On February 26, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU) held a commemoration event dedicated to the 33rd anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.
The event began with the playing of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, followed by a moment of silence in memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the victims of the Khojaly genocide, and the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
ASOIU Rector, Associate Professor Rufat Azizov, emphasized that the Khojaly genocide has left an indelible mark on the historical memory of the Azerbaijani people. He highlighted the importance of presenting this crime against humanity to the international community as an act of genocide and stressed the role of young people in professionally advocating for its recognition. Rector Azizov noted that higher education institutions have a crucial responsibility in this regard and underlined the significance of properly conveying the essence of Khojaly commemoration events to students. He also emphasized the need for academic discussions on historical topics between faculty and students. According to him, the ideological work carried out in Azerbaijan over the past 33 years regarding the Khojaly genocide played a key role in securing victory in the 44-day Patriotic War.
Professor Irada Nuriyeva from ASOIU’s Department of Humanities provided historical evidence of crimes committed in Khojaly, stating that Armenians have consistently sought opportunities to commit crimes against Azerbaijanis and seize Azerbaijani lands. She emphasized that with the liberation of Azerbaijani territories in 2020, historical justice was restored, and today, the Azerbaijani flag proudly waves over Khojaly.
