Ombudsman to be organized Khojaly Genocide 25th Commemoration Events

Range of commemoration events are going to be organized in accordance with the Action Plan approved by the Presidential Decree throughout the country. So, the Commissioner to be organized range of Khojaly Genocide Commemoration Events of in accordance with the abovementioned relevant Action Plan.

During the meeting held to announce and to discuss the organizational issues of such commemoration events, the Commissioner, Elmira Suleymanova stated the importance of drawing attention of the international community to the realities and just position of Azerbaijan with relevant question.

Furthermore, it was noted that Khojaly Genocide committed against Azerbaijanis, had got its first legal and political assessment by the National Parliament in 1994 during the office of ex-president and the National Leader, Heydar Aliyev; and the current country president, Ilham Aliyev always resolutely states that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be settled within the frame of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and all crime perpetrators should be held criminally liable.

At the meeting it was also underlined that in order to aware the international community about Khojaly Genocide, efforts of Leyla Aliyeva, the Vice-President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, in particular, the measures taken within her initiative “Justice for Khojaly”, plays significant role in campaign towards recognition of this crime at the international arena as genocide. As a consequence of such a campaign it has already 14 Parliaments of different countries and 21 States of the US legislative bodies officially recognized Khojaly Genocide within the international law by adopting relevant resolutions.

As well as it was stressed that according to the Action Plan of the Ombudsman Office, the Commissioner is going to organize Khojaly Genocide 25^th Commemoration round tables, conferences, seminars, exhibitions and other events in capital city and regions of the country. It is considered to involve the participation of local executive and municipal bodies, civil society institutions and non-governmental organizations, mass media, educational facilities, young people and students in those events.

At the end of the meeting, it was sounded the Ombudsman’s Statement about the 25^th anniversary of Khojaly, which has sent to various international organizations, such as UN and its specialized agencies, CoE, OSCE, EU, international and European ombudsman and national human rights institutions and others. The statement was also placed on the official website of the Ombudsman Office where the users can have an access under the special column entitled “Khojaly 25”.  This should be noted that the noted column includes the overall information about the genocide, itself, relevant action plans and Commissioner’s statements and a film with regard to this matter.