Azernews.Az

The Khojaly. For Peace, Against War exhibition was opened at the Berlin-Baku-Gallery in Berlin.

The exhibition dedicated to the anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy showcased artworks, which were featured in the contest, by young artists of the Azerbaijan Artists` Union, Azerbaijan State Painting Academy and Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art.

Speaking at the ceremony, ambassador of Azerbaijan to Germany Parviz Shahbazov provided information about the Khojaly massacre and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The ambassador thanked the organizer of the event, Berlin-Baku Gallery.

The participants saw the short film on Khojaly events produced in Germany.

The event was also addressed by Principal of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art Temuchin Afandiyev and Pro-rector of the Azerbaijan State Painting Academy Salhab Mammadov.
Speakers briefed the participants on the contest of young artists.

Young artist Ruhangiz Islamova presented a carpet reflecting Khojaly tragedy to the Azerbaijani embassy.

The Khojaly massacre is one of the most heinous and bloodiest events of the 20th century. Late into the night of February 25, 1992, the town of Khojaly came under intensive fire from the town of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by Armenian armed forces. At night the Armenian forces supported by the ex-Soviet 366th regiment completed the surrounding of the town already isolated due to ethnic cleansing of the Azerbaijani population of the neighboring regions. The joint forces occupied the town, which was ruined by heavy artillery shelling.

Thousands of fleeing civilians were ambushed by Armenian forces. Punitive teams of the so-called Nagorno Karabakh defense army reached the unprotected civilians to slaughter them, mutilating and scalping some bodies. In just a few hours, 613 civilians were killed, including 106 women, 70 elderly and 83 children. A total of 1,000 civilians were disabled. 56 people were killed with outrageous brutality, eight families were totally exterminated, and 25 children lost both parents, while 130 children lost at least one parent, in what became the most brutal punishment of civilians during the three years of the conflict's military phase. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 remains unknown.