BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 29. Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva issued a statement in connection with March 31 - the Day of the Genocide of Azerbaijanis, Trend reports.
“Armenian nationalists living with the dream of establishing a "Greater Armenia" state have purposefully pursued a policy of genocide, ethnic cleansing and deportation of the Azerbaijani people throughout history,” the statement said. “The most horrific manifestation of this policy is the act of genocide committed from March 1918.”
According to the statement, as a result of this act of genocide, tens of thousands of civilians were killed in Baku, other cities and provinces of Baku Governorate, as well as in Shamakhi, Guba provinces, Karabakh, Zangazur, Nakhchivan, Lankaran and other regions of Azerbaijan due to their ethnic and religious background.
“Furthermore, settlements, cultural monuments, mosques and other places of worship, cemeteries were destroyed,” the statement said. “Some 110 villages of Shamakhi, 167 villages of Guba, more than 150 villages of Karabakh, 115 villages of Zangazur and 98 villages of Kars were destroyed, burned and their inhabitants were killed.”
According to the statement, over 50,000 Azerbaijanis, including women, children and the elderly, were killed as a result of bloody crimes committed by Armenian armed groups in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Mugan, Lankaran and Goychay cities and districts from March through July 1918.
“Furthermore, 199 villages were destroyed in and around the historical territory of Azerbaijan - Iravan city, as a result of which 132,000 Azerbaijanis were killed,” the statement said.
According to the statement, despite more than a century has passed since this genocide, those bloody events have not been forgotten.
“The Presidential Decree "On the Genocide of Azerbaijanis" signed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev on March 26, 1998, was an important step in revealing the historical truth,” the statement said. “Consequently, a political assessment was given to these horrific events and March 31 was declared the "Day of the Genocide of Azerbaijanis".”
According to the statement, as a result of the investigation, the facts of mass extermination committed by Armenia during the events of 1918, countless human bones and other material evidence were revealed.
“The "Genocide Memorial Complex" was established in Guba city upon the appropriate Order of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to convey this truth to the international community and to memorize the genocide victims,” the statement said. “Every year, thousands of people visit this place to commemorate the memory of our murdered compatriots.”
“According to international law, genocide is considered the most serious crime against peace and humanity,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, despite there is enough evidence and proof about the acts of genocide committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis, there has been no adequate response to these crimes against humanity, and double standards have been demonstrated in respect of Azerbaijan.”
“In this regard, the Resolution dated March 10, 2022, adopted by the European Parliament on the alleged destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage in Karabakh once again demonstrated double standards and biased policy against our country,” the statement said.
According to the statement, during the last 30 years of occupation, Armenia, which has committed numerous crimes against the Azerbaijani civilians, purposefully and systematically destroyed all Azerbaijani historical, cultural, religious monuments, archeological sites, libraries, museums, artifacts, rare manuscripts and cemeteries.
“Despite the Azerbaijani side’s repeated calls during these years, no fact-finding mission has been established by relevant international organizations to investigate these issues on the spot,” the statement said.
“The failure to respond to ethnic cleansing and genocide committed by Armenia against the Azerbaijani people for many years, along with acts of vandalism against our cultural heritage, is a clear example of discrimination and indifference to states and contradicts the principles of international humanitarian law,” the statement said.
According to the statement, international organizations should take into account that, unlike mono-ethnic Armenia, Azerbaijan, as a state following the principles of tolerance and values of multiculturalism, is taking all necessary steps to ensure peace, stability and security in the South Caucasus, and to restore the peaceful coexistence of nations.
“I believe that international organizations and the international community must demonstrate a fair and transparent approach with regard to the investigation into crimes against civilians, and the facts and evidence-based cases of destruction of cultural heritage belonging to Azerbaijanis,” the statement said.
“I once again revere the memory of the victims of the genocide against Azerbaijanis and call on the international community and international organizations to give necessary political and legal assessment of this act of genocide to protect human rights and prevent the recurrence of such cases in the future.
This statement was addressed to the UN Secretary-General, UN Security Council, Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Office of UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UN Human Rights Council, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the European Union, the Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, International and European Ombudsman Institutions, Asian Ombudsman Association, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Ombudsman Association of its member states, etc.