A commemorative event titled “Echos of Khojaly: Remembering the Innocence” was held at Columbia University in New York City on the 33rd anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.

Axar.az reports that the event was organized by the Azerbaijan American Youth Federation.

Attendees included staff members from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the United States, and the State Committee for Work with Diaspora, as well as students from Columbia, Harvard, and other universities, along with representatives of the Azerbaijani and Turkish diasporas living in New York.

First, the national anthems of Azerbaijan and the United States were played, and the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide and the martyrs who gave their lives for the territorial integrity of our country was honored with a moment of silence.

In her opening speech, Leyla Aslanova, the head of the American Youth Federation, welcomed the guests and provided detailed information about the Khojaly genocide.

Tofig Musayev, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, mentioned that efforts are being made to give legal and political recognition to the genocide committed by Armenians against Azerbaijanis in Khojaly at the international level.

Sahlat Abbasova, the department head of the State Committee for Work with Diaspora, spoke about the Khojaly genocide being the blood memory of our people, the work being done to restore international justice, and the return of displaced persons to their homeland after 30 years of longing.

Jeyhun Novruzov, an employee of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the United States, spoke about the efforts made by the embassy to ensure legal recognition of the genocide in the U.S.

Azim Mian, the director of Geo TV and an accredited journalist at the United Nations, discussed his visit to Azerbaijan. During his visit, he witnessed Armenian vandalism in the territories liberated from occupation, the dangers posed by minefields to human life, and expressed hope that the Khojaly genocide would be legally recognized by the international community in the future.

Next, a video created by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation was shown, featuring testimonies from witnesses of the Khojaly genocide about that horrific night.

Kamran Hasanov, a member of the Azerbaijan American Youth Federation and a student at Columbia University, delivered a presentation based on his research on the Khojaly genocide.

The event highlighted that the Khojaly genocide is a crime against humanity, and that the perpetrators must be held accountable before the International Court of Justice.

During the event, poignant music dedicated to the memory of the Khojaly genocide victims was performed by artists living in New York, including Nargiz Aliyarova, the Head of the National Music and Global Culture Society, an international competition laureate, and People's Artist of Azerbaijan (piano), as well as diaspora activist Agil Huseynov (tar).

An exhibition of children's artwork from the "My Way" Child and Youth Development Center, depicting the horrors of the Khojaly genocide, was also presented. Additionally, the exhibition featured "The Scream of Khojaly," a composition by Azerbaijani artist and sculptor Emin Guliyev, who is the cultural director of the Center.

It is worth noting that such events are crucial for raising awareness about the Khojaly genocide, addressing crimes committed against humanity due to Armenia's occupation policies, and bringing attention to the real facts about the situation in Karabakh and the region. These events also help counter Armenian disinformation and contribute to the peace and stability process in the region.