Vesti.az: Festive atmosphere reigns in Baku metro station on commemoration day of victims of Khojalu
“Genocide is genocide, but Baku also has a state structure, which puts a crunch of banknotes higher than national mourning. Even the domestic TV channels mourn on this day,” the Azerbaijani site Vesti.az says.
Today is the 21st anniversary of the events taken place in Aghdam, in 1992 during which the part of Khojalu residents was killed. “On this day people of Azerbaijan honor the memory of the innocent victims of this tragedy with grief. In Azerbaijan as well as in many countries around the world rallies and commemorative events are held dedicated to the anniversary of Khojalu tragedy. Even the national television, most of the programming grid of which is aimed at promoting the spiritual decay through cheap shows, mourn on this day,” the article says.
“However, we do have a state structure, which apparently is not aware of the fact that today Azerbaijan commemorates one of the tragic days in the history of our country. We are speaking about the Baku Metro station, where the presence of the tragic day was not felt. The colorful commercials accompanied by rhythmic music created a festive air,” the article says.
The author stresses that the most creative subway passengers in Baku metro station who were fond of “high art” were even swaying under the music. “And how to resist it if the monitor shows two girls in mini-skirts boldly nibbling sunflower seeds, and the group “Tin uşaqları” performing unpretentious guitar chords?” the article says.
The author notes that the Azerbaijani advertisers, even on commemoration day of the tragedy, have managed to announce on TV channels about campaigns to be held on March 8, the International Women's Day. “Vesti.az” summarizing says that simple respect is needed to be performed towards the innocent victims, reminding about the tragedy by the same advertising screens.
On February 26, 1992, during the war in Karabakh, around 200 to 300 people (according to Human Right Watch, and 600 according to the version propagated by Azerbaijan) were killed in unknown circumstances near the city of Aghdam. They have been deliberately withheld by the Azerbaijani authorities in the midst of the military actions. Population of the village of Khojalu, which was one of the firing points shooting at the blockaded Stepanakert (among five others) was kept in the village for months by force and was not evacuated by the authorities of Azerbaijan deliberately, in order to use them as human shields later.
Residents of Khojalu coming out through the humanitarian corridor, that the self-defense forces of NKR had left open, freely passed more than 10 km and reached the Aghdam city controlled by the Azerbaijani troops. Later, not far from the positions of Azerbaijani troops dead bodies of the villagers were found. The exact death toll remains unknown as the official Baku publishes data contradicting each other. Parliamentary Commission investigating the tragic death of the civilians at Aghdam city was dissolved by the order of Heydar Aliyev, the investigative materials are kept secret.
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