Azerbaijanis commemorate victims of Khojaly tragedy

On February 26, residents of Azerbaijan honoured the memory of the victims of the Khojaly tragedy; some commemoration events were held online due to the pandemic. Refugees shared their memories of those events.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on the 28th anniversary of the events in Khojaly, during the storming of which more than 600 people perished, mourning events were held both in Azerbaijan and abroad.

Within the international campaign "Justice for Khojaly" a short film "Khojaly Sign" was released about a five-year-old girl who was killed with her family in Khojaly.

Residents of Khojaly said that in those days the village was regularly fired upon, and even the hospital was shelled.

Anaru Orudjev said that in the days of the Khojaly tragedy he was seven years old. "The roar and gunfire seemed to shake heaven and earth. People rushed about in streets, not knowing what to do and where to run. The women were crying. I lost my mother and father then ... When hearing speech in Armenian, we tried not to move so as not to be noticed ... Many died or were taken prisoners," he said.

Mamed Nagiev, a doctor, said that he was captured. "They treated us very cruelly there – they pulled out our teeth with pliers. The pregnant woman's belly was ripped open, and she died. Three days later, I and a group of others prisoners were exchanged (for Armenian prisoners)," he said.

He believes that the recent 44-day war has radically changed the situation around the Karabakh conflict. "Today, we not only grieve, but also believe that, like residents of other liberated cities and districts, we will be able to return to Khojaly," Mr Nagiev hopes.