In late January – February , 1992 , Musayev serving as Deputy Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan , virtually assumed responsibilities of then the Minister of Defense , Tajeddin Mehdiyev who was in Nagorno-Karabakh most of the time , personally leading an unsuccessful Dashalty operation in the vicinity of Shusha and losing several villages of strategic importance , Karkijahan , Gushchular , Malibeyli and Garadaghly , within a few weeks . On February 17 , 1992 with the fall of Garadaghly village of Khojavend Rayon where more than 70 Azerbaijani civilians died and shortly before the fall of Khojaly , Mehdiyev was officially removed from the post of Minister of Defense . The interim leadership of ministry was given to Chief of Staff , Shahin Musayev . He would then be replaced by the commander of forces in Aghdam Tahir Aliyev , in late February , 1992
fall of Khojaly
Khojaly Massacre
Shahin Musayev