On February 26, a commemorative event dedicated to the 34th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide was held at the Institute of Geography of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The participants first honored the cherished memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide with a minute of silence. A video dedicated to the tragedy was then screened.

    Opening the event with an introductory speech, Acting Director of the Institute, Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Associate Professor Zaur Imrani, stated that the Khojaly genocide is one of the gravest and most brutal crimes committed not only against the Azerbaijani people but against humanity as a whole. He emphasized that this bloody tragedy has left an indelible mark on the memory of the nation, and that it is the moral duty and historical responsibility of every citizen to ensure that these events are never forgotten and that the memory of the victims is always honored.

      Speaking as a guest at the event, Deputy Director of the Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Fuad Chiragov, expressed regret that for many years the Khojaly genocide had not received an adequate political and legal assessment from the international community. He noted that on the night of February 25–26, 1992, an unprecedented act of brutality was committed against the civilian population of Khojaly, during which hundreds of innocent people were killed with particular cruelty. Fuad Chiragov stressed that those events were not merely the occupation of a city, but a deliberate mass killing of civilians. The tragedy has gone down in history as one of the most horrific examples of gross violations of human rights and freedoms and a blatant disregard for the norms and principles of international humanitarian law. He also pointed out that the prolonged failure of international organizations and the global community to respond adequately to these events delayed justice and once again demonstrated the existence of double standards. In his speech, F. Chiragov underlined that as a result of the consistent and purposeful information policy pursued by the Azerbaijani state, the truth about Khojaly is now recognized in various countries around the world, and the parliaments of a number of states have given a political and legal assessment of the tragedy.

       During the event, employees of the Institute also delivered speeches, noting that the Khojaly genocide should be regarded as a continuation of the policy of consistent deportation and genocide carried out against Azerbaijanis for nearly two centuries. It was emphasized that, thanks to the targeted information policy implemented by the Azerbaijani leadership, the international community has been widely informed about the Khojaly genocide. It was also noted that as a result of the historic Victory achieved in the 44-day Patriotic War, the blood of the Khojaly martyrs was avenged on the battlefield.

    Subsequently, Chairman of the Institute’s Trade Union Organization, Kamran Ramazanli, stated that the Khojaly tragedy is another horrific manifestation of the occupation and ethnic cleansing policy carried out by Armenian nationalists and their supporters against the Azerbaijani people. He stressed that the events that took place in Khojaly in February 1992 will never be forgotten and that this bloody page will forever remain in the historical memory of the nation.

At the conclusion of the event, it was once again stated that the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide will always be honored with deep respect.