The anniversary of the Khojaly genocide was celebrated at Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil University

Within the framework of the international campaign “Justice for Khojaly!”, initiated by the Vice President of the Haydar Aliyev Foundation Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva, “The Justice for Khojaly Week” was held in Istanbul, Turkey on February 20-26. During the week, the Khojaly genocide memorial event, organized by the Reformist Youth Public Union, was held at the Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil University on February 25. The national anthems of both countries were performed at the event and the memory of the victims of the tragedy was commemorated with a minute of silence.

Farid Shahbazli, Chairman of the Reformist Youth Public Union, said that this tragedy is not only against the Azerbaijanis, but also against the Turkish nation and whole humanity. He noted that the death of 63 children in a city in one night is a horrific fact. Farid Shahbazli said that the international campaign “Justice for Khojaly”, initiated by the Vice President of the Haydar Aliyev Foundation Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva, has played an important role in bringing this genocide to the world. It was noted that for over 8 years the Reformist Youth Public Union held a number of events within this campaign.

Head of Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, human rights defender Ahmad Shahidov said that Turkey and Azerbaijan are moving together on international platforms, saying that on the 27th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide the world community has not given a necessary legal assessment to this crime. The human rights defender underscored the double standards in relation to the fundamental principles of international law, stressed that those who commited Khojaly genocide will respond to justice, noting that it is necessary to unite all efforts for this. Ahmad Shahidov also informed the conference participants that the issue of protection the rights of captives and hostages during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains a priority in the agenda of the Azerbaijani state.

Vice Speaker of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Zorlu Tore, Member of the Macedonian Parliament Enes Ibrahim, Dean of the Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil University Jalal Elbay, Head of the Rauf Raif Denktash Association Latif Akca and other speakers said that the massacre committed by Armenians in Khojaly on February 25-26, 1992 was one of the most bloody tragedies of the 20th century.

Members of the “Academy of Arts”, headed by Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Mrs. Aybaniz Hashimova, performed different musical numbers reflecting the Khojaly genocide.

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