Baraki Barak massacre

Baraki Barak massacre
Part of Soviet–Afghan War
Map of Afghanistan with Logar highlighted
LocationBaraki Barak District, Logar Province, Afghanistan
Date10 September 1984
TargetAfghan civilians and anti-communists
Attack type
summary execution, massacre
Deaths~40–45
Perpetrators Soviet Union
Motivereprisals against civilians for anti-communist resistance members

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]

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]

  1. ^ a b Human Rights Watch 1984, p. 40.
  2. ^ "Congressional Record – Senate" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. 6 March 1985. p. 4578.