Baku: The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) has issued a statement on the anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, APA reports, citing the Ombudsman's Office. The statement marks thirty-four years since the tragic events of 26 February 1992, when 613 unarmed Azerbaijani civilians, including 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly people, were killed in the city of Khojaly due to ethnic targeting.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the Ombudsman's statement highlights the role of the armed forces of Armenia, supported by the former USSR's 366th Motorized Rifle Regiment, in the systematic and deliberate massacre of Azerbaijani civilians. The genocide led to the complete annihilation of eight families and left 130 children orphaned of one parent and 25 children of both, with 1,275 civilians captured and subjected to severe war crimes.
The statement underscores that these acts, intended to eliminate ethnic Azerbaijanis and instill widespread fear, represent a severe violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws. It references multiple international conventions breached, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
The Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, prompted by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, first recognized the Khojaly events as genocide, establishing 26 February as a day of commemoration. The 'Justice for Khojaly' campaign, led by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, continues to raise global awareness and seeks legal and political acknowledgment of the genocide.
Restoration efforts in liberated territories, including Khojaly, have uncovered mass graves and evidence of war crimes, reinforcing calls for justice. Individuals involved in the Khojaly massacre have been apprehended and are undergoing legal proceedings under international and national law.
The Ombudsman concluded the statement with a call to international organizations and the global community to recognize the Khojaly Genocide legally and to prosecute those responsible for this crime against humanity.