Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

British Ambassador to Baku has expressed condolences to Azerbaijani people for the tragic loss of life in the Khojaly tragedy.

"Today Azerbaijan marks the 22nd anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy. Ambassador Irfan Siddiq expresses condolences for tragic loss of life," the message on the Facebook page of the British Embassy in Azerbaijan said.

Late into the night from February 25 to 26, 1992, the town of Khojaly, situated within the administrative borders of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, came under intensive fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran, already occupied by Armenian armed forces. The Armenian armed forces, supported by the ex-Soviet 366th regiment, completed the surrounding of the town already isolated due to ethnic cleansing of the Azerbaijani population of the neighboring regions.

As many as 613 civilians mostly women and children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent.

Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown. Civilians were shot at close range, scalped, and burned alive. Some had their eyes gouged out and others were beheaded.