The Ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan has issued an official statement regarding the anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, calling on the international community to recognize the mass killing of civilians as a crime against humanity.
The Operative Information Center-OMM was informed by the Ombudsman's Office that the appeal highlights the systematic nature of the atrocities committed against ethnic Azerbaijanis during the first Garabagh war.
The tragic statistics of the Khojaly tragedy: 613 victims
The statement notes that on February 26, 1992, a brutal crime was committed against the peaceful population in the town of Khojaly. As 34 years have passed since the massacre, the report reminds the world that 613 unarmed civilians were systematically murdered due to their ethnicity, including 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly individuals.
This massacre, carried out by the Armenian armed forces with the direct participation of the former USSR's 366th motorized rifle regiment, stands as a documented fact of ethnic cleansing. It was a central part of the systematic genocide policy implemented by Armenia against Azerbaijanis. The tragedy resulted in 8 families being completely wiped out, while 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. Furthermore, 1275 people, including 68 women and 26 children, were taken hostage and subjected to grave war crimes.
Crimes against international law and humanity
The acts committed in Khojaly contain all the elements of the crime of genocide as defined by international law. This event represents a gross violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms, specifically aimed at the forced displacement and extermination of ethnic Azerbaijanis from their ancestral lands. During the massacre, norms of international human rights and humanitarian law were violated, including the Geneva Conventions and international pacts on civil, political, and children's rights.
The Khojaly genocide is regarded by Azerbaijan as one of the darkest pages of the 20th century. Historically, the first political-legal assessment of the tragedy was given by the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) at the initiative of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, who declared February 26 as the Day of the Khojaly Genocide. Today, the "Justice for Khojaly" campaign, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, plays a vital role in raising global awareness and seeking international recognition for the victims.
New evidence and judicial proceedings in liberated territories
Following the Patriotic War and subsequent local anti-terror measures, restoration and reconstruction work is rapidly progressing in the liberated territories, including the city of Khojaly. As residents return to their native lands, new evidence of past atrocities has come to light. Mass graves have been discovered during reconstruction, with remains of victims showing signs of torture. These findings serve as undeniable proof of the war crimes committed decades ago.
Several individuals involved in these crimes were detained during the anti-terror measures and are currently being prosecuted within the framework of the national legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in accordance with international legal norms. The Ombudsman concluded the statement by urging international organizations to take decisive steps toward bringing all perpetrators to justice and providing a final legal assessment of this bloody massacre.
