Azerbaijani embassy demonstrates film “Temple of Torture - Shusha Prison” in France PHOTO

An event dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide has been held in France at the Cultural Centre of the Azerbaijani embassy, organised by the Association Dialogue France-Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to France Leyla Abdullayeva, who delivered a speech at the event, informed the event participants about the Khojaly genocide, according to Azertac.

The diplomat expressed deep gratitude to the French public representatives for participating in the memorial event dedicated to the blessed memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide.

Abdullayeva emphasised that Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity thanks to its valiant army led by Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide was honoured for the first time throughout the entire territory of Azerbaijan, including Khojaly.

Several countries recognised the Khojaly tragedy as an act of genocide within the international propaganda campaign initiated by Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyeva Foundation Leyla Aliyeva. Such events will be constantly held until the instigators of the Khojaly tragedy are brought to justice.

“Azerbaijan demands justice, these calls should not be forgotten. These calls must be engraved in memory to prevent similar tragedies in the future, the memory of the Khojaly genocide must be eternal to prevent such crimes against humanity,” the ambassador added.

While reminding that the conflict has ended and large-scale construction work is being carried out in the liberated Azerbaijani territories, the diplomat informed that former internally displaced people are already gradually returning to their native lands.

She added that Azerbaijan's goal is to restore justice, achieve lasting peace in the region and preserve it.

Spokesman for the Azerbaijani State Security Service Tamerlan Rahimov also noted that the Azerbaijani President always pays special attention to the hostages and missing people.

He informed about the activity of the Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People.

“During the Karabakh conflict, including the Khojaly genocide, up to 4,000 people went missing, and nothing is still known about them. Armenia does not inform about these people. The work is carried out to search for prisoners of war and missing people, hostages, as well as the process of identifying remains found in mass graves,” he added.

Journalist Jean-Michel Lebrun spoke about his visit to Shusha and the book he wrote about Shusha. He witnessed the Armenians’ atrocities during the occupation.

Then a documentary film “Temple of Torture - Shusha Prison” was demonstrated to the event participants. The film was made through the organisational support of the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People. The film demonstrates the terrible hardships suffered by three Azerbaijani prisoners of war, captured by the Armenian armed forces during the first Karabakh war and held in the Shusha prison. In this film, witnesses who survived the torture of Armenians in the Shusha prison shared their bitter memories and spoke about the torture.

French scholars, journalists, lawyers, public representatives, etc. attended the memorial event dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide.