The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan has issued a statement regarding the anniversary of the Bashlibel tragedy, emphasizing that this crime against humanity must never be forgotten.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the ministry shared a post on its X social media account to commemorate the victims of the massacre.
"33 years ago, on April 18, 1993, during the occupation of Kalbajar, 18 Azerbaijani civilians from Bashlibel village were murdered after being discovered in mountain caves where they had hidden for 18 days following the destruction of their village. An additional 14 people were taken hostage. This atrocity was part of a policy of systematic violence, ethnic cleansing, and aggression carried out against Azerbaijani civilians. Such grave crimes against humanity must never be forgotten. We honor the memory of the victims of the Bashlibel massacre with deep respect," the MFA statement said.
The Bashlibel tragedy is recognized as one of the most brutal episodes of the First Garabagh War. Following the occupation of the Kalbajar region in April 1993, dozens of residents of Bashlibel village were unable to leave their homes and sought refuge in nearby caves. After being discovered by Armenian armed forces, the civilians were subjected to mass execution and torture. The facts of the massacre were further documented following the liberation of Kalbajar in 2020, when mass graves were discovered and the remains of the victims were identified through DNA analysis, providing further evidence of the war crimes committed during the conflict.
