This year, like every year, our people honor the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide. It should be noted that the day of memory of the Khojaly genocide has become a symbol of the unity of the Azerbaijani people. For the third year now, our people have been visiting the monument to the Khojaly genocide in Baku with a calm soul, because, like all our martyrs, the victims of the Khojaly genocide were also avenged. As President Ilham Aliyev said: “We answered them on the battlefield, we avenged all our martyrs, their blood was avenged.”
The glorious Victory of the glorious Azerbaijan Army in the 44-day Patriotic War under the leadership of the victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev entered 2020 in the history of Azerbaijan as the year of Victory. Strong political will, strong economic potential, a powerful army, people’s leadership unity, high spirit of society, patriotism, perseverance ensured the historic Victory. Thirty years of longing has ended, our lands have been liberated from the occupation of a hated enemy, our territorial integrity has been ensured. At present, on our lands liberated from occupation – in Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Gubadli, Zangilan, Aghdam, Lachin, Kelbajar, Shusha, the tricolor state flag of Azerbaijan is flying.
The Azerbaijani people have never forgotten and will never forget the Khojaly genocide. We are going back 31 years again, honoring that merciless genocide and the memory of its innocent victims. On the night of February 25-26, 1992, Armenian military units committed a terrible genocide in Khojaly with the participation of the 366th motorized rifle regiment of the former Soviet army stationed in the city of Khankendi.
In general, over the past two centuries, Armenian nationalists have consistently pursued a policy of terror, massacres, deportations and ethnic cleansing against our people in order to realize the mythical idea of “Great Armenia” at the expense of the historical land of Azerbaijan.
The Khojaly genocide is the bloodiest page of the genocidal policy of the Armenian nationalists and their patrons against the Azerbaijani people. The political and legal responsibility for this heinous crime, which took place before the eyes of the whole world and was distinguished by its cruelty and mercilessness, falls directly on the leadership of Armenia at that time.
Khojaly was the culmination of the aggression of the armed forces of Armenia against our country. Armenian fascists besieged this peaceful city for months and destroyed it overnight together with their patrons. The civilian population was mercilessly tortured, 613 people were killed, 1275 people were taken hostage, the fate of 150 people is still unknown. Among those killed were 63 children, 106 women and 70 elderly people. As a result of military aggression, 8 families were completely destroyed, 25 children lost both parents, and 132 children lost one of their parents. During the genocide, 56 people were killed with particular cruelty, people were burned alive, and they were also subjected to unimaginable torture.
Today, our people honor the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide, one of the worst massacres of the 20th century, as a victorious country and victorious people. Like all our martyrs, the victims of the Khojaly genocide were avenged on the enemy.
