Appeal of Khojaly inhabitants to the peoples of the world, to the states and international organizations in connection with fifth anniversary of Khojaly genocide

The world should know that the Azerbaijani people are commemorating Khojaly genocide already the fifth year.

By decision of Milli Majlis (Parliament) of the Azerbaijan Republic February, 26 declared the day of Khojaly genocide.

That day in 1992 Armenian aggressors supported by imperialistic forces and infantry guards regiment No 366 of former Soviet Union billeted in Khankendi implemented once more unprecedented brutal act. They razed to the ground Khojaly city having ten thousands population, brutally killed hundreds of helpless innocent people. As a result of brutality of criminal Armenian military formations 485 people became shehids (martyrs), 487 - invalids. About thousands of inhabitants of Khojaly - elders, children, women were taken as hostages and subjected to unthinkable tortures, insults and humiliation from the part of Armenians. 106 people who became shehids were women, 33 of them - infants. Among invalids were 76 boys and girls who didn’t reach mature age, 6 families were annihilated completely, 25 children lost both of their parents, 130 children lost one of their parents.

On the basis of facts it is established that 56 people were killed with particular brutality and fury. They were burnt alive, their heads were cut off, they were skinned, eyes of infants were put out, expectant mothers were thrust by bayonets. The dead bodies were subjected to profanation that couldn’t be expressed by words.

Elaborate policy of ethnic cleaning that pursued against Azerbaijanis on Caucasus for last 150 years resulted in expatriation of them from their historic ethnic lands by Armenians who appropriated these territories, five years ago ended by their next brutality - Khojaly genocide that became the crime against not only the Azerbaijani people, but against humanity and mankind. We concern now that the most terrible massacre of the XXth century - Khojaly tragedy - took place before the eyes of civilized states and authoritative international organizations and this act was not condemned defined in the international arena.

When the crime is not punished, new tragedies is implemented. Slighting attitude of the states and nations of the world inspired of Armenian fascists to realize the myth about creation of multiethnic state of Great Armenia at the expense of historical Azerbaijani lands and blood of our nations. As a result of it there are no Azerbaijanis in Armenia, 20 percents of the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan is occupied, more than one million innocent people became refugees on their motherland.

Khojaly inhabitants saved due to chance as a result of genocide of February 26 got status of refugee and now live in tents in the districts and cities of Azerbaijan in unbearable conditions. However, we don’t hope for next humanitarian assistance, new tent towns. We entirely supported efforts of our respected President H. Aliyev directed at the ending of war by peaceful means appeal to you and say: if humanity want to live in safety, and people - comfortably, Khojaly genocide should be condemned resolutely by the states and peoples of the world, culprits, orginizers and executors of this historic crime should be punished, refugees should return to their native lands, aggressors should be curbed. We call you to defend the truth, justice, to express your protest to not allow our brittle peace. Let Khojaly genocide will be the past tragedy in the history of humanity.

February 21, 1997

Amnesty International
International Secretariat
1 Easton Street
London WC1X 8DJ
United Kingdom
22 APRIL 1994

ARMENIA - MUSLIM PRISONERS MURDERED IN "EXECUTION-TYPE SHOOTINGS"

Forensic evidence released this month suggests that six Azerbaijani prisoners of war held in Armenia were victims of "execution-type shootings", according to a forensic expert.

Following an announcement, in February, by the Armenian Foreign Ministry that eight Azerbaijani prisoners had been shot while attempting to escape, ten bodies were transferred from Armenia to Azerbaijan in March. Professor Derrick Pounder, head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Dundee, United Kingdom, began post- mortem examinations on the bodies at the beginning of April. The bodies had also undergone previous examinations by both the Armenians and the Azeris.

He found that six of the men - Rustam Ramazan ogly Agev, Elehan Guseyn ogly Akhmedov, Elman Mamed ogly Akhmedov, Kurchat Kiyaz ogly Mamedov, Eldar Chakhbaba ogly Mamedov and Faig Gabil ogly Guliyev - had been murdered by a single gunshot wound to the head. He also found that in three of the six cases the muzzle of the gun had been in contact with the head at the time the shot was fired. It was not possible to determine the range at which the shot had been fired in the other three cases owing to earlier removal of physical evidence.

Professor Pounder concluded that the pattern of gunshot wounds was not consistent with allegations that the six men had been shot while attempting to escape, and said that the common pattern of the wounds was "strongly suggestive of execution-type shootings". Amnesty International is urging the Armenian authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the deaths of these six men, to make the findings public, and to bring to justice any perpetrators of execution-style killings, within the bounds of international law.