Third AAC-ASA Pax Turcica article on the 21st anniversary the Khojaly Massacre has been published in the Baltimore Jewish Times, a newspaper in Maryland.

The article is titled Recognize The Khojaly Massacre.

“In February, Azerbaijani-Americans commemorate the 21st anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre, the largest atrocity of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On Feb. 26, 1992, Armenian armed forces, supported by Russia’s 366th Motor Rifle Regiment, attacked Khojaly — an Azerbaijani-populated town of 7,000 — and massacred its fleeing residents. According to Newsweek, many civilians were killed at close range, some were scalped and had their faces mutilated. 613 civilians including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elders were tortured to death. … More than 1,000 people suffered permanent health damage, 1,275 people were taken hostage, and eight families were fully destroyed. More than 150 children lost one or both parents.

The extent of brutality in Khojaly exceeded the later 1995 Srebrenica Genocide in Bosnia. Human Rights Watch called Khojaly the largest atrocity of the conflict and regarded it as a violation of the customary law on the treatment of civilians in war zones. Armenia’s primary role in the massacre has been affirmed by numerous human-rights experts. … Yet, the Armenian leadership continues to deny responsibility.

Massachusetts, Georgia, Texas, and New Mexico acknowledged the Khojaly tragedy by legislative resolutions. Ahead of its 21st anniversary, I join members of Azerbaijani-American Council to request formal recognition of this crime against humanity. Sample recognition is available at khojaly.azeris.com

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