Azerbaijan's ambassador urges new German government to recognize Khojaly genocide

Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Germany, Nasimi Aghayev, has called on Germany's incoming government to officially recognize the Khojaly genocide, following the results of the recent Bundestag elections.

In an interview with Capital Beat, Aghayev emphasized Germany’s unique responsibility as a leading European democracy to confront historical crimes and to actively support global awareness of the tragedy, Caliber.Az reports citing local media.

"As a leading European democracy, Germany has a special responsibility in addressing historical crimes. My hope is that the new German government will not only recognize Khojaly as genocide but also actively support international awareness of the massacre," Aghayev said.

In response to why major world powers have not yet recognized events in Khojaly as genocide, the ambassador expressed regret that international politics often compromises moral principles in favor of realpolitik. Aghayev pointed out the inconsistency in Western democracies' approach to human rights and historical justice, noting that while these values are widely promoted, they appear to be disregarded when it comes to crimes committed by Armenia.

"Western democracies emphasize their values—human rights, historical justice—but when it comes to Khojaly and other crimes committed by Armenia, these principles suddenly seem irrelevant. Many European countries avoid recognition due to geopolitical and strategic considerations. But that is no excuse. The Khojaly massacre meets all the criteria of genocide as defined by the UN Convention," Aghayev said.

The ambassador also highlighted that the Khojaly genocide occurred during a period of geopolitical upheaval, when the world was focused on the collapse of the Soviet Union and other regional crises. This, he noted, led to the widespread neglect of the suffering of Azerbaijani civilians.

"The suffering of Azerbaijani civilians was largely overlooked. At the same time, Armenia, with its influential diaspora, had the ability to manipulate international perception, redirect narratives, and obscure the reality of this crime," Aghayev added.

The Khojaly massacre, which occurred in February 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, led to the deaths of hundreds of Azerbaijani civilians and remains a contentious issue in international diplomacy. Azerbaijan continues its efforts to gain global recognition of the event as genocide.

Ambassador Aghayev, has strongly emphasized the need for genuine acknowledgment of the Khojaly genocide as a crucial step toward justice and long-term peace in the region.

Aghayev criticized the ongoing downplaying, relativization, and even justification of the atrocity by Yerevan, describing it as a tragic injustice that undermines the victims and their families.

Aghayev stressed that the Khojaly massacre was not merely another wartime incident but a deliberate, brutal attack on innocent civilians. He pointed to overwhelming evidence, including video footage, witness testimonies, forensic reports, and findings from independent organizations, all of which confirm that Armenian forces intentionally targeted civilians in a premeditated act of violence.

“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," Aghayev said.

"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 ambassador went on to highlight the lack of any serious reckoning in Armenia over the massacre. "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," Aghayev stated.

He called for the prosecution of all those responsible for the massacre, emphasizing that holding perpetrators accountable is crucial for restoring historical justice and promoting healing in the region. According to Aghayev, a genuine acknowledgment of the crime would pave the way for lasting peace and reconciliation between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

By Vafa Guliyeva