Baku, February 19 (AZERTAC). Azerbaijan`s Commissioner on Human Rights Elmira Suleymanova has issued a statement on the 21st anniversary of Khojaly Genocide.

The statement says that the crime committed in Khojaly by the Armenian armed forces together with the 366th motor-rifling regiment of former Soviet troops in Khankandi 21 years ago on the night from 25 to 26 February was one of the unprecedented events not only in the history of Nagorno-Karabakh war but also of the world wars due to its horrible results. “During Khojaly genocide committed by Armenian aggressors against the Azerbaijani people, 613 people, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 old people were killed within some hours. Some 487 people were injured, 1275 civilians were taken captive. The fate of 150 of persons who have gone missing is still unknown. As a result of this act of genocide some families were completely exterminated, civilians were killed with unbelievable cruelty, the corpses were mutilated and the captives were subjected to severe torture.”

The statement says: “The sheer fact that these deeds were elaborated in advance and aimed at total or partial extermination of people on the ground of their national origin confirm that these acts constitute a genocide under international and domestic law. Occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding seven regions are integral part of the Azerbaijani territory, and the UN Resolutions 822, 853, 874, 884, UNGA Resolution titled “Situation on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan” dated March 14, 2008. Resolutions 1416 and 1669 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) confirm the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by the Armenian military forces and that the Nagorno-Karabakh is now run by separatists, which proves the abovementioned facts once again.”

According to the statement, the genocide policy has been witnessed by world community for years. “However, according to the universal norms of international law, inviolability of borders should be respected; violation of territorial integrity and sovereignty is unacceptable. “The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and other relevant international legal acts provide a legal framework for recognizing Khojaly tragedy as genocide.”

The Statement is addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, United Nations Security Council, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, European Commission, Council of Europe, OSCE, International Ombudsman Institute, European Ombudsman Institute and Asian Ombudsman Association, International Peace Bureau, International Peace Federation, ombudspersons of foreign countries, embassies of Azerbaijan abroad, as well as the foreign embassies in Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijani diaspora organizations.