Ombudsperson Sabina Aliyeva spoke at a memorial event hosted by Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Hungary

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Hungary organized an online conference on 27 September, Memorial Day, to mark the 5th anniversary of the start of the Patriotic War

Tahir Taghizade, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Hungary made opening remarks at the conference. This was followed by addresses from Ombudsperson Sabina Aliyeva, Ali Huseynli, head of the Azerbaijan-Hungary Interparliamentary Working Group, and Attila Tilki, head of the Hungary-Azerbaijan Friendship Group in the Hungarian National Assembly.

In her remarks, Ombudsperson highlighted the importance of the 44-day Patriotic War in Azerbaijan’s modern history and honored the memory of the martyrs who gave their lives for the state’s territorial integrity. She stressed that, under the leadership of the Victorious Commander-in-Chief, the heroism of the Azerbaijani Army in restoring historical justice will be eternally remembered by the people.

Speaking about the serious consequences of the prolonged Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, the Ombudsperson noted that on 27 September, 2020, Armenia launched a large-scale attack in clear violation of international law. Azerbaijan, exercising its UN-recognized right to self-defense, conducted counter-offensive operations, which also led to the fulfillment of UN resolutions calling for the liberation of the occupied territories.

The Ombudsperson highlighted Armenian forces targeted civilian areas in Azerbaijan with banned weapons during the Second Karabakh War, causing nearly 100 deaths, including 12 children and injuring more than 450 civilians. She stressed that this constituted a clear violation of international law and humanitarian principles

It was reported that the Ombudsperson conducted fact-finding missions in Naftalan, Tartar, Ganja, and Barda, met with affected residents, and documented the findings in detailed reports shared with the international community.

The Ombudsperson noted that from the beginning of the Patriotic War and the post-war period, she submitted 18 reports, 29 statements, and 82 appeals to human rights organizations. She also highlighted that the extensive reconstruction in liberated Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, along with the return of former IDPs to their homes, fills the nation with pride.

In conclusion, the Ombudsperson highlighted the vital role of peace in protecting human rights, expressing her belief that a peace agreement between the two countries would promote lasting regional stability and coexistence, fostering a safe and tolerant environment for future generations.