AZERBAIJANI OMBUDSWOMAN SENDS STATEMENT ON KHOJALY GENOCIDE TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Baku, February 23 (AzerTAc). Commissioner for human rights of Azerbaijan Elmira Suleymanova has sent a statement to international organizations on the occasion of the 17th anniversary of Khojaly genocide.

E. Suleymanova has said here today at the event dedicated to this tragedy that the
deliberate and systematic destruction of a national group fall under the definition
of genocide.
Under the international law, genocide is the crime against peace and humanity and is
considered the gravest crime.
She pointed out 613 dwellers of the ruined Khojali city were murdered. The death
toll included 106 women and 83 children. 56 men were slaughtered with extreme
brutality. As a consequence of the bloody tragedy more than 1000 dwellers were
wounded and maimed. 1275 men were taken hostages.
This issue is being raised in the parliaments of the world with international
organizations recognizing Armenia as the aggressor and demanding restoration of
Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity.
The statement was sent to the UN Secretary General, UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Council of Europe, OSCE, European and Asian ombudspersons as well as foreign
embassies in Azerbaijan.