On the occasion of 25th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in St.Petersburg within “Justice for Khojaly” international awareness campaign hosted a commemorative event.
The event was attended by the political and public figures of St.Petersbug, representatives of the diasporas and national communities. Consul General of Azerbaijan in St.Petersburg, Soltan Gasimov delivered a speech stating that over the night of 25-26 February 1992, following a massive artillery bombardment, Armenian armed forces and paramilitary units captured the town. In result, 613 people lost their lives, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly. 1275 were taken hostage, while the fate of another 150 people remains unknown. The town was razed to the ground. In the course of that tragic night 487 inhabitants of Khojaly were wounded, including 76 children; eight families were completely wiped out; 130 children lost one parent; and 25 children lost both parents. Moreover, Consul General emphasized the importance of the "Justice for Khojaly" international awareness campaign initiated by the Vice-President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mrs.Leyla Aliyeva and declared that Khojaly genocide is already recognized by more than 10 countries.
Further, Chairman of the National Cultural Autonomy of St. Petersburg, Advisor to the Governor on National Issues Vagif Mamishev, Historian, Doctor of Cultural Studies Yuri Pompeev, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, Plenipotentiary of the Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan Aydin Jafarov, Lieutenant-General, Advisor of the Russian Federation of the 3rd class Andrei Volokh noted that the future generations should remember the Khojaly tragedy, as this is a crime not only against the Azerbaijani people, but against all mankind.