Statement by the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan concerning the 30th anniversary of the Aghdaban Genocide

Today 30 years have passed since the Aghdaban Genocide.

As a result of Armenia’s genocide and ethnic cleansing policies against Azerbaijanis committed throughout history, thousands of innocent civilians were killed and massively exterminated. 

One of the multiple crimes of Armenia against humanity was committed in the Aghdaban village of Kalbajar district on the night from 7 to 8 April 1992, village inhabitants were tortured, civilians were massively murdered, and the elderly, children, and women were burnt alive. 

Furthermore, the historical, cultural, and religious sites of the village as examples of human civilization were destroyed. Works related to the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, including the manuscripts of the poet Aghdabanli Gurban and one of the masters of classical ashug poetry Dada Shamshir were destroyed.

This act of genocide, as well as the acts of vandalism committed by Armenians against cultural heritage in the village of Aghdaban of the Kalbajar district of the Republic of Azerbaijan, had resulted in a serious violation of the international human rights documents.

I call on international organizations and states to take decisive measures to bring the criminals of the Aghdaban Genocide to justice punishment and recognize this massacre as genocide and a crime committed against mankind. 

Sabina Aliyeva

The Commissioner for Human Rights

(Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan

8 April  2022

This Statement is addressed to the UN Secretary-General, UN Security Council, UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Office of High Commissioner for Refugees, UN Human Rights Council, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, European Union, Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, International and European Ombudsman Institutions, Asian Ombudsman Association, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Ombudsman Association of its member states,  Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, European Network of Ombudspersons for Children, International Peace Bureau, different ombudsmen and national human rights institutions, embassies of the Republic of Azerbaijan in foreign countries and the foreign embassies in Azerbaijan,  as well as to the Azerbaijani Diasporas.