An online commemorative event dedicated to the 29th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide was held at Sumgayit State University on February 26.

The event began with a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the genocide, and a video about the realities of Khojaly was shown.

Opening the event, Rector Professor Elkhan Huseynov said that the Khojaly genocide, which is one of the most terrible and tragic pages in the history of Azerbaijan, will forever remain in the memory of mankind as an act of mass terror, this tragedy will not be forgotten throughout history. The genocide committed on the night of February 25-26 was a continuation of the policy of aggression, ethnic cleansing and genocide pursued by the Armenian nationalists against the Azerbaijani people. As a result of the genocide in Khojaly, which has a population of 7,000, 613 people - 106 women, 63 children, 70 elderly people - were killed, and about 1,000 civilians of different ages were injured by bullet wounds. 8 families were completely destroyed, 25 children lost both parents and 130 lost one of their parents. On the night of the tragedy, 1,275 civilians were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them is still unknown. The Khojaly genocide received its true political and legal value only after the return of National Leader Heydar Aliyev to political power. In 1994, on the initiative of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the Azerbaijani Parliament adopted February 26 as the Day of the Khojaly Genocide. Since then, the Azerbaijanis of the world have been called upon to be active in promoting the genocide around the world, and in this regard, they have been addressed. Today, President Ilham Aliyev, who has successfully implemented the ideas of the great leader Heydar Aliyev, is showing great determination to convey the realities of Azerbaijan, as well as the Khojaly genocide to the world community. First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has rendered services in conveying the truth about the Khojaly genocide to the world community. The effectiveness of the campaign "Justice for Khojaly!", announced on the initiative of Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, is growing every year. The Khojaly genocide is gaining its true value over time.

The rector also noted that this year we mark the anniversary of the Khojaly genocide in a special historical context. Finally, after 29 years, as a result of the successful policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev, founded by national leader Heydar Aliyev, the deprivations of our people have been left behind, and the people of Azerbaijan have become a victorious people. Events dedicated to the Khojaly tragedy are being held this year as citizens of a victorious country in a different mood. The revenge of our compatriots who died as a result of genocide

committed by Armenian aggressors in Khojaly and other lands was taken not only on the political arena, but also on the battlefield.

Professor Shirkhan Salimov, Head of the Department of History of Azerbaijan and Eastern European Peoples, and Mehin Mammadova, 4th year student of the Faculty of Economics, spoke about the policy of ethnic cleansing, genocide and aggression pursued by Armenian nationalists over the past 200 years. They noted that as a result of the strong will and wise foreign policy of the President, victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the heroism and bravery of the mighty Azerbaijani Army, the unity and solidarity of our people, our lands occupied for 30 years were liberated and our territorial integrity restored.

Then the floor was given to Aydin Aliyev, a living witness of the Khojaly tragedy. He spoke with heartache about the tragedies that befell our people and shared his thoughts on the great victory in the Great Patriotic War.