Memorial event dedicated to Khojaly tragedy held in Dushanbe

A commemorative event dedicated to the 33rd anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy was held in Dushanbe, Report informs, citing the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tajikistan, Report informs.

A press conference followed the event.

Ambassador Alimirzamin Askarov, speaking at the event organized by the embassy, ​​emphasized that a policy of ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis was implemented in stages in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The diplomat said that the Khojaly genocide, which was an integral part of this policy, was the most terrible of the crimes committed against peaceful Azerbaijanis within the framework of Armenia's war of aggression against Azerbaijan.

The ambassador added that on the initiative of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, February 26 was declared Khojaly Genocide Day by the decision of the Milli Majlis in 1994. All necessary steps have been taken to convey the truth about Khojaly to the world and to recognize this tragedy as an act of genocide against the Azerbaijani people.

The diplomat said that the particularly brutal killing of civilians during the Khojaly genocide gave rise to international legal responsibility. It was noted that the statements of former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, one of the organizers of the genocide, “breaking the stereotype that Armenians in Khojaly would not raise their hands against civilian Azerbaijanis” and “not feeling any regret” in this regard proved that the Khojaly genocide was committed purposefully and that Armenia bears international legal responsibility for the genocide.

Umut Acar, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Tajikistan, made a speech and expressed his condolences on the tragedy and said that his country always stands with Azerbaijan.

During the press conference, journalists raised questions about the Khojaly tragedy, as well as recent developments related to the delimitation of borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and Tajikistan-Azerbaijan relations.

The ambassador provided detailed information on the questions asked. At the same time, the diplomat noted that as a result of the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from occupation, reconstruction work was carried out in those territories, and the process of returning residents of Khojaly, as well as residents of other regions, to their homes had begun. He also informed journalists about the issue of the return of Azerbaijanis to Western Azerbaijan, the mine problem facing the country and the consequences it has caused.

Within the framework of the event, the views expressed by former Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan regarding the deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia, and video footage about the Khojaly tragedy was played. A corner dedicated to the Khojaly genocide was created at the embassy, ​​and information about the tragedy and photos reflecting the terrible moments of the massacre were displayed in that corner.