32nd Anniversary of Khojaly Genocide: Remembering the Tragedy
Baku, The Gulf Observer: Today marks the 32nd anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, a dark chapter in history when Armenians perpetrated unspeakable atrocities against innocent Azerbaijani civilians. On February 25, 1992, Armenian armed forces, with the assistance of armored vehicles and personnel from the 366th Motorized Rifle Regiment, launched a brutal attack on the city of Khojaly. This merciless assault led to the tragic loss of 613 civilians, including 63 children, 106 women, and 70 elderly individuals.
As the encircled residents attempted to flee towards Aghdam, they were ambushed by Armenians, resulting in a heinous act that left eight families annihilated, 25 children orphaned, and 487 individuals wounded. Shockingly, 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 people, including 68 women and 26 children, remains unknown.
Official estimates place the damage caused by the occupation of Khojaly at $170 million in terms of destruction and looting of state and private property by illegal Armenian armed groups. In response to this tragic event, a Monument to the victims of the Khojaly genocide was erected in 1993 in the Khatai district of Baku.
In 1994, the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan issued a resolution, “On 26 February – the Day of the Khojaly genocide,” detailing the causes and perpetrators of this devastating tragedy. Since February 2008, the “Justice for Khojaly” campaign, initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, General Coordinator for Intercultural Dialogue of the Youth Forum of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), has aimed to raise international awareness about the Khojaly tragedy.
The campaign seeks to provide a moral and political assessment of the tragedy on the global stage and ensure its commemoration internationally. The international coordination of the campaign is facilitated through the website www.justiceforkhojaly.org.
Every year on February 26, the anniversary of the Khojaly genocide is solemnly observed in Azerbaijan and numerous countries worldwide. Azerbaijani embassies and diaspora organizations organize commemorative ceremonies and conferences, featuring photo displays depicting the atrocities committed by Armenians in Khojaly, alongside documentaries and books reflecting the harsh realities of the genocide.
Remarkably, the national legislatures of 20 countries, 24 US states, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Organization of Turkic States have adopted resolutions condemning the massacre of civilians in Khojaly, acknowledging it as an act of genocide and crimes against humanity.
It is crucial to note that on September 19-20, 2023, the Azerbaijani Army successfully cleared the city of Khojaly of separatists through local anti-terrorist measures. On October 15, 2023, President Ilham Aliyev raised the State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Khojaly, symbolizing the resilience and determination to honor the memory of the victims and ensure that their sacrifice is not forgotten.
As we reflect on this solemn anniversary, the international community is urged to join hands in condemning the Khojaly genocide and ensuring justice for the innocent lives lost in this tragic event.
