Genocide of Azerbaijanis in Khojali - tragedy stuck on Azerbaijan’s history forever: Leyla Aliyeva

Aliyeva said that in the night from 25 to 26 February 1992, the Armenian occupiers seized Azerbaijan's city of Khojali. They severely killed 613 innocent civilians, including 106 women, 70 old people, 63 children, while thousands became invalids and 150 were missing.

"Why it was necessary to kill civilians who didn't present any military threat to the Armenian troops," Aliyeva said. It was an intentional action and a real genocide against Azerbaijani people, she added.  

Furthermore, she said this was the act of mass intimidation. "The time showed that the spirit of Azerbaijani people was not broken then and cannot be broken ever in the future," Aliyeva said.

It is really horrifying that this tragedy occurred at the end of the 20^th century and still has not received political and legal, especially moral estimation from the international community, Aliyeva said

Aliyeva thanked all people, including the Russians, who raised their voice of protest against cruelty and injustice committed against Azerbaijani people. Over 20 years, Azerbaijani lands have been kept under occupation, there are millions of refugees and internally displaced persons in the country, she said.

"Our government pays great attention to them and there isn't any refugee camp in Azerbaijan now. All refugees have been provided with normal living conditions," Aliyeva said.

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation pays special attention to this problem, publishing books, producing films and holding photo exhibitions every year. Presently, the Foundation is holding commemorative events on Khojali genocide in 50 countries with participation of scientists, historians, culture figures, youth and media outlets, she said.

"On May 8, 2008 as ICYF-DC for Intercultural Dialogue General Coordinator, I initiated an action 'Justice for Khojali'," Aliyeva said. The action aims to inform fairly the international community of this tragedy, she added. "Presently, presentation of 'Justice for Khojali' website is being held in many countries to provide reliable data about this tragedy," Aliyeva said.

She thanked all the attendees in the event, especially, Aliyev Zaur and Yusubov Anar, witnesses of the tragedy. "I believe that the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be solved in fair fashion soon. Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan will be restored and these people will be able to return their homes and native lands," Aliyeva said.

The film, produced by Heydar Aliyev Foundation regarding tragic events in Khojali and the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict was demonstrated during the event.

Ambassadors of Uzbekistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Mali, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan and Iraq, representatives of Kazakhstan, Egypt and Palestine's embassies, representatives of Russian public-political and scientific circles and Azerbaijan's public organizations of Moscow, etc. participated in the mourning ceremony at Azerbaijan's embassy in Moscow.