Khojaly genocide victims commemorated in Kharkov

An event dedicated to the 19th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide was conducted in Kharkov (Ukraine) at the initiative of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum, the Union of Azerbaijani Youth in Ukraine and the Congress of Azerbaijanis of Kharkov.

The event held as part of the campaign "Justice for Khojaly" was attended by officials of Kharkov administration, activists of the Azerbaijani diaspora and representatives of local TV and other media outlets, said the press service of the Union of Azerbaijani Youth in Ukraine.

Representatives of the Kharkov public participated in the event, laying a wreath at the memorial plate of National Hero of Azerbaijan Victor Seregin, who was killed during the helicopter explosion committed by the Armenians. The helicopter was evacuating civilians from the battle zone in 1992.

The event was addressed by the chairman of the Congress of Azerbaijanis in Kharkov Qurban Abbasov. According to him, the mass killing of civilians in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly 19 years ago is a continuation of policies of occupation and genocide directed against the Azerbaijani people over the last two centuries.

Later the participants watched documentary film "Khojaly genocide", taken by the Heydar Aliyev foundation.

Noting that "the accidents in Khojaly are a crime against humanity", the official representatives of the Kharkov region, chairman of the Turkish National Union Irfan Gebeji, chairman of the Georgian diaspora Zurab Kiviya and heads of other diasporas in Kharkov urged the international community and international organizations to give political and legal assessment to this crime.

According to the secretary general of the Union of Azerbaijani Youth in Ukraine Ayaz Salmanov, Azerbaijani youth in Ukraine has joined the campaign "Justice for Khojaly. Chairman of the regional organization of the Union Afiaddin Balakishiev and other representatives of the youth stated to mobilize all efforts to present to the world community the truth about the Khojaly tragedy.

"Khojaly Month", launched in Ukraine on the initiative of Islamic Conference Youth Forum, the Union of Azerbaijani Youth in Ukraine, will continue with a number of actions and protests until the end of February.

The Armenian military forces committed genocide in Khojaly on Feb. 26, 1992. More than 600 people were killed, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old men. A total of 1,000 civilians were disabled during the genocide. Eight families were annihilated, 130 children lost one parent, and 25 lost both. Additionally, 1,275 peaceful residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 remains unknown.


/Trend/