A commemorative event marking the 34th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Bulgaria. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Bulgarian public, members of the Azerbaijani community, as well as Azerbaijani and international students studying in the country.

The memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide was honored with a minute of silence.

In his address, the Chargé d’Affaires of Azerbaijan to Bulgaria, Nemat Aliyev, provided an overview of the mass killings that occurred in the town of Khojaly during the armed conflict in February 1992. He stated that the Khojaly genocide constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and represents one of the gravest crimes committed against civilians in contemporary history.

It was noted that an political and legal assessment of the Khojaly events at the state level was institutionalized following the return to political leadership of National Leader Heydar Aliyev. Pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) on 24 February 1994, 26 February was formally designated as the Day of the Khojaly Genocide, and official notification thereof was transmitted to relevant international organizations. Efforts aimed at raising international awareness of the Khojaly events to the international community have been sustained under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. 

As a result of the “Justice for Khojaly!” campaign, implemented at the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the legislative bodies of 18 countries, 24 states of the United States, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Organization of Turkic States have recognized the Khojaly tragedy as genocide. It was further noted that ten memorial monuments dedicated to the victims of the Khojaly genocide have been erected in foreign countries.

The event also provided information on the historic Victory achieved by the Victorious Azerbaijani Army under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev in the 44-day Patriotic War. As a result of the local anti-terror operations conducted on 19 September 2023, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan were fully restored, all territories that had been under occupation, including Khojaly, were liberated, and historical justice was established.

Within the framework of the event, a video presentation was screened illustrating the restoration and reconstruction activities implemented in Khojaly under the State Program on the “Great Return,” as well as the process of the safe return of internally displaced persons to their places of origin. Detailed information was presented regarding the Khojaly Genocide Memorial Complex, inaugurated with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev. The complex serves not only as a site of commemoration but also as an important institutional platform for the preservation of historical memory and the education of future generations.

During the event, statements were delivered by Sabir Guliyev, a representative of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Bulgaria, and Maria Pavlovna Huseynova-Atanasova, Chairperson of the Public Association for Support to the Development of Azerbaijan–Bulgaria Friendship, who shared their reflections on the Khojaly genocide.

Sofiya Shigayeva-Mitreska, Head of the Azerbaijan Language and Culture Centre functioning at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” , presented her translation from Bulgarian of a poem dedicated to the Khojaly genocide authored by Bulgarian director Hristo Stoychev.

Upon the conclusion of the official segment of the program, participants were invited to attend the reception. Concurrently, within the framework of the “Justice for Khojaly!” awareness campaign, articles addressing the Khojaly genocide were published in the Bulgarian press.