US Congressmen call their colleagues to commemorate Khojaly victims

Several members of the Congressional Azerbaijani Caucus at the US Congress have extended their remarks in commemoration of 1992 Khojaly Massacre for the record of the 112th Congress.

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas called her colleagues on 18th of February to recognize the estimated civilians who on February 26, 1992 were indiscriminately scalped, tortured, and killed in the town of Khojaly, an Azerbaijani-populated town in Nagorno-Karabakh. “Many of us know that post-Soviet conflicts in Eastern Europe and Central Asia led to brutal ethnic cleansing, but few have heard of the people of Khojaly, who were massacred by Armenian militants. The ethnic cleansing was successful, and the town no longer exists. Although the tragedy received widespread media coverage, since then it has largely been forgotten. I hope that now and every year after this atrocity, we can pray for the victims”, she said.

“I hope that Azerbaijan and Armenia can come to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, and I hope that the civilians suffering right now will soon see an end to ethnic cleansing. The memories of the women, men, and children of Khojaly should propel us to condemn such practices”, Congresswoman added.

Congressman Bill Shuster from Pennsylvania, who is the Co-Chairman of the House Azerbaijan Caucus, also rose to bring attention to the tragedy in Khojaly. “Sadly, today there is little attention or interest paid to the plight of Khojaly outside of Azerbaijan. However, one of our greatest strengths as elected officials is the opportunity to bring to light truths that are little known and command recognition. As a friend of Azerbaijan, I am proud to remind my colleagues that we must never forget the tragedy that took place in Khojaly”, he stressed. “Azerbaijan has been a strong strategic partner and friend of the United States. The tragedy of Khojaly was a crime against humanity and I urge my colleagues to join me in standing with Azerbaijanis as they commemorate this tragedy”, Shuster mentioned.

In his turn, another Congressman, Steve Cohen from Tennessee, taking the initiative, reminded that the extent of the cruelty of this massacre against women, children and the elderly was unfathomable. “I ask my colleagues to join me and our Azerbaijani friends in commemorating the tragedy that occurred in the town of Khojaly”, he said.

A North Californian Congresswoman Virginia Foxx also reminded that according to Human Rights Watch, Memorial Human Rights Center, and other international observers, the Khojaly tragedy was committed by the ethnic Armenian armed forces, reportedly with the assistance of the Russian 366th Motor Rifle Regiment. At the time, the massacre at Khojaly was described by Human Rights Watch as "the largest massacre to date in the conflict" over Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan.

“Largely condemned by the international community, in 2001 at least 30 members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe stated in Written Declaration No. 324 that the "Armenians massacred the whole population of Khojaly and fully destroyed the town,’’ she mentioned.


/APA/