BAKU RESUMES PROCEEDINGS ON «OCCUPATION» OF KHOJALU IN KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net - July 12 the Military Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan resumed the proceedings on the criminal case (that had been suspended March 31, 1994) on the fact of «occupation» of Khojalu town in Nagorno Karabakh. According to a release of the Press Service of the Military Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan, «Armenian troops, Karabakh separatist troops and the military of 366th regiment of the Soviet Army committed a crime February 25-26, 1992, which is qualified as genocide,» reported Turan Azeri news agency. The Military Prosecutor's Office has instituted proceedings over «seizure» of Khojalu, having reconsidered the investigation materials on the current Criminal Code articles 103 (genocide), 115 (violation of rules and customs of war), 16 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during armed conflicts), 118 (military robbery). The «seizure» of Khojalu «was accompanied by unprecedented atrocity: 339 city residents were killed, including 43 children, 109 women, 16 men over 60 years of age. 115 persons were missing, 30 were taken hostage, 421 were wounded.» Besides, July 15 this year the Military Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan has instituted proceedings «on seizure of Garadagly village of Khojavand region on the night of February 16, 1992 on article 103 (genocide).» «In the course of the seizure of the village 49 persons were killed, another 57 local residents were held hostage for a long time and were tortured.» «At present, measures are being taken to call to account, find and judge those, who had committed the crime against humanity and military crimes on both cases,» the report says.