Khojaly: The Khojaly massacre, an act of ethnic cleansing and genocide against the Azerbaijani people, is the most horrific tragedy committed during the former Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This tragedy was a key part of the ethnic cleansing policy carried out by Armenian military-political circles in Karabakh. On the night of February 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces and the 366th motorized rifle regiment of the former Soviet army attacked the Azerbaijani city of Khojaly, committing a brutal massacre and an act of ethnic cleansing against civilians.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, as a result of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict that began in 1988, Azerbaijani territories were subjected to occupation. The city of Khojaly became one of the most tragic victims of this conflict. Armenia aimed to eliminate the Azerbaijani population in Karabakh in order to take full control of the region. The city of Khojaly held strategic importance.
Starting from October 1991, the city of Khojaly was completely surrounded. Communication between the city and other regions was cut off, making the delivery of food and medical aid difficult. In January 1992, the supply of electricity to the city was completely halted. On the evening of February 25, the Armenian armed forces and the 366th regiment of the former Soviet army began shelling the city with artillery and heavy military equipment. At around 1:00 AM on February 26, they launched an attack on Khojaly from all directions. By around 5:00 AM, Armenian armed units entered the city and carried out a massacre against the civilian population.
The defense of Khojaly, which was completely blockaded, was organized by local self-defense units consisting mainly of volunteers without heavy weaponry. The Azerbaijani National Army’s presence in Khojaly was limited, and the supply of weapons, ammunition, and food was extremely scarce due to the blockade. Despite having several key defensive positions, they could not withstand the enemy’s heavy weaponry. The Khojaly airport, a strategic point, had already fallen under enemy control before the massacre.
33 years have passed since the Khojaly genocide. On the night of February 25-26, 1992, Armenian armed groups, with the participation of the 366th regiment of the former Soviet army stationed in the city of Khankendi, razed the city of Khojaly to the ground. As a result of the mass massacre, 613 people were killed, including 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly individuals. 1,275 civilians were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 people remains unknown. This act of genocide completely wiped out 8 families, left 25 children without both parents, and 130 children without one parent.
For many years, the Azerbaijani state has worked to bring the truth about the Khojaly tragedy to the international community and to have it recognized as genocide. The true essence of this genocide was revealed after National Leader Heydar Aliyev returned to political power in 1993. In February 1994, the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan gave a political and legal assessment of the Khojaly genocide.
Efforts are underway for the official recognition of the tragedy as genocide by various countries and international organizations. The Justice for Khojaly campaign was launched in 2008 by Leyla Aliyeva, aiming to raise global awareness about the Khojaly genocide and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. The number of countries recognizing the Khojaly genocide stands at 16, including Mexico, Pakistan, and Colombia. Additionally, 24 U.S. states and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have acknowledged the Khojaly tragedy as genocide.
Khojaly was liberated from occupation on September 19-20, 2023, through local anti-terrorist measures carried out by the Azerbaijani Army in Karabakh. On October 15, 2023, President Ilham Aliyev raised the national flag of Azerbaijan in Khojaly, symbolizing that the blood of the massacre victims did not go unavenged, reaffirming Azerbaijan’s commitment to justice and sovereignty.
The trial of Armenians accused of committing the Khojaly genocide and numerous war crimes against the Azerbaijani people is currently underway. These individuals are now answering before the court of justice, in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted by the United Nations in 1948.