Azerbaijani people commemorate Khojaly victims - PHOTO

Today marks the 28th anniversary since the Khojaly genocide.

According to Report, on February 26, thousands of Azerbaijanis gathered before the monument erected in Khatai district for the victims of the tragedy to attend the commemoration of the Khojaly genocide.

The residents visited "Mother's cry" monument, laid flowers, and prayed for the martyrs' souls.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the ceremony.

President Ilham Aliyev paid tribute to the victims of genocide, laying a wreath before the monument.

First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, state, and government officials, put flowers to the monument.

As every year, the commemoration ceremony continued with the participation of thousands of people.

Over the night of February 26, 1992, following the massive artillery bombardment of Khojaly, the armed forces of Armenia, with the help of the infantry guards regiment No. 366 of the former USSR invaded Khojaly. Some 2,500 residents of the city have fled to Aghdam to escape.

Another massacre by Armenian aggressors against the Azerbaijani people has killed 613 people, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 aged people. 1,275 civilians were captured, and the fate of 150 of them is still unknown. 475 people were injured. Eight families were annihilated. 130 children lost one of their parents, and twenty-five lost both.

In 1994, at the initiative of Heydar Aliyev, the parliament adopted a special resolution on February 26 - Day of Khojaly genocide. The document describes the causes of the incident and details of the perpetrators.