Nasimi Aghayev: Acknowledgment of Khojaly genocide would be a crucial step toward peace in region

Genuine acknowledgment of the Khojaly genocide would be a crucial step toward justice and long-term peace in the region, but Yerevan downplays, relativizes or even justifies this crime, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Germany Nasimi Aghayev said in an interview with local media.

He noted that Khojaly was not just another war event; it was a deliberate, brutal mass killing of civilians and the fact that it has not received the same attention as other genocides is a regrettable injustice, highlighting how political interests often shape the recognition of historical tragedies.

He noted that the evidence is overwhelming: video footage, witness testimonies, forensic examinations, and reports from independent organizations unequivocally confirm that Armenian forces intentionally targeted innocent civilians.

"This was not a military confrontation—it was a massacre. Women were raped, children were brutally murdered, entire families were wiped out. People were mutilated, tortured, and their corpses desecrated.
What is particularly shocking is that some Armenian politicians, including former President Serzh Sargsyan, have not only refused to deny these crimes but have justified them as a 'strategic necessity.' This is the harsh reality we face," the diplomat noted.

"To this day, Armenia has not undertaken any serious reckoning with the Khojaly massacre—no recognition, no apology, no justice for the victims. Instead, the crime is downplayed, relativized, or even justified. This is an insult to the victims and their families. A genuine acknowledgment would be a crucial step toward justice and long-term peace in the region," he said.

Aghayev also emphasized that all those responsible for this crime must face trial to restore historical justice.