Remembering Khojaly: Azerbaijani diplomat reminds world of horrors, denounces justification

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Latif Gandilov, marked the 33rd anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, a tragic event that remains one of the darkest chapters in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh as he was interviewed by the Vecherniy Bishkek newspaper. 

Gandilov described the assault on Khojaly as a premeditated massacre, with Armenian forces unleashing heavy artillery shelling before storming the town, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

At the time, the population of Khojaly was 12,000, including 5,000 displaced persons who had fled Armenia in 1988. The town had been under siege since October 1991, leading to dire humanitarian conditions.

"The assault was followed by massive artillery shelling, forcing the residents to flee their homes. Tragically, not everyone managed to escape," Gandilov said.

"The aftermath of the attack was horrifying: 613 people were killed, including children, women, and the elderly, while 150 people remain missing. Entire families were wiped out, and 487 individuals were left disabled. Over 1,200 were taken hostage, and 25 children were orphaned. The toll of this massacre has tragically surpassed 2,500 when considering the missing and the victims who died in the years since."

Gandilov's remarks serve as a somber reminder of the scale of the tragedy, which continues to impact survivors and their families. He emphasized that these victims were civilians, killed with deliberate cruelty and without justification. "The survivors of Khojaly, who miraculously made it out, often speak of the horror they endured, knowing that their loved ones were targeted and slaughtered by armed forces."

The atrocities in Khojaly drew significant international attention at the time, with major global media outlets, including The New York Times and The Financial Times, reporting on the brutality of the attack.

"Crime in Khojaly cannot be justified in public opinion", said journalist of British TV R. Patrick, who visited the site of tragedy.

The Khojaly massacre remains a painful and unresolved chapter in the history of the region, and its remembrance continues to evoke strong emotions. Ambassador Gandilov reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s unwavering stance, saying that the genocide in Khojaly is indefensible and will never be justified.

The massacre, which took place on the night of February 25-26, 1992, saw Armenian armed forces invade the town of Khojaly, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians.

By Vafa Guliyeva