DAYS OF SORROW
Khojaly victims commemorated in Kars
Baku, February 26 (AZERTAC). Azerbaijan`s Consulate General has today organized an event to mark the 21st anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.
A moment of silence was observed for the genocide`s victims.
Addressing to the event, Consul general Aykhan Suleymanov described the Khojaly genocide as one of the most horrible tragedy of the 20th century.
He said “the Armenian military forces together with 366th infantry regiment of the former Soviet stationed in Khankendi attacked Khojaly, which was under siege for months, and in one night the city was wiped off the face of the earth. Ruthless massacre of civilians was organized during this bloody action - 613 killed, 1275 taken hostages. The fate of 150 is still unknown. 63 children, 106 women and 70 old men were among those killed. 8 families were completely destroyed.
The massed firing with using artillery weapon, hard military equipment, which was began in the evening of February 25, preceded assault of the city.
As a result of this the fire began in the city and by five o'clock in the morning the whole city was in fire. The population (about 2500 people) remained in the city were forced to leave their houses in the hope to find the way to Aghdam - the district center and the nearest place mainly populated by Azerbaijanis.”
Suleymanov praised solidarity of the Turkish people, saying like Azerbaijanis this tragedy would never been forgotten by the Turkish people too. He stressed that the Khojaly massacre was not a terrible crime against only Azerbaijanis, but all the humanity.
The event also saw a documentary in Turkish about the tragedy.
Participants of the event viewed a photo stand featuring the brutality of Armenians, as well as books and magazines on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The Consulate General also gave a funeral repast in honor of the Khojaly martyrs.