Remembering Khojaly Massacre: A tragic chapter in Azerbaijani history

Azerbaijan commemorates the Khojaly massacre of Feb. 26, 1992, where Armenian forces brutally killed 613 Azerbaijani civilians, including women, children and the elderly

The event, recognized as genocide by multiple countries, remains a tragic chapter in Azerbaijani history.

In the massacre committed by Armenian forces, 613 Azerbaijani citizens lost their lives. Among the victims were 106 women, 70 elderly individuals and 63 children.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Armenians began making territorial claims against Azerbaijan and initiated attacks. They specifically targeted Khojaly, which they blockaded in the final days of 1991. Khojaly, being the region’s sole airport and of significant strategic importance, was a prime target for seizure by Armenian forces.

On Feb. 25, 1992, Armenian forces escalated their monthslong attacks by launching a nighttime assault on Khojaly from three directions. This attack was facilitated by the assistance of the 366th motorized regiment of the Soviet Russian army, which was stationed in Khankendi at that time.

Armenians not only invaded but also commitetd one of the bloodiest massacres of the 20th century, targeting civilians and subjecting prisoners to merciless torture. The images and photographs captured during this time revealed the extent of the massacre’s brutality.

In Khojaly, a town with a population of 7,000 before the massacre, only 487 individuals managed to survive, many of them sustaining severe injuries. Armenian forces captured 1,275 people and 150 of them remain unaccounted for to this day.

In the decision of the European Court of Human Rights dated April 22, 2010, the events in Khojaly were recognized as acts tantamount to war crimes or crimes against humanity.

To date, parliaments of 15 countries and 16 U.S. states have adopted resolutions condemning the events in Khojaly and recognizing them as genocide.

Source: Newsroom