“Justice for Khojaly” exhibition took place in Israel

By AzerNews

The Shimon Peres Center in Tel Aviv hosted a commemoration event on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the Khojaly Tragedy and the 5th anniversary of "Justice for Khojaly" campaign, initiated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Interior Minister Faina Kirschenbaum and Knesset members Fouad Ben-Eliezer, Rina Frenkel, Constantine Razvozov, public figures and media representatives, AzerTag state news agency reported.

The Israeli politicians emphasized that it was one of the most horrifying tragedies of the 20th century.

Yegana Salman, Director of the Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Israel, opened the event to highlight the work done by the Association "AzIs". She thanked all those in Israel for their activities as part of "Justice for Khojaly" campaign.

Alex Miller, President of the Azerbaijan-Israel Association (AzIs), presented to MP Fuad Muradov the Memory Book with reviews of the Israelis who had visited the "Justice for Khojaly" exhibition.

Organizers of the exhibition, Miller said, call the Memory Book the biggest reward for their work because it contains no formal notes. "Each line is shot through with sincerity and empathy for innocent people suffering from raving nationalists."

In his speech, Fuad Muradov recalled how the idea to organize the exhibition was started. He described the work of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Justice for Khojaly campaign initiated by Leyla Aliyeva to bring truth about the tragedy to the world.

Muradov said: "We did not take over anything and we do not want anything belonging to others. We have received a million refugees and we have just recently formed more or less suitable conditions for life. But they really want to return home...

Aggression and violence brought Armenia no good. The country is on the edge of bankruptcy. We do not wish anything bad for the Armenian people, we only wish them good and welfare. But as long as the government of Armenia is run by corruptors and aggressors, welfare of the nation and peace with Azerbaijan are a big question. We are ready for a dialogue but there are many forces opposed to peaceful co-existence of Azerbaijan and Armenia today." "However, those forces must know that Azerbaijan is different now and it would not allow more blood of its citizens to be spilt..."

Then, the documentary "Corridor Without End" shot by the Lithuanian film director Mindaugas Urbonavichius was screened.

In 1992, the town of Khojaly, the second largest town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, came under intense fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by the Armenian armed forces.

613 civilians mostly women and children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent.

Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown. Civilians were shot at close range, scalped, and burned alive. Some had their eyes gouged out and others were beheaded.