Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Based on initiatives by different youth organizations in Ukraine, February has been named month of Khojaly across the country.

Union of Azerbaijani Youth of Ukraine (UAYU), Public Union "The Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno Karabakh", All-Ukrainian Youth Assembly and Azerbaijani Students and Alumni International Forum (ASAIF) were among the organizations that supported the initiatives.

During a meeting of the UAYU on the issue, a number of Ukrainian youth associations supported the Justice for Khojaly campaign.

Addressing the meeting, Chairman of the Union Anar Tahirov noted that events held since 2008 as part of "Justice for Khojaly" campaign - initiated by Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva - played an important role in introducing to the world the genocide the Armenians committed in Khojaly 20 years ago.

Tahirov said Azerbaijani youth living in Ukraine and other countries bear a big responsibility in this regard.

Stressing the significance of naming February "Month of Khojaly", activists said several events will be held in Ukrainian provinces and cities to commemorate the victims of the crime.

Deputy Chairman of the All-Ukrainian Youth Assembly Andrey Shelepnichki said several organizations joined "Justice for Khojaly" campaign to raise awareness of the Ukrainian people on the Khojaly genocide.

They noted that Khojaly was not just a tragedy but a crime against humanity.

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