Batumi hosts event dedicated to Khojaly massacre
Baku, February 27 (AZERTAC). Consulate General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Batumi, Georgia, hosted a ceremony dedicated to the 21st anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.
The event was attended by senior officials of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Adjara, students of Batumi State University, representatives of the media, members of the Azerbaijani and other communities of the autonomous republic.
Addressing the event, Azerbaijani Consul General in Batumi Huseyn Najafov said that Khojaly tragedy is one of the most serious crimes against humanity.
The Khojaly Massacre was the killing of hundreds of ethnic Azerbaijani civilians from the town of Khojaly on 25-26 February 1992 by the Armenian and, partially, by CIS armed forces during the Nagorno-Karabakh War. The massacre was committed by the ethnic Armenian armed forces, reportedly with help of the Russian 366th Motor Rifle Regiment, apparently not acting on orders from the command. The death toll was 613 civilians, including 106 women and 83 children. Some 1,275 people, including old men, women and children were taken captive. The event became the largest massacre in the course of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
In 1994, on the initiative of Heydar Aliyev, the Azerbaijani parliament has declared February 26 Day of Khojaly genocide.
Najafov informed the participants that in May, 2008 an international campaign "Justice for Khojaly" was launched on the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, General Coordinator of Intercultural Dialogue for the Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The Organization of the Islamic Conference, uniting 57 member countries, recognized the Khojaly tragedy as an act of genocide committed by Armenian armed forces against Azerbaijani civilians and called this tragedy as a crime against humanity. Khojaly genocide was also recognized by Pakistan, Mexico, Czech Republic, Colombia and the U.S. states - Massachusetts, Texas, Georgia, New Jersey, Maine, New Mexico and Arkansas.
The event also addressed by the professor of Batumi State University, Dr Rostom Guntaishvili. He gave a legal assessment of the tragedy and described the violence against the civilian population as an act of genocide against the Azerbaijani people. Professor Guntaishvili urged participants to support the people of Azerbaijan in Justice for Khojaly campaign.
The event showcased the documentary film "Khojaly genocide", produced by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
The event participants viewed photo exhibition, press releases and other materials on Khojaly genocide. The victims of Khojaly genocide were commemorated by a one-minute silence. The event was broadcasted by "Adjara TV".
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