President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the ceremony held in connection with the 21st anniversary of the Khojaly genocide on Tuesday.
A guard of honor was lined up and flowers were laid near the memorial, located at Khatai district.
President Aliyev put a wreath at the memorial and honored the memory of victims of Khojaly genocide.
Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, Milli Majlis Speaker Ogtay Asadov, Head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev, First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva also paid tribute to Khojaly victims by laying flowers at the memorial.
Later President Aliyev was informed about reconstruction work conducted in the park, where the monument is erected.
The commemorative ceremony was attended by state and government officials, MPs, ministers, heads of committees and companies, leaders of religious confessions, as well as Khojaly massacre survivors.
The ceremony participants laid flowers at the memorial.
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10:40
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev honored the memory of victims of the Khojaly genocide on Tuesday.
A guard of honor was lined up and flowers were laid near the memorial, located at Khatai district.
President Aliyev put a wreath at the memorial and honored the memory of victims of Khojali genocide.
On Feb.25-26 February, 1992, Armenian occupation forces together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops stationed in Khankendi (previously Stepanakert) committed an act of genocide towards the population of the Azerbaijani Khojaly town.
Some 613 people were killed including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old men. A total of 1000 civilians were disabled during the genocide. Eight families were killed, 130 children lost one parent and 25 lost both. Additionally, 1275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 remains unknown.
/Trend/