President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and family members participated in the opening of the Khojaly Genocide Memorial in the city of Khojaly on February 26.
Modern.az reports that President Ilham Aliyev laid a wreath at the Memorial.
The President's assistant Anar Alekperov informed the head of our state and the First Lady about the Memorial.
It should be noted that the Khojaly Genocide Memorial was established based on the Decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev in February 2025, with the aim of perpetuating the memory of the victims of the Khojaly tragedy, conveying the historical truths to future generations, and preserving national memory.
The project was implemented based on the concept prepared by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
The monolith surrounding the Memorial on all four sides is designed in the form of symbolic hands trying to protect the residents of Khojaly from the genocide.
As a sign of respect to the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide, almond trees, which bloom at the end of winter and herald the arrival of spring, were planted in the yard of the Memorial. Over the years, the symbolic flower of the "Justice for Khojaly!" campaign was also chosen as the almond blossom, which is no coincidence. The almond blossom represents the demand for justice for the genocide that took place in Khojaly in February 1992.
The Memorial consists of four sections. In the first two sections, an exhibition hall preserving the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide has been established.
The exhibition greets visitors with the installation titled "The Face of the Tragedy." Authored by Rashad Alekperov and Azer Rustamov, the installation depicts the victims of the genocide that occurred on the night of February 25-26, 1992 — the murdered peaceful residents and destroyed families.
The models of pigeons flying across the ceiling of the Memorial are a tribute to the innocent residents of Khojaly who were killed during the tragedy, with a wish for peace to the entire world.
The exhibition dedicated to the Khojaly genocide, one of the most terrible crimes against humanity of the 20th century, presents the historical roots of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, the policy of occupation, and the consequences of Armenian terrorism on Azerbaijani lands based on documents, maps, and facts. Here, in exhibitions titled "Khojaly — Traces of an Ancient Civilization," "Khojaly Genocide is a Crime Against Humanity," and "Don't Forget Khojaly!", information is presented about Khojaly's history, the geography of the occupation, the chronology of the conflict, violations of international legal norms, the Khojaly genocide—one of the bloodiest crimes committed against humanity—as well as the political-legal assessment of the genocide given by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev.
Information about the horrors experienced on the day of the tragedy is presented interactively in the model of Khojaly located in the exhibition hall.
In the second exhibition hall, Serkhan Hajiyev's installation "Houses Silent Overnight" and the fate of eight families completely destroyed during the tragedy, as well as the interrupted lives, dreams, and silenced children's laughter resulting from crimes against humanity, are presented through a video prepared with artificial intelligence.
The exhibition hall also reflects the consistent policy carried out by President Ilham Aliyev to ensure international recognition of the Khojaly truths; the activities of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, led and initiated by the Foundation’s president Mehriban Aliyeva, aimed at preserving the memory of Khojaly genocide victims and ensuring justice; publications and informational materials prepared in various languages; and the international campaign "Justice for Khojaly!" initiated by the Foundation’s vice-president Leyla Aliyeva, as well as events implemented in this field with her active participation.
The "Justice for Khojaly!" international campaign also exhibits models of monuments erected in several countries in memory of the genocide victims.
The exhibition concludes with information about the 44-day Patriotic War and the restoration of state sovereignty, along with the idea that "The Great Return" and "The devastated Khojaly will revive again."
The next section of the Memorial includes an auditorium designed for official events and memorial ceremonies.
The Khojaly Genocide Memorial is a place that serves to preserve national memory both architecturally and conceptually.
Recall that on the night of February 25 to 26, 1992, Armenian military units, with the participation of the 366th motorized rifle regiment of the former Soviet Army stationed in Khankendi, committed a horrific genocide in Khojaly. During the tragedy, 613 people were killed, including 63 children, 106 women, and 70 elderly persons. As a result of military aggression, 8 families were completely destroyed, 25 children lost both parents, and 132 children lost one parent.
The Memorial erected in liberated Khojaly will forever keep alive the memory of the genocide victims and convey the historical truths to every visitor.
Today, our nation commemorates the victims of the Khojaly genocide, one of the most terrible massacres of the 20th century, as a victorious country and victorious people. The spirits of the Khojaly victims are joyful today. As the Victorious Supreme Commander also said, their blood was not left unavenged; their revenge was obtained on the battlefield during the Patriotic War.
Afterward, President Ilham Aliyev wrote heartfelt words in the Memorial’s guest book.
Later, the head of state, the First Lady, and family members familiarized themselves with the Memorial and met with representatives of the Khojaly district community.