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National march took place on February 26 in connection with the Khojaly genocide, one of the most bloody crimes in the world history.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and family members participated in the march.

The purpose of the march - which started on Azadlyg Square of the capital heading towards the monument erected in Khatai district to the victims of the Khojaly genocide, involving tens of thousands of people – was to commemorate the Khojaly victims, and once more bring this barbaric crime by Armenian fascists against the humankind to the attention of the world society.

Participants of the national march, with President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva being on the first row, were carrying portraits of innocent victims of the bloody massacre – children, women and elderly - that were killed with special cruelty, photos reflecting horrible scenes of the acts committed 27 years earlier, posters and banners in the Azerbaijani, English and Russian languages with calls for bringing the perpetrators of the tragedy to account, punishing them, and political and legal assessment of the genocide at the international level, as well as with names of the genocide victims. Along the itinerary of the march, such slogans as “The world has to recognise the Khojaly genocide!”, “Justice for Khojaly!”, “Do not forget Khojaly!”, “Down with Armenian fascists!”, “Khojaly – a genocide of the 20^th century”, “Criminals will be punished!”, “Khojaly genocide – 27 years”, “Khojaly genocide is a crime against the Humankind”, “Khojaly, the place where there is no word left”, “Devastated Khojaly will revive” etc. were displayed on monitors along the way, and hung on balconies and facades of the buildings.

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A guard of honour and fresh flowers were arranged around the monument to Khojaly genocide victims.

President Ilham Aliyev laid a wreath before the monument to Khojaly genocide, commemorating the victims of the tragedy.

First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva, Prime Minister Novruz Mammadov, Chairperson of the National Assembly Ogtay Asadov, Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, and Arzu Aliyeva laid fresh flowers before the monument.

State and government officials, MPs, ministers, heads of committees and companies, representatives of the diplomatic corps, heads of religious communities, as well as Khojaly residents who could escape the massacre put flowers before the statue.

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A delegation coming from Russia too joined the national march.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva met and talked with the Russian delegation.

Then, President Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to Rossia-24 TV Channel.