An International Conference dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide was held at Baku State University.

Before the start of the official ceremony, participants honored the blessed memory of our martyrs who heroically died in the Patriotic War and victims of the Khojaly genocide with a minute of silence.

A video reflecting the tragedy was demonstrated at the Conference.

BSU Rector Elchin Babayev made opening speech. He said that the Khojaly genocide is one of the most terrible and tragic pages of our history. Azerbaijan has endured ethnic cleansing and genocide by Armenian nationalists for 200 years. Elchin Babayev stressed that the Khojaly genocide is one of the gravest crimes not only against the Azerbaijani people but also against all mankind. On the night of February 25-26, the Armenian Armed Forces and paramilitary forces with the help of the 366th motorized rifle regiment of the Soviet Army committed an unprecedented genocide against civilians in Khojaly. Totally, as a result of the attack and capture of the city, 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly persons, including 613 people slaughtered. On this tragedic night, 487 residents of Khojaly were injured, 1275 residents were taken hostage by Armenians. 8 families were killed completely, 25 children lost both parents while 130 children lost one of their parents. Although the Khojaly genocide was the bloodiest and largest massacre of the conflict, it was not the only case. Massacres were committed by Armenia in other settlements of Azerbaijan, including Baganis Ayrim, Garadaghly, Agdabane and Bashlybel villages.

He stressed that at the initiative of national leader Heydar Aliyev, the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan gave its political and legal assessment to the Khojaly genocide. Thus, the date of February 26 was declared “Day of the Khojaly Genocide” and the truth about the genocide was conveyed to the world countries and international community. Elchin Babayev emphasized that the international campaign “Justice for Khojaly!” initiated by the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva has played a special role in conveying the truth about the genocide to the world community.

“The victory gained by our brave army in the 44-day Patriotic War under the leadership of the President of Azerbaijan, victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Iham Aliyev debunked the myth of “an invincible Armenian army””, said Elchin Babayev.

The executive director of the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism Revan Hasanov, deputy, professor of BSU Zhalya Aliyeva made speeches at the Conference.

The international scientific conference was also attended by Fazil Bakhshaliyev, professor at the Faculty of History of BSU, former military attache of the Republic of Turkey in Azerbaijan, retired general Yucel Karauz, political observer for The Jerusalem Post newspaper, Head of the Israeli office of the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism Arye Guta. Professor of the Bozok University of Turkey Kurshad Zorlu, Head of the Department of the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies, professor Sharustam Shamusarov, Associate Professor of the Department of International Common Law of BSU Rahim Mammadov also made presentations.