Khojaly genocide to be commemorated around the world

The Azerbaijani Society of Belgium and the Forum of Azerbaijani Students will hold a procession-rally under the slogan "Justice for Khojaly" in Brussels at 16:00 on February 26, the society reported on Friday.

The procession will start from the building of the Armenian Embassy in Brussels and finish in front of the European Commission.

"By holding this action, we demand that the European community recognizes this tragedy as an act of genocide, and gives it a legal assessment," the statement said.

During the procession, Azerbaijanis living in Belgium will hand out T-shirts with images displaying Armenian terrorism. Some 500 booklets about the Khojaly tragedy in English and French will be spread to city population.

The procession is officially authorized by Brussels police department, which will accompany the participants throughout the procession.

The rally will be completed by reading out an appeal to the European Parliament and the EU.

On Feb. 25-26 February, 1992, Armenian occupation forces together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops stationed in Khankendi (earlier Stepanakert) fired on the Azerbaijani town of Khojali that had been under siege for months when in one night the town was razed to the ground. Some 613 people were killed including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old men. A total of 1,000 civilians were disabled during the genocide. Eight families were killed, 130 children lost one parent and 25 lost both. Additionally, 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 remains unknown.

/Trend/

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US Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Louise Slaughter have responded to a Khojaly appeal by the Turkic community (Azerbaijan-American Council, Azerbaijan Society of America, Pax Turcica) of America.

Blumenthal promised to assist the reviewing of the US legislative act on this issue and to study the opportunities for restoration of the peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Congressman Slaughter in turn thanked the Turkic diaspora in the U.S. for attracting the attention of the society to the massacre.
This tragic event was the bloodiest action in the Nagorno-Karabakh war, she wrote in his letter.

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Azerbaijan`s Consulate General in Aktau will hold a series of events to mark the 21st anniversary of the Khojaly massacre.

The events will be attended by members of Azerbaijani diaspora and students in Kazakhstan.

Consul General in Aktau Rashad Mammadov will speak of history and consequences of the Khojaly tragedy in the events, which will feature films, and photo and book exhibitions.
The Azerbaijani youth in Aktau will also hold rally “Justice for Khojaly”.

Azerbaijan`s Consulate General in Aktau has recently launched “Khojaly genocide, Justice for Khojaly” (www.xocali.kz) website with the aim of increasing awareness of the Kazakh society of realities of Armenia`s military aggression against Azerbaijan, particularly the Khojaly genocide.

The website features history of Karabakh region and resettlement of Armenians in Karabakh. It also highlights Armenia`s military aggression against Azerbaijan. The website also features photo and video sections on Khojaly tragedy.


/AzerTAc/