Today marks 33 years since one of the most harrowing chapters of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict unfolded in the small Azerbaijani town of Khojaly.

The massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 613 Azerbaijani civilians, including 106 women and 63 children, remains a stark reminder of the brutality of war and the urgent need for justice.

As tensions escalated between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, the small town of Khojaly found itself under siege. Beginning in October 1991, Armenian forces, supported by units of the 366th CIS regiment, blockaded the town, cutting off vital supplies, including electricity, gas, and water. The town’s residents, predominantly ethnic Azerbaijanis, faced increasing hardships as daily shelling intensified.

On the night of February 25-26, Armenian armed forces launched a full-scale assault on Khojaly. Outnumbered and poorly armed, local Azerbaijani defenders were unable to withstand the attack. As the town fell, a large group of civilians attempted to flee toward Azerbaijani-controlled territories, but they were ambushed near the village of Nakhichevanik. Armenian troops opened fire indiscriminately, killing hundreds of unarmed men, women, and children. Survivors who were captured endured brutal treatment, and some were subjected to torture.

The Khojaly massacre has been widely documented by international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, the Memorial Human Rights Center, and independent observers. Human Rights Watch noted that Armenian forces had failed to take the necessary precautions to protect civilians, stating that the attack constituted a severe violation of international humanitarian law. Memorial, a Moscow-based human rights organization, described the massacre as a grave breach of international human rights conventions.

Eyewitness accounts and harrowing video footage captured by Azerbaijani journalist Chingiz Mustafayev provided indisputable evidence of the atrocities. Russian journalist Yuri Romanov, who arrived at the scene shortly after the massacre, described the horrifying sight of bodies strewn across the frozen landscape, including elderly victims and children bound with barbed wire and executed at close range.

Although Armenian officials have largely denied responsibility for the massacre, some Armenian sources have acknowledged the events. Markar Melkonian, brother of Armenian military leader Monte Melkonian, admitted in his writings that the attack on Khojaly was both strategic and an act of vengeance. He referenced the 1988 anti-Armenian pogroms in Sumgait, suggesting that the timing of the attack was symbolic retaliation.

Despite these admissions, justice for the Khojaly victims remains elusive. Many of the key figures responsible for the massacre have never been held accountable. Seyran Ohanyan, who commanded a battalion of the 366th CIS regiment involved in the attack, later became Armenia’s Minister of Defense.

For Azerbaijan, the Khojaly massacre is more than a painful memory—it is a symbol of national suffering and resilience. Each year, on February 26, Azerbaijanis across the world commemorate the tragedy, calling for international recognition and justice. Several countries and organizations have officially recognized the massacre as an act of genocide and a crime against humanity. However, many international bodies have yet to take formal action.

The lack of accountability for the Khojaly massacre underscores the broader challenges of achieving justice in conflict zones. The international community’s inconsistent response to war crimes contributes to impunity and prolongs cycles of violence. As history has shown, the failure to address past atrocities only paves the way for future ones.

Thirty-three years after the Khojaly massacre, the pain remains fresh for survivors and the Azerbaijani people. The tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of justice in post-conflict reconciliation. The international community must take decisive steps to ensure that such crimes do not go unpunished. Only through recognition, accountability, and a commitment to peace can the wounds of the past begin to heal. (ILKHA)