Maltese Order condemns Khojaly Genocide

By Rashid Shirinov

The Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem — Knights of Malta O.S.J. – adopted a resolution condemning the brutal genocide in Khojaly committed by Armenian armed forces.

The resolution reads that on February 26, 1992, units of the of Armenian armed forces attacked civilian population in the town of Khojaly of Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region and committed genuine genocide on the basis of their ethnicity. Hundreds of people were killed during this massacre.

The Order strongly condemned the act of genocide, noting that the massacre committed by the current Armenian leadership with incredible brutality, was one of the worst tragedies of 20th century.

The Armenian armed forces spared none of Khojaly residents, who had not managed to leave the city and its surroundings. As a result of the atrocities of the Armenian armed forces, 613 people were killed, 487 people were crippled and 1,275 people – the elderly, children and women who were captured – were subjected to unprecedented torture, abuse and humiliation.

The resolution at the same time touched upon the process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the occupation of Azerbaijan territories by Armenia. The Order noted the importance of return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their previous place of residence.

The decision also stated that the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem –Knights of Malta O.S.J. – respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and call conflicting parties for making more efforts for settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as soon as possible.

 “Despite of passing of 25 years since Khojaly bloody massacre, the victims of the crime could not achieve justice and it still shows that the central element of any peace agreement should be in its place in a short period of time, as well as relations among the people should be restored as soon as possible and the harmony between two nations should be re-established,” the document reads.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.