Baku: Sabina Aliyeva, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has issued a statement on the occasion of March 31 - the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis. The statement highlights the historical events where Azerbaijanis were subjected to ethnic cleansing and genocide by Armenians, particularly focusing on the systematic and brutal crimes committed against the Azerbaijani population since the early 20th century.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the incidents in March-April 1918 are recorded as a massive massacre of thousands of innocent Azerbaijanis due to their ethnicity and religion. These mass killings occurred in regions such as Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Garabagh, and others, as a part of a policy to eliminate the Azerbaijani population.

The destruction of numerous villages during these incidents, along with the discovery of mass graves, serves as evidence of the systematic targeting and murder based on ethnic background. Archival materials and historical documents provide indisputable proof of these tragic events, confirming them as part of a purposeful policy of ethnic cleansing.

Despite these atrocities, the crimes committed during the March-April 1918 incidents have not been recognized internationally as genocide. A decree by National Leader Heydar Aliyev in 1998 declared March 31 as the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, aiming to ensure political and legal evaluation and international dissemination of the truth.

The statement underscores the importance of international recognition of these crimes to prevent future occurrences, urging international organizations and United Nations member states to acknowledge the acts of 1918 as genocide.