Casepin
Back to cases

Solved case

1990 Tbilisi–Agdam bus bombing

On 10 August 1990, an explosive device detonated on a bus travelling from Tbilisi to Aghdam near Khanlar, Azerbaijan, killing between 15 and 20 people and wounding up to 30 others.

SOLVED1989

Near Khanlar, Azerbaijan (Tbilisi–Aghdam bus route)

3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On 10 August 1990, an explosive device detonated aboard a bus carrying 60 passengers as it travelled from the Georgian capital of Tbilisi to the Azerbaijani town of Aghdam. The blast occurred near Khanlar, approximately 12.5 kilometers from Ganja, Azerbaijan's second-largest city. Reported fatalities range from 15 to 20, with the number of wounded reported between 16 and 30.

Azerbaijani authorities alleged the bombing was carried out by two ethnic Armenian men, identified as Armen Mikhailovich Avanesyan and Mikhail Mikhailovich Tatevosov (also rendered Tatevosyan). Azerbaijan attributed the attack to operatives of an organization called Vrezh, though the group's existence is possibly unconfirmed. The same source states that this organization's first attributed action was the bombing of a Tbilisi-Baku bus on 16 September 1989, which killed 5 civilians and injured 27.

Azerbaijani security forces claimed to have arrested Avanesyan and Tatevosov before they could carry out a subsequent planned attack on the same Aghdam–Tbilisi route, which had allegedly been scheduled for 17 June 1991. The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan tried the two men, and in May 1992 found them guilty, sentencing Avanesyan to death and Tatevosov to 15 years of imprisonment. Tatevosov was later exchanged for an Azerbaijani hostage in the Tartar District of Azerbaijan, reportedly also in May 1992.

This case occurred amid violence connected to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict period and has been linked to other incidents from that era, including the 1994 Baku Metro bombings and the 1991 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown.

Key facts

Victims
On file
Date
1989
Location
Near Khanlar, Azerbaijan (Tbilisi–Aghdam bus route)
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1989-09-16

    A bus travelling the Tbilisi-Baku route was bombed, killing 5 civilians and injuring 27; this attack was later attributed to the same alleged organization, Vrezh.

  2. 1990-08-10

    An explosive device detonated on a bus travelling from Tbilisi to Aghdam near Khanlar, Azerbaijan, killing an estimated 15 to 20 people and wounding up to 30.

  3. 1991-06-17

    A follow-up attack was allegedly planned for this date on the same Aghdam–Tbilisi bus route; Azerbaijani security forces claimed to have arrested the suspects beforehand.

  4. 1992-05

    The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan found Armen Mikhailovich Avanesyan and Mikhail Mikhailovich Tatevosov guilty, sentencing Avanesyan to death and Tatevosov to 15 years imprisonment.

  5. 1992-05

    Tatevosov was exchanged for an Azerbaijani hostage in the Tartar District of Azerbaijan.

Best coverage

No coverage has been attached to this file yet.

Know good coverage? Submit it

People

  • Armen Mikhailovich Avanesyan

    CONVICTED

    Found guilty by the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan in May 1992 and sentenced to death in connection with the bombing.

  • Mikhail Mikhailovich Tatevosov

    CONVICTED

    Found guilty by the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan in May 1992 and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment; later exchanged for an Azerbaijani hostage.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Near Khanlar, Azerbaijan (Tbilisi–Aghdam bus route)

40.5869, 46.3158

View on the map

Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On 10 August 1990, an explosive device detonated on a bus travelling from Tbilisi to Aghdam near Khanlar, Azerbaijan, killing between 15 and 20 people and wounding up to 30 others.
Where did the bombing happen?
Near Khanlar, Azerbaijan (Tbilisi–Aghdam bus route).
Who was convicted?
Armen Mikhailovich Avanesyan (Found guilty by the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan in May 1992 and sentenced to death in connection with the bombing.) and Mikhail Mikhailovich Tatevosov (Found guilty by the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan in May 1992 and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment; later exchanged for an Azerbaijani hostage.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Azerbaijan

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDIC1990 Tbilisi–Agdam bus bombingWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — mfa.gov.azmfa.gov.az · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026

When a file you follow changes — a new development, a correction, fresh coverage — the Dispatch is how you hear about it.

The Casepin Dispatch

A calm weekly briefing from the archive — one case worth understanding, meaningful updates to files you follow, and the best new coverage. You’ll also get the one-time note when the apps land. No gore, no rumor, no drip.