03:53, 31 March 2018

Azerbaijani Parliament demands to recognize events of March 1918 as genocide

Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba, Azerbaijan. Photo: official website of the President of Azerbaijan.

On March 31, Azerbaijan marks the Day of Genocide. Residents of all regions of the country honour the memory of victims of religious and ethnic violence in March 1918.

According to the Azerbaijani version of events, in late March 1918, armed units of the Armenian nationalist "Dashnaktsutyun" Party led by Stepan Shaumyan committed mass killings and pogroms of Azerbaijanis with the support of the Bolshevik leaders from the Baku Council.

The 100th anniversary of the tragic events in Azerbaijan is marked by scientific and practical conferences, exhibitions, special lessons in schools and higher education institutions and other events. On March 31, mourning marches are planned to the Alley of Fallen Heroes in Baku and to the Guba Genocide Memorial Complex. In other cities and regions of the country, people will also held actions of mourning.

A special meeting of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan held on March 30 was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the genocide. According to the results of the meeting, the country's parliament adopted a statement.

Azerbaijani MPs called upon the world community to recognize the events of March 1918 as genocide of Azerbaijanis and to complete the development of effective international legal mechanisms to ensure punishment for acts of genocide.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent