Uncovering the Horrors of the Khojaly Massacre: A Call for Justice

The chilling words of Serzh Sargsyan, former President of Armenia, resonate deeply: “Before Khojali, the Azerbaijanis thought that they were joking with us, they thought that the Armenians were people who could not raise their hand against the civilian population. We were able to break that [stereotype].” These haunting reflections shed light on the dark reality of the Khojaly Massacre, a tragedy that shattered lives and scarred history forever.

During his tenure as the head of the illegal separatist regimes “Self-Defence Forces Committee,” Sargsyan’s statements stand as crucial evidence pointing to the perpetrators behind this heinous act. The Khojaly Massacre, reminiscent of other tragedies like Katyn, Lidice, Oradour-sur-Glane, Holocaust, Songmy, Rwanda, and Srebrenica, remains a deep and shameful scar on humanity’s conscience.

The orchestration of the Khojaly genocide lays bare the sinister machinations of Armenian terrorist groups in Nagorno-Karabakh and the complicity of the 2nd battalion of the 366th motor rifle regiment of the former USSR army, commanded by Major Ohanyan Seyran Mushegovich, later the Minister of Defense of Armenia, alongside other key figures. Eyewitness accounts from reputable sources such as foreign journalists offer damning insights into the atrocities perpetrated in Khojaly.

Reports from renowned publications like La Croix-lEvnement, The Sunday Times, Financial Times, The Times, Izvestiya, and Le Monde paint a gruesome picture of the massacre, detailing unimaginable acts of violence against innocent civilians. The scenes of horror described disfigured bodies, massacred families, and mutilated victims are etched into the annals of history, serving as a stark reminder of the depths of human depravity.

The magnitude of the crimes committed in Khojaly meets the criteria outlined in the Convention “On Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide” adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. The premeditated slaughter of Azerbaijani residents solely based on their ethnicity constitutes a genocide, with villagers subjected to unspeakable atrocities including beheadings, mutilations, and burnings.

Despite concerted efforts through initiatives like the “Justice for Khojaly” campaign to raise global awareness about this genocide, justice remains elusive. While several nations and international bodies have recognized the Khojaly events as genocidal crimes, perpetrators continue to evade accountability even 32 years after the massacre.

As we reflect on the horrors of the Khojaly Massacre, it is incumbent upon the international community to uphold justice and ensure that those responsible are brought to trial. Only through acknowledging the past and holding perpetrators accountable can we pave the way for healing, reconciliation, and a future free from such atrocities.

Public Relation Department

The US-Azerbaijan Center of Integration