February 26 is celebrated in memory of the martyrs of Khojaly who fell victim to the brutality of the Armenian army in 1992.

In Azerbaijan, February 26 is celebrated as the day of remembrance of the martyrs of Khojaly who fell victim to the atrocities of the Armenian forces in 1992.

On the cold night of February 25 and 26, 1992, in Khojaly, the border region of Azerbaijan, Armenian forces, with the help of Soviet infantry regimental guards, attacked Shabkhon, using heavy weapons and grossly violating human rights. In this attack, 613 people of Khojaly were martyred, including 63 innocent children and 106 women, while a large number of elderly citizens were also victimized. There were refugees in the boxes.

Armenian forces not only victimized innocent civilians, but their properties were burned, more than 2,000 residential houses were turned into ruins, schools, hospitals and farms were targeted, and animals were also brutally killed. It is also worth mentioning here that the residents of Khojale who fled to other areas for their lives were also subjected to this war crime, many were arrested and many innocent civilians were martyred.

Huma Abbasu, an eyewitness to this brutality, wrote that how many days he and his family hid in the forests, how many lives were taken by the cold weather, unsuitable clothes and the coldest weather, all of them were arrested, Huma’s One son was martyred in front of them while one was taken prisoner who never came back. The last week of February 1992 proved to be a bloodbath for the residents of Khojaly and stories like Huma Abbasu’s are a part of every family in Khojaly.

In memory of this dark night, Azerbaijan and wherever Azeri citizens and humanitarian nations live, February 26 is celebrated as the day of remembrance of these martyrs. Various public and private events are held on this day, commemorating the victims of atrocities by gathering at the Martyrs’ Memorial and embracing their families and reminding the world of this tragedy. This is when the Armenian forces played a bloodbath in Khojaly together with the Soviet regiments. Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate passed several resolutions on the Khojaly Genocide to support Azerbaijan’s fair stance and condemn Armenian aggression.