Nationwide march over 85 thousand people was held in Baku due to the 20th anniversary of one of the most heinous tragedies of the 20th century – the Khojaly genocide, February 26.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the march.

From the Azadlyg Square, participants of the march proceeded to the monument to the Khojaly genocide victims mounted in Khatai district of Baku. Young people who stood along the avenues and streets the tremendous march proceeded had in their hands portraits of innocent victims of the bloody massacre – children, women and elderly killed with extreme cruelty – photos depicting abominable scenes of events, which happened 20 years ago, banners demanding to bring to account and punish perpetrators of the tragic events, give an objective political and legal assessment to the massacre on the international level, placards with names and surnames of victims of the genocide, saying “The world must recognize the Khojaly genocide”, “Justice for Khojaly”, “Do not forget Khojaly” “Down with Armenian fascism!”. Participants of the march had in their hands similar placards as well.

A ceremonial guard of honor was lined up at the monument to the Khojaly genocide victims.

President Ilham Aliyev laid a wreath at the monument to the Khojaly genocide and paid respect to the tragedy victims.

Flowers at the monument were laid by Prime Minister Artur Rasizadeh, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Ogtay Asadov, Head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev, First Lady of Azerbaijan Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva.

Flowers at the monument were also placed by state and government officials, members of the Milli Majlis, ministers, heads of committees and companies, representatives of the diplomatic corps, heads of religious confessions, as well as residents of Khojaly who escaped the bloody massacre.

Participants of the nationwide march revered with sorrow the memory of victims of the genocide. They chanted slogans “Justice for Khojaly”, “Do not forget Khojaly”, “Khojaly – the genocide of the century”.