Expert says Azerbaijan should be called to account for Maragha tragedy

PanARMENIAN.Net - Against Legal Arbitrariness NGO organized a mourning event on April 10 dedicated to the 20th anniversary of massacre of Armenians in the village of Maragha by Azerbaijan.

“Events in Maragha are military crimes with elements of genocide,” Hovhannes Nikoghosyan, head of Political Processes chair at Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University said at the event.

“Maragha was far from hostilities area, and there was no need to attack the village from a military viewpoint. The atrocity targeted just Armenians, the civilians, and it aimed to kill and rob. Unfortunately, the International Criminal Court has the authority to consider cases related to events which have occurred after 2002, when the Rome statute imposing responsibility for the crime of genocide, crime against humanity, military crimes and crimes of aggression, was adopted,” Nikoghosyan stated.

“However, the population [of Maragha] can address the European Court for Human Rights for compensation of damage and property plunder; while considering the case, the court will have to address the genocide facts and look into them separately. This is what we can achieve in the nearest future,” the expert concluded.

52 people were massacred in Maragha (Leninavan) settlement, Mardakert region, on April 10, 1992. 57 people were taken hostages, including 9 children and 18 women. The destiny of 19 people is still unknown. The slaughter continued on April 22-23, when the survived residents of Maragha returned to bury those dead. The data is confirmed by Helsinki Watch international human rights organization.