Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijanis living abroad prepare events to mark the 22^nd anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, committed in early 1990s by the Armenian armed forces against innocent civil people.

The Benelux Azerbaijanis Congress (BAC) will stage a protest action in front of the European Parliament building in Brussels on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of Khojaly tragedy on February 26.

The Congress will hand a Khojaly statement to senior management of the European Parliament and Armenian Embassy in Belgium.

BAC said similar campaigns and rallies will be held in several Benelux countries.

An exhibition commemorating the Khojaly massacre victims will be arranged as part of the events that will also feature demonstration of Khoja, a movie by Azerbaijani filmmaker Vahid Mustafayev.

Victims of the Khojaly Massacre will also be commemorated in Paris and London.

Khojaly commemoration concerts will be held in Paris at the Église St-Roch, 296 rue Saint Honoré on February 24, in London St. John's, Smith Square on February 26.

The free of charge concerts will comprise a performance by the young Azerbaijani violinist Nazrin Rashidova and the all-female FeMusa String Ensemble. Sabina Rakcheyeva (violin) will also perform at the events.

In 1992, the town of Khojaly, the second largest town in Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, came under intensive fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by the Armenian armed forces.

613 civilians, including 106 women, 70 elderly and 83 children, were killed in the massacre. A total of 1,000 civilians were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, and 25 children lost both parents, while 130 children lost one parent. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 remains unknown. Civilians were shot at close range, scalped and burned alive. Some had their eyes gouged out and others were beheaded.