Azernews.Az

BAKU – The alleged independence day of the self-proclaimed republic run by ethnic Armenians in the occupied Upper (Nagorno) Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, held in US Congress, has angered Azerbaijanis.

A group of Azerbaijanis protested throughout the event, which was organized Tuesday at the initiative of Congressman Frank Pallone, Armenian media reported.

Members of the Azerbaijan community blamed the invitation of the leaders of so-called, unrecognized "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" to the United States Congress. The protesters carried slogans and posters, condemning the Khojaly massacre of 1992 and ethnic purge implemented by the Armenians. The Armenian lobby in the United States has made great efforts to promote separatist regime in Nagorno Karabakh, the slogans said.

Badir Mammadli, the action activist, said he considers holding of such an event at the United States Congress as insult and infringement of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. "The majority of US Congress members don`t recognize the so-called "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" as an independent structure. Those congressmen, who have joined this action, need financial support from Armenians. However, the U.S. Azerbaijanis will not lose their vigilance to never permit any actions contradictory to the interests of the United States and Azerbaijan", Mammadli said.

Nagorno Karabakh is an Azerbaijani region occupied by Armenia since a 1994 cease-fire ended separatist hostilities that killed an estimated 30,000 people and ousted about one million Azerbaijanis from their homes.