Victims of Khojaly genocide of Azerbaijanis honored in St.Petersburg PHOTO

A ceremony dedicated to the 31st anniversary of the Khojaly genocide of Azerbaijanis was held on February 23 in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

As Azertag was informed at the State Committee for Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan, the event was organized by the city public organization "National-cultural autonomy of Azerbaijanis in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region."

The participants of the event honoured the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide and those who died as a result of the terrible earthquake in Türkiye with a minute of silence, and prayers were read for the repose of their souls.

Chairman of the organization "National-cultural autonomy of Azerbaijanis in the city of St. Petersburg and Leningrad region" Vagif Mamishov, Consul General of Azerbaijan in St. Petersburg Sultan Gasimov, and Consul General of Türkiye in St. Petersburg Ozgun Talu spoke at the ceremony.

Speaking about the Khojaly genocide as one of the most tragic pages in the history of Azerbaijan, the speakers noted that 613 civilians were on the night from February 25 to 26 in 1992, including 106 women, 63 childrenç and 70 old people, as well as 487 civilians were seriously injured, and 1275 people were taken as hostage.

It was emphasized that the then political and military leadership of Armenia and the Armenian separatists of Karabakh were responsible for the Khojaly genocide and cruel crimes against Azerbaijanis. The speakers called on the international community to take decisive steps to give a legal and political assessment of the Khojaly genocide and punish those responsible for this terrible tragedy in accordance with international law.

Then, with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, a video created within the framework of the international campaign "Justice for Khojaly!" was presented.

At the event, works of classical music and poems dedicated to the tragic event were performed, and memories of eyewitnesses of the Khojaly events were read.

The event participants were presented with brochures on the Khojaly genocide prepared by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, badges and CDs with the film "Endless Corridor".