On February 26, 1992, unarmed peaceful people in Khojaly were subjected to massacre by Armenian armed forces.

Khojaly town is situated 18 km from Aghdam and 14 km from Khankandi, and in Karabakh range.

Since the end of October of 1991, Khojaly was already in blockade. The roads to Khojaly were closed. The only means of conveyance was helicopter. Since January air connection was lost with the town. In the beginning of January electricity to the town was cut. Local police and men of the National Army defended the people.

Since mid-February Khojaly was encircled. Every day it was subjected to cannons and heavy military equipments. On February 25, in the evening, the town was fired. As a result, on February 26 Khojaly was caught fire. Approximately, 2500 people, who remained in the town, left the town for the center of Aghdam However, they could not. Armenian armed forces and militaries of 366^th motorized rifle of Russia inflicted people.

It is necessary to emphasize that during the tragedy 366^th motorized rifle of Russia also helped Azerbaijanis. Calling of the tragedy genocide is not accidental. During that hard day, 613 Azerbaijanis were killed, 8 families were completely annihilated, hundreds of children lost their families, 1275 people were captivated, and 487 people were wounded. Just for these reasons, it must be called genocide. Killing of the peaceful people in such manner, subjecting of them to mental and physical severity and becoming of living people IDPs have been written to the history as the “Khojaly genocide”.

 

Shahla Babayeva

Pupil of 9^th form, school number 53