EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN IN JAPAN

Press Release

Tokyo, February 26, 2026

Commemoration of the 34th anniversary of the Khojaly Genocide

Today, on 26 February 2026, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan solemnly commemorates the 34th anniversary of the Khojaly Genocide — one of the most painful and tragic chapters in the history of the Azerbaijani people.

In the freezing night of 25–26 February 1992, the town of Khojaly was turned into a place of unimaginable horror. Peaceful civilians — families fleeing in fear, children clutching their parents’ hands, the elderly unable to run — were mercilessly hunted down. Six hundred and thirteen innocent people were killed, including 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly persons. Hundreds were wounded, over a thousand were taken hostage, and many went missing, their fate unknown to this day. Khojaly was just a town of peaceful residents. What happened there was a deliberate massacre of civilians. For decades, the Azerbaijani people carried this pain in silence and dignity, refusing to let the memory of Khojaly fade. Through persistent efforts, Azerbaijan has worked tirelessly to tell the truth, to honor the victims, and to remind the world that crimes against civilians must never be forgotten or justified.

Today, remembrance is joined by a profound sense of historical justice. After more than thirty years of occupation, the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been fully restored. Khojaly — once a symbol of suffering and loss — has returned under Azerbaijan’s sovereign control. For the first time in history, those responsible for crimes committed against Azerbaijani civilians are being held accountable before Azerbaijani courts. Individuals accused of murder, torture, forced displacement, and other grave crimes are facing open and lawful trials, where evidence is examined, testimonies are heard, and justice is pursued not through revenge, but through the rule of law. These proceedings send a clear and powerful message: crimes against humanity have no statute of limitations, and no perpetrator can hide forever behind time or politics.Today, we say with conviction: The souls of the Khojaly martyrs can rest in peace.Their suffering was not forgotten. Their voices were not silenced. Justice, long delayed, is finally being served.

As Azerbaijan rebuilds its liberated territories and life gradually returns to places once scarred by war, Khojaly stands as a reminder of both the depths of human cruelty and the strength of human resilience.

On this solemn day, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan calls upon the international community to stand in solidarity with the victims of Khojaly, to honor their memory, and to uphold the universal values of human dignity, justice, and peace.

Khojaly will never be forgotten.