Azerbaijan, Baku, July 24 / Trend K. Zarbaliyeva /
Roughly 282 people are under international detection for crimes and terror acts committed in Azerbaijani villages of Khojali, Mesheli, Baganis-Ayrim.
Number of criminals under detection on indicated crimes hits 279 people in 2008.
These crimes, as well as tortures towards captured people and other criminal actions made by Armenian armed forces cover article 103 of the criminal code (genocide), press-service of Republican military prosecution told Trend on July 23.
Necessary investigation actions are being held to institute criminal proceedings against people accused of these crimes.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7 districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
On the night of February 25, 1992, Armenian separatists seized the Khojali settlement with 7,000-population. During capture of Khojali by Armenian armed units, roughly 3,000 people remained in Khojali. Most of people were obliged to leave Khojali due to its blockade more than four months.
During Khojali genocide, over 613 unarmed Azerbaijani citizens were killed. Among them were 106 women, 70 old people and 63 children. Eight families were completely liquidated. Roughly 25 children lost both parents but 130 one of parents.
A total of 1,000 people were left disabled and 1,275 people were taken prisoner. The fate of 150 people remains unknown.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at [email protected]