The opening ceremony of the exhibition “Unsilenced Truths” was held

At the initiative of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, an opening ceremony of the exhibition entitled “Unsilenced Truths” was held on the premises of the Office. The exhibition reflects historical facts concerning the genocide and ethnic cleansing policies historically carried out against Azerbaijanis. 

At the beginning of the event, the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed, and a one-minute moment of silence was observed in memory of the martyrs.

In her opening remarks, Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva stated that this exhibition holds significant importance in conveying to the public the historical facts concerning the genocide and ethnic cleansing crimes against our people, one of the most tragic pages in the history of our people in honoring the dearest memory of the victims with deep respect, and in transmitting these truths to future generations.

In March–April 1918, Azerbaijanis had been massively and brutally massacred in Baku and in various regions of Azerbaijan, including Shamakhi, Guba, Karabakh, Zangezur, Nakhchivan, and other territories, said the Ombudsman. Ultimately, tens of thousands of civilians were killed solely on the grounds of their national and religious identity, and numerous civilian settlements were destroyed. The Ombudsman emphasized the importance of assessing these events as genocide, as one of the gravest crimes committed against peace and humanity, in accordance with international law.

Subsequently, Aziz Alakbarli, Chairman of the Board of the Western Azerbaijan Community and Member of the Parliament; Nazim Mustafa, Associate Professor at the Institute of History of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences; and Polad Jafarzade, a staff member of the Ombudsman Office, also spoke at this gathering. The speakers outlined Armenia’s long-standing deportation and ethnic cleansing policies against Azerbaijanis over many years, particularly the forced expulsion of hundreds of thousands of our compatriots from Western Azerbaijan, the territory of present-day Armenia. It was noted that as a result of the deportation processes that took place in 1905–1906, 1918–1921, 1948–1953, and 1987–1991, the fundamental human rights of Azerbaijanis were grossly violated.

The importance of assessment and recognition of the crimes committed against Azerbaijanis under international law, and restoring the rights of the victims was emphasized.

Afterwards, Azada Novruzova, a staff member of the Ombudsman Office, briefed on her book entitled “Lovers of Victory: The Martyrs of Gharakilsa”, prefaced by Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva. She noted that the book contains biographical information of the fighters from the Gharakilsa district of the Zangezur region of Western Azerbaijan who were killed or went missing  during the battles fought for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The archival documents, photographs, and other materials exhibited vividly reflect the scale and severe consequences of the genocide and deportation policies against Azerbaijanis. The materials also serve to preserve historical memory, raise public awareness in the field of human rights, and ensure the objective informing of the international community.

At the end of the event, the participants viewed the exhibition.

It should be noted that the activities carried out by the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan aimed at documenting crimes against humanity committed against Azerbaijanis, as well as submitting relevant reports and communications to international organizations, are being consistently continued.

The exhibition “Unsilenced Truths”, as an integral part of these efforts, seeks to contribute to the restoration of historical justice and the protection of human rights. 

The exhibition will remain open to visitors until 31 March.