“I was born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in 1961. My father Mahmudov Hasan Yahya oghlu was exiled from Zangibasar region of Western Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan in 1937. My father had 6 brothers and now my uncles’ children and aunts live in Kazakhstan. When the USSR was founded, my family members were repressed due to Stalin’s policies. Many people in exile died en route due to harsh conditions. In 1972, we returned to Khachmaz region of Azerbaijan. My family members suffered a lot both during repression and Armenian agression.”