Updated after second paragraph (first version was posted at 17:26)
France, Strasbourg, Jan. 27 / Trend A. Maharramli /
PACE adopted a declaration on the anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.
The text of the declaration was prepared by a member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, MP Ganira Pashayeva. More than 25 delegates from various countries signed it.
"Khojaly genocide is one of the horrible and tragic pages of Azerbaijan's history. 19 years ago - on February 26, 1992, Armenian armed forces with the help of 366th motor-rifling regiment occupied Khojaly city of Azerbaijan and committed genocide killing hundreds of innocent people because of their ethnic background. 613 people - 106 women, 63 children and 70 old people were savagely killed, about 1000 civilians became invalids, 8 families were totally exterminated, 25 children were totally, and 130 children were partly orphaned. 1275 people were taken into hostage. The fates of 150 of them are still unknown. Khojaly city was totally destroyed and annihilated as a result of these events. The enumerated facts demand the correct and fair politico-legal assessment to the crime committed against the mankind," the document says.
The text of the declaration under number 469 was distributed to the Assembly in English and French.
The members of Azerbaijani delegation brought up a question on Khojaly genocide at the assembly's meeting, informed the MPs on it, showed the parliamentarians the photos on the books prepared by Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Azerbaijani MPs stressed the importance of PACE to strengthen efforts in order to recognize the genocide against Azerbaijanis in Khojaly as a crime against mankind and to judge the committers.