Ombudsman Issues Statement on Azerbaijani Genocide Day, Highlights Historical Atrocities and International Recognition

Politics 08:38 31.03.2025

The Ombudsman has issued a statement in connection with the Day of Azerbaijani Genocide.

In connection with the Azerbaijani Genocide Day on March 31, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman) has issued a statement.

The statement notes that for more than a century, Azerbaijanis have been deliberately subjected to genocide and ethnic cleansing by Armenians.

“As part of this policy, Azerbaijani Turks and Muslims have been systematically subjected to genocide crimes with particular cruelty in Azerbaijan and present-day Armenia since the beginning of the 20th century. The genocide acts committed against Azerbaijanis in 1918 are one of the bloodiest pages in our history, including mass killings based on ethnic and religious hatred, which have been engraved in memory. The anti-Muslim, anti-Azerbaijani policies carried out by Armenian nationalists led to mass massacres, the destruction of villages and towns, historical, religious, and cultural monuments, cemeteries, the complete annihilation of families, and the forcible expulsion of Azerbaijanis from their ancestral lands,” the statement emphasizes.

The statement also mentions that in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Karabakh, Zangezur, Yerevan, Nakhchivan, Lankaran, Ganja, Goychay, Sheki, Sabirabad, Salyan, Kurdamir, and other regions, mass massacres were carried out with the aim of erasing the presence of Azerbaijanis in these lands:

“During the March events, 110 villages of Shamakhi district, more than 150 villages in Karabakh, 115 villages of Zangezur district, 98 villages in Kars province, and 167 villages of Guba district were burned and completely destroyed by Armenians, and innocent civilians were ruthlessly murdered. The brutality, cruelty, and vandalism of this crime is clearly evidenced by the countless human bones found later in the city of Guba, which were victims of these massacres. The perpetrators of these crimes, Armenians, killed innocent people purely because they were Azerbaijanis, motivated by hatred.”

It is stated that the existence of verified documents and historical records is irrefutable proof of these atrocities:

“Archival data, testimonies from survivors, and other legal documents provide a detailed explanation of the scale of the massacres and confirm that these events were not isolated but aimed at ethnic cleansing and were carried out in a planned manner. The analysis of these documents proves that the crimes committed are, under international law, genocide crimes. Unfortunately, throughout history, there has still been no just stance taken by the international community regarding the genocidal acts carried out against our fellow countrymen on ethnic grounds.”

The Ombudsman’s statement also notes that the Decree of National Leader Heydar Aliyev on March 26, 1998, declared March 31 as the Day of Azerbaijani Genocide, and since then, relevant research has been carried out to politically and legally assess these acts of genocide and to uncover the truth:

“The political and legal assessment of the genocide crimes committed against Azerbaijanis, their international recognition, and the widespread commemoration of the victims is crucial in preventing the recurrence of such crimes against humanity. The international community must give political and legal recognition to the ethnic cleansing and genocide crimes committed against Azerbaijanis, recognize the crimes committed in 1918 as genocide, and make serious efforts to restore historical and legal justice.”

Madina Mammadova//EDnews

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

EU to provide Kyiv with €30.6B in support in 2025
16:40 27.06.2025
Simon Stiell calls for global cooperation in face of climate crisis
16:00 27.06.2025
IDF says fighter jets struck Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon
15:40 27.06.2025
President Ilham Aliyev received credentials of incoming ambassador of Poland
15:05 27.06.2025
Masked Special Forces of Armenia's National Security Service enter territory of Garegin II’s residence
14:55 27.06.2025
Hungary blocks talks on Ukraine’s accession to EU
14:35 27.06.2025
Israel sums up operation against Iran: 11 scientists, about 300 IRGC members killed
14:05 27.06.2025
Trump says his duties bring US $88B in revenue
13:55 27.06.2025
Snow falls in world’s driest desert in Chile
13:25 27.06.2025
Release from the Press Service of the President
13:00 27.06.2025
Australia to prioritize 'national interest' over defense spending, says premier, resists US pressure
12:35 27.06.2025
Chairman of Committee: 'There are broad, strong ties of cooperation, solidarity among religious confessions in Azerbaijan'
12:25 27.06.2025
Price of Azerbaijani oil grows over 1%
12:05 27.06.2025
Over 60 foreigners evacuated from Iran through territory of Azerbaijan
11:45 27.06.2025
European Championship: Azerbaijani judokas win 6 medals on first day
11:25 27.06.2025
UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies’ 62nd session (SB62) concludes today
11:05 27.06.2025
Mukhtar Babayev: New NDCs can be a green light for green investments
10:55 27.06.2025
Former UN General Assembly president presents poem about Nizami Ganjavi at London Climate Action Week
10:35 27.06.2025
WHO delivers 1st medical shipment to Gaza since March 2, calls it 'drop in ocean'
10:20 27.06.2025
Polish lawmakers vote to withdraw from anti-landmine treaty
10:05 27.06.2025
At least 16 killed, 400 injured in Kenya protests: Amnesty International
09:55 27.06.2025
Elchin Amirbayov: South Caucasus faces both challenges, opportunities
09:35 27.06.2025
Senior clergyman under investigation for call for coup in Armenia
09:20 27.06.2025
Gen. Dan Caine: US strikes on Iran are 'culmination' of 15 years of planning
09:05 27.06.2025
Euronews: Baku is platform for global energy dialogue
21:35 26.06.2025
Turkish president believes Iran won't close Strait of Hormuz
21:05 26.06.2025
Boat sinking on Niger-Benin border kills 13
20:45 26.06.2025
Erdogan: Türkiye negotiating its return to F-35 program with partners
20:25 26.06.2025
Paris honors Azerbaijani heroes who fought in France's WWII resistance
20:05 26.06.2025
Global energy CO2 emissions hit new record in 2024
19:45 26.06.2025
UN special rapporteur calls planned election of Myanmar's military junta 'mirage'
19:35 26.06.2025
Iran's supreme leader threatens US
19:20 26.06.2025
Erdogan: Türkiye must create multi-layer air defense system
19:05 26.06.2025
Erdogan says Trump will join Ukraine peace talks in Türkiye if Putin attends
18:45 26.06.2025
Azerbaijan discusses wind energy projects with Chinese company
18:25 26.06.2025
Armenia arrests 15 people on charges of coup attempt
18:15 26.06.2025
EXPLAINER – War with Iran: Financial fallout for Israel, US
18:00 26.06.2025
Turkish president praises Trump for Iran-Israel ceasefire, urges similar push for Gaza, Ukraine conflicts
17:45 26.06.2025
Israeli attacks kill at least 21 people in Gaza, medics say
17:20 26.06.2025
Traditional meeting of EU leaders kicks off in Brussels
17:05 26.06.2025
Hamısı