Azerbaijani State Committee: World must recognize Khojaly genocide

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.23 / Trend M.Aliyev / The world must give a fair assessment to the Khojaly genocide and name those who organized and committed this crime, Chairman of the Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with Religious Associations Hidayat Orujov said at a conference on the 20th anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy at the Caucasus Muslims Office on Thursday. "The genocide was committed not only against the Azerbaijani people and their culture, but it was a planned, deliberate crime against humanity and its spiritual values," he said. Heads of religious confessions in Azerbaijan seek to promote the truth about the Khojaly massacre to the entire world, exposing the perpetrators of this crime, Orujov said. "Nothing was left from the ancient material and cultural monuments of Khojaly. Some were destroyed, and others were taken to Armenia," Orujov said. The Armenian military forces committed genocide in Khojaly on Feb. 26, 1992. Some 613 people were killed, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old men. A total of 1,000 civilians were disabled during the genocide. Eight families were annihilated, 130 children lost one parent, and 25 lost both. Additionally, 1,275 peaceful residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 remains unknown. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az