Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

On February 25, an event dedicated to the 33rd anniversary of the Khojaly Genocide, titled “The Khojaly Genocide and the present state of our sovereignty” was held at the Main Building of ANAS.

The event was organized jointly by the Presidium of ANAS, Free Trade Union of ANAS, the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) Yasamal District Organization, the Central Scientific Library, the Council of Young Scientists and Specialists of the Academy and the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology. Alongside employees of ANAS, representatives of the YAP Yasamal District Organization and the Yasamal District Executive Power, as well as families of martyrs and veterans participated in the event.

The event began with the performance of the National Anthem, followed by a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs who lost their lives for the territorial integrity of our country and the victims of the Khojaly tragedy.

Opening the event with an introductory speech, the President of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbeyli said that the Khojaly Genocide is one of the most tragic and terrible pages in Azerbaijan’s history. He provided participants with detailed information about the causes and consequences of the event. The head of ANAS also mentioned that the Khojaly tragedy is commemorated not only in Azerbaijan but also by Azerbaijanis living abroad as a page of the heroic struggle of our people.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli said that the National Leader Heydar Aliyev was the first to provide a legal and political assessment to this tragedy. He emphasized that the Great Leader determined conveying the genocide committed by Armenia against Azerbaijan and essence of terror policy against Azerbaijan to the international community as one of the key tasks in foreign policy. At his initiative, on February 24, 1994, the Milli Majlis adopted a decision on “Day of Khojaly Genocide” and called on the international community to take effective measures against Armenian terrorism.

The head of ANAS mentioned that this massacre committed by Armenian nationalists is recognized today as an act of genocide in many countries worldwide. He specifically highlighted the work of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in conveying the truth about Khojaly to the international community and achieving an objective assessment to this bloody tragedy. The academician underlined that the “Justice for Khojaly!” campaign, carried out under the initiative of the Vice President of the Foundation, Leyla Aliyeva, plays a crucial role in recognizing this genocide not only as a crime against our people but also as one of the gravest crimes against humanity as a whole.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli said that since 2020, the Khojaly tragedy is commemorated not only with deep sorrow and great grief but also with a sense of national pride. He emphasized that, thanks to the foresighted policy of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and the courage of the strong Azerbaijani army, historical justice has been restored, and Khojaly, Karabakh, and Eastern Zangezur have been returned to their rightful owners.

The head of ANAS mentioned that by liberating Azerbaijani lands from occupation, President Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation for a new chapter in Khojaly’s history. This is an unforgettable glorious page in Azerbaijan’s history and as the years pass, the significance of these days will continue to grow.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli said that under the wise leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, large-scale reconstruction and restoration works are underway in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, including Khojaly, and that the Great Return Program is successfully implemented. He recalled that just a few days ago, within the visit of head of state to Karabakh, President Ilham Aliyev also visited Khojaly and held sincere meetings with residents in Ballija village. He emphasized that the extensive reconstruction works conducted in the liberated territories and the achievements are a clear reflection of Azerbaijan’s economic strength and the best proof that the spilled blood has not gone unavenged.

The president of ANAS underlined that a new life has begun in Khojaly, and people have already returned to their homeland. He emphasized that this is a significant historical event in the statehood of Azerbaijan, which was founded by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and elevated to a new level of development by President Ilham Aliyev.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli said that it is the moral duty of the scientists working at the Academy of Sciences to thoroughly study the Khojaly tragedy and considering the challenges of the time, the Department of the History of the Karabakh War and the Great Return Movement had been established at the Abbasgulu Aga Bakikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology. He also mentioned that large-scale scientific research works are underway at other institutes of the Academy of Sciences related to this matter, and new books have been prepared for publication. According to the academician, the main goal is to research the history of our territories, which were occupied in various periods and to convey it to today’s generations, as it was, so that they can draw the necessary conclusions from the lessons of history. Our youth must know the consequences of these tragedies, as well as the painful history of Khojaly.

Afterwards, a slide presentation prepared by the Central Scientific Library of ANAS was shown, featuring information about the Khojaly genocide.

The chairman of the Free Trade Union of ANAS, PhD in Political Science, Associate Professor Senan Hasanov, the chairman of the YAP Yasamal District Organization, Bakhtiyar Nabiyev, the head of the Department of the Yasamal District Executive Power, participant of the Patriotic War Samir Ismiyev, the head of the Bibliography Department of the Central Scientific Library of ANAS, PhD in Philology Aytan Aliyeva, and the chairman of the Council of Young Scientists and Specialists at the Nasimi Institute of Linguistics of ANAS, senior researcher Arzu Isgandarzade made speeches at the event.

They spoke about Armenia’s military-political crimes, its historical policy of occupation, and emphasized that the horrors of the Khojaly genocide will never be forgotten.

Murvat Mammadov, Coordinator of the Public Union for Promoting the Truths of Genocide and a living witness of the Khojaly Genocide spoke about the happenings he personally witnessed. He said that at the age of 14, he was taken hostage during the massacre in Khojaly and lost his father and brothers on that horrific night. He stated that the painful and tragic memories of those days are still vivid in his mind.

“During the 44-day Second Karabakh War, under the leadership of the Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the brave Azerbaijani Army achieved a historic victory, ending the thirty-year longing for our lands. The historical justice was restored”-he said.

Reyhan Majidli, Public Relations, Press and Information Department of the Presidium Administration of ANAS

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