The dark chapter in history that still seeks justice

On the night of February 25-26, 1992, against the background of the broken remains of the Soviet Union, the world was the witness of a horrible chapter of human brutality in the Khojaly region of what is now Garabaghiul Azerbaijan. The Armenian military forces, supported by heavy artillery, tanks and an infantry regiment, surrounded the region in a calculated attack that lasted two agonizing hours. By the end of this tireless dam, 613 innocent civilians Azerbaijani were dead, including 116 women, 63 children and hundreds who were injured.

This dark and brutal event, often called Khojaly genocide, has become emblematic of the wider atrocities during the conflict in the region. What took place in Khojaly was not simply an act of war; It was a deliberate massacre performed with scary precision. The survivors who tried to run were greeted with a hard and unforgettable environment. As they ventured on the frozen night, they faced not only the elements, but also the cruelty of their attackers, who did not exempt anyone in their search for terror.

Following, Khojaly’s horrors did not end only with the death of the innocent. Many residents have been captured and subjected to torture by invading Armenian forces. In the years that followed, Armenia refused to recognize the fate of the more than 150 Azerbaijani who disappeared, leaving their families to endure the haunting uncertainty not to know what happened to their loved ones. And, disturbs, those responsible for atrocities continue to evade justice.

Despite the international recognition of the Khojaly tragedy, the Armenian government has constantly denied the facts, deviates the responsibility for this dark chapter in history. The events of that fateful night were recognized as a genocide by 17 countries, including Azerbaijan, 10 nations officially recognizing it as a massacre and seven recognizing it as genocide. However, Armenia remains firm in her refusal to face the truth.

For decades, Khojaly has remained under Armenian occupation, a constant memory of injustice and unbearable pain that defined the lives of its moved residents. Every year, as a journalist, I would refer to the anniversary of the Khojaly massacre, often talking to military personnel, survivors and witnesses who mentioned the pain and loss they have experienced. The stories were always scary, but they also wore a subcursion of hope that Khojaly will be free one day.

And that day has arrived. In a monumental change, Khojaly was released and, for the first time, in almost 30 years, his people are able to return to their homes. The Azerbaijan government, under President Ilham Aliyev, has led efforts to rebuild the region, with the construction of residential houses and infrastructure projects that symbolize the dawn of a new era for Khojaly.

It is not a coincidence that, recently, President Ilham Aliyev and his husband, the first vice -president Mehriban Aliyeva, visited Aghdam, Khanyndi and Khojaly to familiarize himself with the construction works in Garabagh issued. During their visit, they inspected the newly built residential buildings. President Aliyev met with the inhabitants of Ballija village in Khojaly and spoke a speech in front of them.

“The restoration of the village of Ballija is also in its final stages,” said the president. of the residents who moved to the village of Ballija in the Khojaly district.

As the president mentioned, 460 former displaced people have already moved to Ballija. “We have restored the houses and there are numerous opportunities for agriculture. The land is fertile, and the air is clean. The entire Garabagh region and the East Zangazur region revive and see this clearly every day,” the president added.

The flowers and roses bloom once again where the blood spill once stained the earth, and the deep wounds of the past begin to heal. Khojaly, once synonymous with fear and terror, is now a symbol of resilience and renewal – a will of the lasting power of the Azerbaijan people.

No crime is unpunished

However, the pain of the past cannot be erased so easily. Khojaly’s ghosts remain, as is the problem of responsibility. The continuous silence of Armenia about the fate of the missing Azerbaijan, as does his refusal to provide maps of the mines, strengthens his desire to face the truth of his actions. But, as history has shown, no crime is unpunished. The mass tombs discovered in Kalbajar, Shusha and other areas of Garabagh serve as a bleak proof of the Armenian crime staircase. These sites are silent witnesses to the atrocities committed and speak volumes about the brutality caused to innocent civilians.

The recent interrogations of Armenian military figures, such as Vagif Khachatryan, Rashid Beglaryan and Madat Babayan have exposed the systematic nature of crimes orchestrated by Armenian forces. While some of those responsible were arrested and detained in Baku, many of the true master behind these horrors remain in general. It is clear that those in prison are simple pawns in a much larger criminal network, one that extends far beyond the borders of the conflict area.

Khojaly is not an isolated incident; It is part of a wider model of atrocities that continue to be discovered by current investigations. As the legal and historical efforts of Azerbaijan remove these offenses, Khojaly remains a clear symbol of barbarism that unfolded in front of the eyes of the world. But despite the suffering, the people of Khojaly and Azerbaijan as a whole showed remarkable resistance. Genocide may have left unparted scars, but also lit a fierce decision to seek justice – for both victims and future generations that will never forget their sacrifice.

This is a moment for the international community to intensify, to recognize not only the horrors of the past, but also the urgent need for justice. The offenses committed in Khojaly and in the whole Garabagh cannot be swept under the carpet of history. They must be confronted, recognized and punished. Only then does Khojaly’s victims – and the thousands of others who suffered in similar circumstances – managed to find the justice they deserve so rich.

The trip to healing is long, but as Khojaly’s story shows, the spirit of his men cannot be crushed. They return home, rebuilt and make sure that the world remembers the truth.