Azerbaijani embassy in Kazakhstan holds commemoration for Khojaly genocide

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Kazakhstan held a commemorative event marking the 34th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.

Representatives of Kazakhstan’s state institutions, public organisations, members of the expert community and the Azerbaijani diaspora attended the ceremony, including Azerbaijani students studying in the country, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Aghalar Atamoglanov, addressed the gathering and described the Khojaly genocide as one of the gravest crimes committed against civilians at the end of the twentieth century.

He recalled that on the night of February 25–26, 1992, Armenian armed formations, with the participation of the 366th Motor Rifle Regiment, destroyed the town of Khojaly and killed 613 civilians, including children, women and elderly people.

The ambassador noted that after Azerbaijan’s national leader, Heydar Aliyev, returned to power, the authorities gave the tragedy a political and legal assessment. In February 1994, the Milli Majlis formally recognised the events as an act of genocide.

He stressed that Azerbaijan’s leadership continues to treat international recognition and legal assessment of the Khojaly genocide as a key foreign policy priority, as defined by President Ilham Aliyev. He also highlighted the systematic efforts that First Vice-President of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, has led to raise international awareness of the tragedy.

Participants received information about the international response to the events. Legislative bodies in 18 countries and 26 US states adopted resolutions and statements condemning the Khojaly genocide. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Organisation of Turkic States also adopted relevant documents.

Speakers reminded the audience that on October 15, 2023, President Ilham Aliyev raised the Azerbaijani national flag in the city of Khojaly. In May 2024, the authorities organised the first return of residents to the city, and in February 2025, the president signed a decree establishing the Khojaly Genocide Memorial Complex.

Historian Rizvan Huseynov also addressed the event.

The ceremony concluded with a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the tragedy.

By Aghakazim Guliyev