Azerbaijan urges int'l legal asessment of Armenia-committed Bashlibel massacre

Azerbaijan's Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva has urged the international legal assessment of the Armenia-committed Bashlibel massacre.

She made the remarks in an appeal to the international community on the 30th anniversary of the Bashlibel massacre, Report informs.

"Unfortunately, the numerous military and crimes against humanity committed by Armenia against peaceful Azerbaijanis, as well as acts of vandalism against the historical and cultural heritage of our country have not yet been given legal assessment at the international level,” Report quotes the appeal as saying.

“Once again, we appeal to the world community and demand to take decisive steps to bring Armenia to international legal responsibility, which is guilty of gross violation of fundamental human rights, committing numerous criminal acts against peaceful Azerbaijanis, including the massacre in Bashlibel,” he added.

Following the Armenian occupation of Kalbajar in early April 1993, 73 residents of Bashlibel village, with a population of around 2,000, were unable to leave their homes in time and sought refuge in the mountain caves to protect themselves from the enemy.

They managed to live in hiding for only 18 days. On April 18, Armenians launched an armed attack on the mountains, where they had taken refuge. As a result, 14 residents were taken hostage and 18 were killed. The remaining 30 people continued their siege by changing their shelters to other mountains in the village. After 113 days, on July 17, they left the shelter and managed to escape the siege of the Armenian army through secret mountain roads, moving only at night.