President of Azerbaijan laid wreath to monument of Khojaly genocide victims

Government officials and members of the Parliament, public figures took part in the event, Trend reports.

In the night from 25 February to 26 February 1992 the Armenian armed units backed by the heavy weaponry and the N366 motor-rifle regiment staff of the former USSR, quartered in Khankendi, Nagorno Karabakh, attacked and seized the town of Khojaly. Massive shelling from heavy artillery and military equipment started in the night of 25 February was followed by the assault of the city.

The population which remained in the town, about 2500 people, has been forced to abandon their homes with the only hope to fight their way to Agdam, the regional centre which was the nearest settlement populated predominantly by the Azerbaijanis.

The Armenian armed forces supported by the military forces of the 366th regiment which had bombed out the town of Khojaly massacred with especial brutality over the population, at the result of which 613 people were killed, among them 63 children; 106 women, 70 elderly people, 150 people disappeared without any traces. 8 families were crushed completely, 25 children lost both of their parents, 130 children lost of one of their parents, 487 people were wounded, from which 76 are children.

The Parliament of Azerbaijan announced the 26 February of each year "The Day of Khojaly genocide". The people of Azerbaijan honour the memory of the Khojali victims each year at 1700 on 26 February by a Minute of Silence.