The Khojaly genocide will remain one of the bloodiest pages of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. On the 34th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, Azerbaijan pays its utmost tribute in honour of the memory of the innocent victims of this tragedy.
The Siege of Khojaly since 1991, transport communication and electricity cut-off, massive shelling, and unprecedented atrocities on the night of 25-26 February 1992, committed by the armed forces of Armenia against the civilian population with the assistance of the former Soviet 366th Motorized Rifle Regiment attest to the fact that this massacre was, at its core, a planned and intentional genocide.
Khojaly, at the time was a small town in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, with the total area of 0.94 sq. km. and the population before the conflict of around 24000. The inhabitants of Khojaly remained in the town before the tragic night (about 2500 people) tried to leave their houses after the beginning of the assault in the hope to find the way to the nearest place populated by the Azerbaijanis. But innocent civilians failed in their attempts, as the invaders destroyed the city and with particular brutality massacred its peaceful population. As a result, 8 families were completely wiped out, 130 children lost one of their parents, and 25 children lost both of their parents, 1275 people, including 68 women and 26 children were taken hostages.
The slaughter of civilians with particular cruelty, inhuman treatment, torture, and humiliation of the corpses in Khojaly represented gross violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms, international humanitarian law, and international conventions in this field, including the Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, implying international legal responsibility.
As a result of the international community’s disregard for the facts and evidence of the Khojaly genocide, Armenia continued its war crimes against Azerbaijanis throughout the former occupation period and during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020, particularly attacking civilian targets.
The restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan as a result of the Patriotic War and country’s sovereignty in the aftermath of the counter-terrorism measures of 19-20 September 2023, and the liberation of Khojaly, are the embodiments of historical justice.
Like in other liberated territories of Azerbaijan, today life returns to Khojaly, which remains one of the incurable wounds of Azerbaijani people. Azerbaijan will not forget the victims of this genocide and will keep their memories alive.
