The Truth about Khojalu (Khojaly) Events- Azeri Sources Testify-

An anti-Armenian campaign has been hysterically raging in Azerbaijan throughout the years following the Khojalu (Khojaly) events. The purpose of the campaign is to falsify the facts and bring discredit on Armenia in the eyes of the international community. The Khojalu (Khojaly) events when peaceful people died were only the result of the political intrigues and struggle for power in Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani propaganda trumpeted about the ‘barbarities of Armenians’ to the whole world spreading terrifying shots by TV channels – a field covered by defiled corpses. It was said that Khojalu (Khojaly) is the “revenge of Armenians for “Sumgait”.
The real reasons lying behind these events are more convincingly reflected in the testimonies of the Azeris themselves, both the participants, eyewitnesses of the events and those who knew the ins and outs in Baku.
Khojalu (Khojaly) was the second after Shushi in its Azeri population in Artsakh-Nagorno Karabagh Republic (NKR). The settlement is found in the strategically vital place and divides the territory of Artsakh-Karabakh into two. It was the military strategic importance of Khojalu (Khojaly) that since the very beginning of the National-liberation movement of the Armenian population in Artsakh the Azerbaijani authorities began intensive construction works and settling the Azeris from remote regions in Khojalu (Khojaly) as well as Meskhetian Turks – since 1989. Because of this single-minded policy of changing the demographic situation in Artsakh and dissection of the Armenians of the region held by the Azerbaijani authorities the population of the settlement tripled from 2135 in 1988 to 6300 in 1991. Owing to this kind of artificial increase Khojalu (Khojaly) was granted status of town. (Report of Memorial, Nezavisimaya gazeta, 18.06.1992). No doubt people were moving into a militarily and politically unstable region not on their own free will.
According to M. Safaroghli, an Azerbaijani journalist, "Khojalu (Khojaly) was located in an important strategic position. Losing control over Khojalu (Khojaly) would mean a political fiasco for Moutalibov". (Newspaper "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" -"Independent Newspaper"- February, 1993). With Shushi and Aghdam, Khojalu (Khojaly) was one of the key bases from where Stepanakert, the capital of NKR, was continuously bombed during three winter months – shelled steadily and mercilessly, with the use of artillery, antihail rocket systems and war missile emplacements.
The population of NKR which was in the danger of the total physical extinction by Azerbaijan could survive only by neutralizing the weapon emplacements of Khojalu (Khojaly) and deblocking the airport. Hundreds of peaceful people were killed in Stepanakert as the result of the daily bombing from the close Khojalu (Khojaly). The military operation of the armed forced of NKR to neutralize the weapon emplacements of Khojalu (Khojaly) was not a surprise for Azerbaijan. For the first time the Azeri side was notified about the forthcoming attack by TV nearly two months before the operation. Arif Yunusov, a well-known champion of human rights in Azerbiajan, wrote about that in "Izvestia". The officials in Baku did not try to hide their awareness, including Ayaz Moutalibov, the president of Azerbaijan. He stressed that "… the offense on Khojalu (Khojaly) was not a surprise" ("Ogoniok” (Fire) Magazine, N 14-15, 1992). In the interview to the “Nezavisimaya gazeta” newspaper he stated that “the corridor by which people could leave was reserved by Armenians” (“Nezavisimaya gazeta” newspaper, April 2, 1992). In his interview to the “Novoe Vremya” journal Moutalibov confirmed his statement: “It was obvious shooting the Khojalu (Khojaly) people was organized by somebody for removing the power in Azerbaijan” (“Novoe Vremya” journal, March 6, 2001). As the result of these warnings most of the peaceful people of Khojalu (Khojaly) moved to safe zones.
The following fact is another proof the Azerbaijani authorities were told on the forthcoming anticipatory assault of Armenians on Khojalu (Khojaly). By midFebruary 1992 before leaving for Minsk to the summit of the CIS, President A. Mutalibov ordered to throw all the collected reserves of the military equipment in the Aghdam region. 11 tanks and 12 infantry fighting machines BMP-2 were quickly delivered there, which with the available in Aghdam 44 caterpillar armored machines of BRDM type, equipped with 12 millimeters calibers machine-guns presented an inspiring force, which could help the Khojalu (Khojaly) settlers in case of an attack in any moment, but was also threaten Stepanakert itself. (Kiril Stolyarov, op. cit. p. 251).
Besides, the Azerbaijani forces in Khojalu (Khojaly) and Aghdam region were equipped with over 35. 000 units of machine-guns and submachine guns with enough number of cartridges ( Kiril Stolyarov, op. cit. p. 268).
By the beginning of the assault part of the civilian population of Khojalu (Khojaly) left the settlement, and by the end of February 1992, according to various sources, some 1000 to 2500 people still remained there, mostly peaceful civilians and soldiers of Azerbaijani armed formations. On February 15 the Armenian side made an ultimatum: the civilian population of Khojalu (Khojaly) was offered to leave with a white flag. (Helsinki Watch, op. cit., 1994, p. 20).
The detachments of NKR did everything possible to exclude the death of the peaceful population of the settlement and left a corridor for the safe evacuation of the peaceful population from the zone of military actions. The Azeri side was timely informed about the opened corridor which allowed to evacuate the people of Khojalu (Khojaly). Elman Mamedov, the mayor of Khojalu (Khojaly): "We knew the corridor was left for the exit of the peaceful people" ("Russkaya Misl" 03.03.1992, citation from "Bakinskie Rabochiy" newspaper).
In the beginning of the attack, started on February 25, at 23:00 p.m., the Armenian forces of NKR self-defense opened an aimed artillery fire against military objects and positions of the Azerbaijani forces, dislocated in the central part of the settlement. The successful shots spread havoc among the Azerbaijanis, which did not show serious resistance. Neither there was a more or less stubborn street fight in Khojalu (Khojaly); by 4 o’clock in the morning of February 26 the last centers of resistance were suppressed. Observers of the «Memorial» right protection organization inspecting the destructions in Khojalu (Khojaly) confirmed the fact of artillery and not street fighting, which could result in many casualties. (Ibid.)
It is worth mentioning the order number 1, regulating the conduct of the members of the Armenian armed forces of NKR self-defense, strictly forbid any violence against the civilians of the adversary.
After the operation was over 11 bodies of Azeris were found by the rescue group "Artsakh" in the village and its neighboring areas, naturally, counting out the bodies of the members of the armed formations dressed in uniforms (their number was also small). The insignificant number of the peaceful victims of Khojalu (Khojaly) in the view of the intense military actions undertaken to hold control over the settlement evidenced the Armenian side had taken all measures on ensuring the maximal possible security of the people of the village. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that a significant number of the peaceful population of Khojalu (Khojaly) became victims of the operation. How many of the people of Khojalu (Khojaly) were killed and where?
The Azeri side is categorically silent about the place of the death of hundreds of residents of the village. The truth is that all of them were coolly murdered at the distance of 11 km from Khojalu (Khojaly), about 2-3 km far from Aghdam which then used to be the regional military base of the Azeri armed forces. This mere fact is enough for casting light on the intricate story about the massive extinction of the residents of Khojalu (Khojaly). It is hard to understand why should the Armenians let the population of Khojalu(Khojaly) flee from the besieged village to kill them on the approaches of Aghdam putting their lives at risk (then Aghdam was under the control of the Azeris).
In his interview to "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" Moutalibov stated that "however, the Armenians had left a corridor for the escape of the people. Why a fire should have opened then? ("Nezavisimaya Gazeta", April 2, 1992). He linked the fact of the criminal fusillade of the peaceful people with the attempts of the opposition to remove him from power, laying the responsibility for the tragedy entirely on him. In his interview to "Novoye Vremia" ("New Time") Magazine Moutalibov confirmed his statement which was made nine days before: "It was obvious the some people had organized the shooting for shifting the power in Azerbaijan" ("Novoye Vremia", March 6, 2001). Similar statements and assessments of the Khojalu (Khojaly) events were made by several other Azerbaijani top officials and journalists.
R. Hajiyev, member of the Operating Committee of Aghdam Branch of NFA (National Front of Azerbaijan): We could have helped the people of Khojalu (Khojaly) because we had the resources and means. However, the authorities of the republic wanted to show to the people of Azerbaijan that they are not able to do so and ask for assisting the CIS Army and with the help of the latter also neutralize the opposition" (Moscow, "Izvestia", April, 1992).
Tamerlan Karayev, the former Chairman of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan testifies: "The tragedy was perpetrated by the Azeri authorities", in particular, "some of the top officials" ("Moukhtalifat" Newspaper, April 28, 1992). Yana Mazalova, a Czech journalist, who, because of the oversight of the Azeris, was included in both of the groups of journalists who visited the place of the events on the first day and several days later, noticed the stunning difference how the bodies looked at the first and second site visits. When Mazalova visited the site immediately after the events she saw the bodies did not bear any traces of brutality whereas a couple of days later the bodies "adulterated" by the Armenians and "ready" for the cameras were demonstrated to the journalists.
Who killed the peaceful people of Khojalu (Khojaly) and later defiled their bodies, if the tragedy took place not in the village liberated by the Armenians, and not along the direction of the humanitarian corridor, but on the close approaches of Aghdam town, a territory which was entirely under the control of the National Front of Azerbaijan? Chingiz Moustafayev (Fuat-oghli), an independent Azeri TV journalist and cameraman who filmed the aftereffect on February 28 and March 2, 1992, doubted the official version of Azerbaijan and began his own investigation. His life was the price for his very first report to the Moscow News Agency "DR-Press" about the possible involvement of the Azeri side in the crime: he was killed not far from Aghdam, and the details of the murder still remain not revealed.
Moustafayev reported about the flight to Khojalu (Khojaly). He noted that he could not film the dead bodies there, because "there was not a single killed person there …". In the course of the first flight the journalists shot only a couple of dozens of bodies of the Azeri soldiers which were found not far from the village of Nakhichevanik. However, most of the bodies were near Aghdam where they were video-filmed on February 29 and later March 2. These tapes were displayed at the session of Milli Medjlis and, later, many TV channels of the world as an evidence of the massive manslaughter of the Azeri population of Khojalu (Khojaly). The first flight of the helicopter with the Azeri journalists on board took place on February 29, 1992. It is noteworthy the journalists who were told about the massive offense of the Azeris in Khojalu (Khojaly) flew directly to the place of the events. However, they did not find any evidence of the happenings and flew back. During the second flight to the region of the massive slaughter, on March 2, 1992, the journalists noticed the positions of the dead bodies lying on the ground and the level of the injuries and physical impairment was astonishingly different compared to the first inspection. Chingiz Moustafayev (Fuat-oghli) told the Azeri president A. Moutalibov about the changed positions of the bodies and their physical impairment. Undoubtedly, by that time the Azeri president understood the reasons which caused falsifying the tragedy. Moutalibov gave a really prophetic answer to the journalist, "Chingiz, don't tell anyone that you think something is wrong because they'll kill you". Chingiz Moutafayev was killed in the same field where he had shot the main Azeri "argument".
The former president of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev personally admitted the "former leadership of Azerbaijan was also at fault of the Khojalu (Khojaly) events". As early as in April of 1992 the following was articulated by him, "The bloodshed will do good to us. We shouldn't interfere in the course of events" (Bilik-Duniasi News Agency). It is out of question who gained from the "bloodshed". Megapolis-Express wrote: "It is impossible not to admit that if the National Front of Azerbaijan in fact had defined far-reaching goals, it succeeded in addressing them. Moutalibov is compromised and forced out of his post, the international community is in shock, the Azeris and their brotherly Turks believed in the so-called "genocide of the Azerbaijani people in Khojalu (Khojaly)"("Megapolis-Express", N17, 1992).
The Azeri mass media was silent in its comments on the Khojalu (Khojaly) events about another tragic detail which was revealed later: 47 Armenians were held hostage in the "peaceful" Khojalu (Khojaly) since February 26. After the liberation of Khojalu (Khojaly) only 13 of these hostages were found in the settlement (including 6 women and 1 child), the remaining 34 were taken away by the Azeris in the unknown direction. All that is known about these hostages is that at the night of the operation they were driven away from the place of imprisonment, but not from the settlement. There is no information about their further status as hostages. It is obvious the bodies of the Armenian hostages were tormented beyond the degree when they could be identified. This was done to create the illusion the bodies of the victims "had been defiled" by the Armenians. This is the reason why the bodies of the wretched victims were outraged to the extent that it was impossible to identify the victims.
It follows from the above-described facts the blame for the death of the peaceful people of Khojalu (Khojaly) and those Armenians who had been taken hostage in the village lies on the Azeris. The Azerbaijani side committed a crime against its own people, and the motivation lies in the political intrigues and lust for power.


Other Testimonies
It is obvious that those who wanted to make an appearance of disfiguring of corpses by Armenians, disfigured first the bodies of the Armenian hostages, in order they are never identified. Clothes were taken off the corpses, the bodies of unlucky victims were treated outrageously, being changed beyond recognition.
Rahim Ghaziev, one of the former Azeri defense ministers who was jailed for 10 years on charge of state treason (He was accused of leaving Shushi to Armenians), said in the interview to www.realazer.com that a trap was prepared for Mutalibov in Khojalu (Khojaly) to remove him.
Ghaziev said that he received information about the attack of the Armenian forces against Khojalu (Khojaly) on February 16, 1992. "On February 25, I again received information about the preparations of the attack," Ghaziev said. He added the Azeri Armed Forces had enough arms to help the Khojalu (Khojaly) people and stop the Armenians. Those days, the Azeri defense minister said that it was possible to avert the disaster and keep their positions.
Tamerlan Karaev, former Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijani Republic, testifies: “The tragedy was realized by the authorities of Azerbaijan”, and concretely – “somebody of those high standing” (“Moukhalifat” newspaper, April 28, 1992).
The Armenian forces did their best to escape unnecessary deaths on the side of the civilian population of Khojalu (Khojaly). The mayor of Khojalu (Khojaly) Elman Mamedov also knew about the corridor: “We knew the corridor was left for the civilian population to leave...”(Russkaya misl’, 03.03.1992. Nezavisimaya gazeta, 18.06.1992, Nezavisimaya gazeta, 02.04.1992)
According to the report made by “Memorial”, nearly 200-300 people remained in Khojalu (Khojaly), hiding in the basements of the houses. After the assault they were moved to Stepanakert and were provided with food and medicines. The Armenian side stated it would agree to let them in exchange for its hostages. (Nezavisimaya gazeta, 18.06.1992, Nezavisimaya gazeta, 02.04.1992).
The Armenians told Azerbaijanis about the existence of the humanitarian corridor also by loudspeakers, although it is possible the greater part of the Khojalu (Khojaly) inhabitants could had not heard the messages. (Nezavisimaya gazeta, 18.06.1992). Indeed, it is likely, that not all the inhabitants of Khojalu (Khojaly) had heard the warning, but the masses of people moving in safe directions could have led the rest as well.
It is worth mentioning, that few days before the start of the assault the representatives of the Armenian side had repeatedly told the authorities of Khojalu (Khojaly) on the coming offensive using radio communication, calling them to take out the civilian population from the settlement immediately. The fact that this information was received by the Azerbaijani side and sent to Baku is confirmed also by some publications in Azerbaijani newspapers (Bakinskaya gazeta). (Ibid.)


Internet as a field of information war against Armenia
The Azerbaijani party makes an active use of internet in an information war against Armenia and NKR. In connection with the fact that internet-mass media influence becomes more and more dominant in the world, significance of information net on Artsakh-Karabakh conflict also increases. Besides, various internet-communities become more and more influential on public opinion shaping.
The number of anti-Armenian sites on Artsakh-Karabakh issue, which are mainly created in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani communities settled in other countries, are increasing year by year. The sites of anti-Armenian character are focused on denying the Armenian Genocide, falsifying the Armenian history, the activity of ASALA organization are also being created by the initiative of Turkey, however, today Baku is more active than its “elder brother.”
In particular, to make sure of the big number of Azerbaijani-Turkish sites, one should only type the words “Karabagh” or “Garabagh” in the internet searching systems (www.google.com, www.yahoo.com etc.) and the system will show up more Azerbaijani and Turkish than Armenian information on Artsakh-Karabakh. At the same time, if we make a search by the word “Artsakh,” the number of Armenian sites found will prevail, however, one should consider the international community is almost unfamiliar with the other name of Karabagh-Artsakh, and to get acquainted with this subject in the internet sites the foreigners will look for the names “Karabakh” and “Nagorno-Karabakh.” In this way Azerbaijan and Turkey have carried out much more propagandist work to succeed, which, to some extent has changed the state of affairs in the information war, and, is not always counteracted by the Armenian party.
The Azerbaijani party has well-developed means for spreading disinformation. For the last few years information-analytical portal Day.az has been dynamically developing under the private support of the state. The materials have been published in Russian and English by the resources of the member of Permanent Commission on International Relations Milli Mejilis and inter-Parliamentary ties of Anar Mamedkhanov.
According to information of different ratings, Day.az is visited by more than 10 thousand a day. Reference index of edition in internet is equal to 2200, which, according to Yandex system data, is the 38th showing among all the Russian-language editions in internet. Thus, while giving a search in Yandex search system by key words “Armenia news”, Day.az takes the second place (the first place is not taken by a merely Armenian resource either - the project of RIA News “News-Armenia” takes that place). Considering that according to statistics most of the users make use mainly of the first ten showings of searching machine, Day.az takes the position of one of the main sources of information on Armenia.
Day.az periodically spreads disinformation in internet. At the same time they don’t use their own information, but make reference to Azerbaijani information agency APA, which is a permanent provider of false information on Armenia and Artsakh-Karabakh. Considering popularity and high rating of Day.az’s searching machines, such materials spread in global net very quickly.
www.irevan-az.com –This is an Azerbaijani site in Armenian, where Baku places agitation materials, news and disinformation, analogical articles, historical features, audio recordings, photos and even caricatures on the subject. In the site there are sections about the Artsakh-Karabakh war, Khojalu (Khojaly) events, photoarchives. The site also contains photos of Artsakh “safe haven,” today’s Aghdam, devastated settlements of Ghubatli. It is not quite clear how the Azerbaijani party managed to get new photos of Artsakh’s safety haven, that is the photos of districts which are contiguous to the militarized and frontlines?
It should also be mentioned the materials of the above mentioned site are not stated in a literate Armenian. However, these mistakes are not that much, especially if we consider the Armenian sites themselves are not that ideal. One should suppose the site is made by some Azerbaijanis who occurred to live in Armenia in the past and know the language. A more “pessimistic” version of recruiting Armenian specialist is less possible but theoretically is not excluded. However, the site is made by the Azerbaijani “state order.”
The Armenian party hasn’t got any propagandistic site in Azerbaijani language. As it is known, there are a few Turkish versions – the Turkish section of the “Azg” newspaper and the Turkish language site www.ermeni.org.
One should mention the Armenian site may pursuit no serious propagandistic objectives, as Baku has minimum chances to influence on the Armenian reader to reconsider his position. Here it is more important the fact the Azerbaijanis embrace such a “broad front” creating sites not only in Russian, English and French languages but also in Armenian. Such a site has not only propagandistic effect, but also the effect of “physiological attack.” The enemy has been obviously carrying out active work. The Russian version of the site was later created.
The site www.iravan.com represents “data” the territory of the present Armenia is historically Azerbaijani. Here are separately cited all the Armenian toponyms which have Azerbaijani-Turkish origin and have been made Armenian: Amamlu (Spitak), Chomburuk (Chambarak), Aghbulagh (Lusaghbyur), Nor Bayazet (Gavar), Jalaloghli (Stepanavan), etc. Here are also brought encyclopedic data about settling these towns and localities, rise in the number of population, dates the toponyms changed. In the site is placed the picture of Ararat Mountain as the symbol of “nostalgia” of Azerbaijanis for Eastern Armenia.
www.karabakh.gen.az is concentrated on the subjects “genocides of Azerbaijanis” in Khojalu (Khojaly), “Armenian terrorism” and the Karabakh war. In his large publication inserted in the site “professor” Ismail Veliev condemns the activity and political line of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Party. Adil Badirov mentions the information on the strength of army in Karabakh is false and that it is being spread by journalists bribed by Armenians and at the same time remembers about the film on the Russian HTB channel about the NKR defense army. With other falsified information, the site contains false information about “destruction of Azerbaijani monuments in Armenia and especially in Zangezur and in the safe haven.”
The site www.karabakh.co.uk has been made by the “Azerbaijani community in London,” in particular, by the members of this structure - Tale and Nijad Heydarovs. This site as well has sections of historical feature, photos, audio records, integrity of information and disinformation. Here are mentioned the names of the well-known Azerbaijani military and cultural men. The list of Azerbaijani military men of Karabakhi origin is limited by 5 names, 3 of which lived in the Middle Age, and the other two were known in the period of Soviet rule – Colonel Aslan Vezirov and General Khalil Mamedov. In this regard the list of only Armenian marshals surpasses the one of all the Azerbaijani high-ranking military men taken together.
The site www.human.az has been made by the state commission engaged in the issues of the missing prisoners of war. From the technical standpoint the site has quite a high-level: besides the information section, it has a section of video spots in multimedia format, music and clips. From the standpoint of contents, it reflects all the sites mentioned above. There is a section on “Armenian terrorism,” it also presents the UN decisions on Artsakh-Karabakh issue, the decree of H. Aliyev to celebrate the 31st of March as the “day of Azerbaijani genocide,” etc.
Besides the sections mentioned above the site http://www.khocaly.s5.com turns to the personality of Ramil Safarov, presenting him in a positive light. Here are separately presented prewar photos of territories controlled by NKR at present, “history of Azerbaijani genocide perpetrated by Armenians in 1918-20.” “20% of the Azerbaijani Republic is still occupied by Armenians. Nothing and no one is forgotten. This land is calling for its only patriotic generation – us,” – is mentioned in the site.
The subject of Khojalu (Khojaly) “genocide” is also being touched in the site www.khojaly.net. Here are inserted photos, documents and data. The site http://azerigenocide.org again touches on the subject of “genocide in Khojalu (Khojaly)” and “other perpetrations of genocide against the Azerbaijani nation.”
The site http://aliyevheritage.org is an online library, where one can find information about the activity of H. Aliyev, his speeches and announcements. The site was created on May10, 2004 and has sections in 26 languages (!). In the “electronic kitabkhana” are presented the speeches of H. Aliyeb on Karabakh issue in chronological order – from 1993 to 2002.
On the site www.youtube.com are inserted two video spots on NK subject, in one of which one can hear Azerbaijani music and in the second one are presented allegedly Russian hirelings fighting in the NKR on the side of Armenians.
The list of Azerbaijani sites of anti-Armenian character is not limited by the ones mentioned above. The sites http://karabakh-doc.azerall.info, http://www.tallarmeniantale.com, http://www.war-culture.az, http://conflict.aznet.org, http://www.azerbaijanfoundation.org, http://www.human.gov.az, http://www.azeri.ws, http://www.axtar.az, http://www.azeribook.com, http://shusha.aznet.org are not all the ones engaged in Azerbaijani propagandistic attacks. It seems to be expedient to make the strategy of the RA information security more clear and work out mechanisms of corresponding “counterattacks.”


Recognized the “genocide”
Azerbaijani Mili mejlis (in 2007) has unanimously qualified the tragic events during fights that took place in Khojalu (Khojaly) as “genocide against Azerbaijani nation” and called on other countries to name the events as “genocide”.
The announcement made by the Azerbaijani Parliament runs, that on February 26, 1992 “Russian military unit 366, headed by Armenian and Russian commanders” have attacked and “massacred” Khojalu (Khojaly).


"Armenia fails to adeduately answer Azeri propaganda”, political scientist believes
Levon Melik Shahnazaryan, a political scientist, told a press conference the Armenian side does not properly react to Azeri propaganda. He says no films are shown on Kojalu whereas he claims that Azeries have shot several films on Khojalu (Khojaly) events.
As a participant of freedom fight, Shahnazaryan reminds that Khojalu (Khojaly) residents were killed in Aghdam and not Khojalu (Khojaly). Referring to an Azeri program, he said an Azeri reporter made a tour in the area and shot dead bodies. “Two days later they showed the dead bodies were tortured. If Aghdam was under the control of Azerbaijanis and the reporters could freely make pictures there, it means the Armenian forces had nothing to do with the crime,” the speaker said. “Many things are just made up, which causes harm to the image of our nation,” the political scientist says.

Khojalu (Khojaly) “victims” memorial in Hague
The "Eni Safak" Turkish newspaper on February 4 (2008) announced that a memorial dedicated to the "Khojalu (Khojaly) Massacre" is to be erected in Hague. The monument is being new designed and it is to be placed in the Muslim part of the Hague military cemetery.
According to the newspaper, the initiative of erecting the monument belongs to the Azeri community of the Netherlands, which had been struggling for the approval of the municipality for almost a year. As the head of the Azeri community of the Netherlands Ilhan Askin said, the monument is to commemorate the "Massacre of Khojalu (Khojaly)". It is remarkable that Askin stressed that he is Azeri, not Turk, in despite of his Turkish second name.
It would be better pleasing the Azeris to erect the statue Ramil Safarov instead of the memorial of the "victims" of the so-called "Khojalu (Khojaly) massacre". Safarov, murdering an Armenian serviceman, once again proved the bloodthirsty essence of the Azeri barbarians. The statue of Safarov would signify the entire horde of Azeris, and not only the "Khojalu (Khojaly) victims"!

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