On 26 February 2020, an event dedicated to the 28th anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy called “My Soul Khojaly” organized at the Baku Congress Center by the Youth Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the framework of the “Justice for Khojaly” international awareness campaign.
The event was attended by witnesses of the Khojaly genocide, government officials, leaders of youth organizations, and about 2,000 members of volunteer movements and organizations in the country, hundreds of participants of the Police Academy, Higher Military School, and the State Border Service Academy.
An exhibition of historical photos taken by foreign and local photographers reflecting the Khojaly genocide was organized and a special stand of "Justice for Khojaly!" international awareness campaign, featuring publications and materials containing facts about the genocide, was set up at the event.
In addition, a presentation of the book "Red Petals" published in the framework of "Justice for Khojaly!" international awareness campaign and dedicated to the National Hero Alif Hajiyev was held before the event.
The event began with the national anthem and commemoration of the victims of the tragedy, and was followed by a special presentation on the genocide. It was stated that, as a result of the genocide committed by Armenian aggressors against the civilian population in the Azerbaijani city of Khojaly in the night of 25-26 February 1992, 613 people, including 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly people, were brutally murdered in one night.
It was stressed that the Azerbaijani state is taking all the necessary steps to recognize this tragedy as an act of genocide against our people. Decisive actions in this regard began to be taken after the return of national leader Heydar Aliyev to political power in Azerbaijan. At the initiative of the Great Leader, the Khojaly genocide received a political and legal assessment. The international awareness campaign "Justice for Khojaly", initiated by the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, plays an important role in recognizing the genocide.
In the artistic part of "My Soul Khojaly" event, a shadow theatre play about the genocide was performed by the world-famous TEULIS theatre. The performance, accompanied by the music of the French composer Pierre Tilou's "Khojaly-613" composition, depicts the horrors of the night of the genocide and the destruction of hopes of thousands of people.
A special video dedicated to National Hero Alif Hajiyev was demonstrated at the event. Galina Hajiyeva, the wife of the late Alif Hajiyev, and her daughter Zarina Hajiyeva, spoke about the life of the national hero, his devotion to his homeland and state, as well as his heroism during the Karabakh war. Alif's family members also emphasized the highest respect towards the martyrs of the Karabakh war and special care for their families shown by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev, noting that the names of Karabakh martyrs and veterans are highly valued in our society, especially among young people.
In conclusion, the Executive Director of the Youth Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan Farid Jafarov thanked the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva for her work in conveying the truth about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Khojaly genocide to the international community. He called for even more diligent protection of Azerbaijan's rightful position in events and social networks.