything happens as Tofig Dadashov said. In the USSR, very few people had lighters, most people used matches. It was necessary to use both hands to light it. When Skok tried to light his cigarette, KGB officers twisted his arms and pushed him out of the plane. No explosion occurs.

Alpha fighters standing ready are terroristsflour they enter the hall from behind to neutralize possible companions. But it turns out that there are no comrades, and no one is going to commit an act against the law. With that, the operation ends without a single shot being fired.

The KGB officers who neutralized the terrorist were awarded with the “Red Star” order, and others, including Tofig Dadashov, with the Order of Honor. Stanislav Skok is sentenced to 8 years in prison. But only one year later imprisonment he is able to escape by boarding a train loaded with scrap metal inside his camp. He lived with false documents for five years, and in 1994, he was arrested again and served 9 years imprisonment gets the punishment.