1992 Khojaly Massacre termed 'deadliest genocide'

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA

The 1992 Khojaly Massacre is the deadliest genocide in modern era, according to a lawmaker of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party on Monday.

Speaking to journalists in the parliament, Nurettin Aras said Turkey shares the pain of its brotherly country, Azerbaijan.

Aras recalled that Armenian soldiers carried out an attack, backed by foreign forces, in Khojaly on Feb. 25, 1992.

"The incidents after the attacks have passed into history as the deadliest genocide of all modern times," he said.

He said Armenia repeats the same lie "as if they are the first Christian state established in history."

"Due to this lie and propaganda, Armenia is getting the backing of western countries."

The Khojaly Massacre is regarded as one of the bloodiest and most controversial incidents of the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan for control of the now-occupied Upper Karabakh region.

On the heels of dissolution of the then Soviet Union, Armenian forces took over the town of Khojaly in Karabakh on Feb. 26, 1992, after battering it with heavy artillery and tanks, assisted by an infantry regiment.

When the massacre happened, the population of the town was more than 11,000.

The two-hour offensive killed 613 Azerbaijani citizens, including 116 women and 63 children and critically injured 487 others, according to Azerbaijani figures. One hundred and fifty of the 1,275 Azerbaijanis that the Armenians held during the massacre remain missing.