Azerbaijani-Americans protest at Armenian Embassy in Washington DC

The peaceful, legal protest by members of the Azerbaijan Society of America and other groups and individuals emphasized Armenian terrorism of Azerbaijani citizens. The afternoon protest started with a march from Washington's Dupont Circle and ended a few feet in front of the Embassy of Armenia.

On February 26, 1992 Armenian military units, supported by the Russian 366th tank regiment, seized the small town of Khojaly, in the Nagorno Karabagh region of Azerbaijan, and brutally massacred more than 800 civilians, including 83 infants, 103 women, and 70 elderly persons. An additional 1,275 people were taken hostage.

The Khojaly massacre was one of the most violent events in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Armenia started forcibly and illegally occupying the formerly autonomous region, as well seven other Azerbaijani districts, in the early 1990's, forcing over 700,000 Azerbaijanis to leave their homes and live as refugees in their own country. The occupation continues to this day, with Armenia ignoring four UN resolutions ordering the end of its occupation. UN resolutions # 822, 853, 874, and 884 have repeatedly called for the cessation of Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory.

Prominent leaders of the Azerbaijani-American community spoke at the protest. Ms. Tomris Azeri, Adil Baguirov, Oya Bain representing Assembly of Turkish American Associations, Habib Azersina talked about Armenian atrocities in Urmiya and other parts of South Azerbaijan. Speeches were impassioned, imploring the pressure be applied on Armenia to admit its crimes against Azerbaijanis and to withdraw its occupation.

"We call upon the international community to demand from Armenia an unconditional withdrawal from all occupied Azerbaijani lands," Tomris Azeri said. "We demand from Armenia the return of all Azerbaijani hostages. We demand from Armenia that justice be served upon the criminals who committed the massacre in Khojaly. Today, in a February just 14 years after this genocide, let us remember the name of Khojaly and let us never forget the martyred innocents," she concluded.

The massacre in Khojaly had a specific purpose in the mind of the Armenians. Their goal was to prepare and set the stage for more widespread occupation of Azerbaijan and the continued genocide of Azerbaijanis," said Adil Baguirov.

The Azerbaijan Society of America has also sent letters to the members of the entire United States Congress asking them to bring to justice the criminals who committed the massacre at Khojaly and to demand from Armenia an unconditional withdrawal from occupied Azerbaijani lands.

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The Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA), established in 1957 in New Jersey, USA, is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing knowledge about Azerbaijan, the Azeri people, their culture and history as well as promoting ties in economic, cultural, and scientific spheres between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United States. The ASA works with various organizations, associations, ethnic and religious groups to enhance intercultural understanding and to promote peace in the Caucasus.