Ukrainian MP: What happened in Khojaly was a genocide

A scientific conference entitled "Khojaly genocide and historical parallels" dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide was held in Kyiv, Ukraine, Report informs.

The conference, organized by the United Ukrainian Azerbaijanis Congress and the Center for Social-Political Processes and International Studies, was attended by scientists, public figures, and politicians.

Rovshan Taghiyev, Chairman of the United Ukrainian Azerbaijanis Congress, Head of the Assembly of Nations of Ukraine, listed the ruthless genocides in history, including the genocides in the history of Ukraine, and drew parallels, noting that the Khojaly genocide was one of such bloody massacres.

Ukrainian MP Yuriy Kamelchuk said he was well aware of the Khojaly genocide: "In the winter of 1992, both Azerbaijan and Ukraine were still under the detrimental influence of more powerful and ultra-totalitarian countries. Such an influence could not be ignored. Bloody events took place in the Azerbaijani city of Khojaly. The massacre of civilians was the most brutal and bloody event during the Karabakh war. The shelling of Khojaly began at 11:00 pm, and in just five hours, half a thousand Azerbaijani civilians were killed. Most of the dead were women and babies. While speaking about what we can do to prevent the recurrence of massacres, I am convinced of only one thing - our main task is to eliminate the causes of wars and conflicts. Friendship and diplomatic relations, investments, and such a date can be a step towards a stable world. Azerbaijan and Ukraine have unequivocally achieved this," he added.

Elvin Kadyrov, the coordinator of the Association of Crimean Tatars in Ukraine, drew parallels between the bloody events in the history of the Tatars and the Khojaly genocide. Chairman of the Center for Social-Political Processes and International Studies Samir Adigozalli made proposals and recommendations. Professors Natig Mammadov, Farhad Turanli, and Arif Guliyev, Chairman of the Reformist Youth Union of Azerbaijan Farid Shahbazli and others spoke and voiced their views and suggestions on the topic. Farhad Turanli said he had prepared proposals for Azerbaijan to speed up the legal assessment of the Khojaly genocide.