Commemoration of the victims of Khojaly Genocide was held in Rome
An event on the occasion of the anniversary of the Khojaly Genocide was held in “Sant-Agnese Fuori Le Mura” Basilica in Rome with the organization of the Embassies of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Holy See and Italian Republic.
Delivering a speech at the event, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Italy, Rashad Aslanov, informed the event’s participants about the city of Khojaly, noted that Khojaly locates on a strategic main road in Azerbaijan’s Garabagh region, and for this reason, Armenian armed forces saw Khojaly as a primary target and as an opportunity to intimidate the civilian population of Garabagh and weaken the resistance against the occupation.
The Ambassador informed that, on the night of February 25 to 26, 1992, Armenian armed forces, supported by former USSR’s 366th Motorized Rifle Regiment, launched a collective attack to the city, and at the same night, a total of 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women, 70 elderly people lost their lives; surviving population of the city found a temporary shelter in Azerbaijan’s 48 provinces by becoming displaced refugees.
It was noted that as a consequence of the Patriotic War, the glorious Azerbaijani Army restored Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and ended the long-lasting occupation. It was also noted that some of those accused of committing the Khojaly Genocide are on trial in Azerbaijan, and that punishing the genocide’s executors is of a great significance for the prevention of crimes in the future. Now, our country implements a broad restoration and re-establishment projects in all liberated areas, including in Khojaly. As the residents of other regions, Khojaly’s population, who have returned to their native lands will live in peace and prosperity in their homes.
The works of a famous Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, including Azerbaijan folk music “Lachin” were performed by” choir and orchestra of Italy’s “Constantina” music chapel at the artistic part of the event.
For the information, the “Sant’ Agnese Fuori Le Mura” Basilica, located within the “Santa Costanza” Monumental Complex, which was built as the mausoleum of Roman Emperor Constantine I’s daughter Constantina between the years 340-345, was constructed by Pope Honorius I in the first half of 7th century. The Basilica was plundered by King Astolfo of Lombards in 753, and by Friedrich II in 1241, suffering serious destruction, and was restored by the Popes of Rome in both cases.
