BAKU: Military prosecutor office resumes probe into acts of massacre

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug 4 2005

MILITARY PROSECUTOR OFFICE RESUMES PROBE INTO ACTS OF MASSACRE
COMMITTED BY ARMENIAN MILITARY FORCES IN OCCUPIED NAGORNO-KARABAKH
TERRITORY AND BORDERING AZERBAIJANI REGIONS
[August 04, 2005, 18:08:26]

The office of Azerbaijan’s military prosecutor told AzerTAj that
it has resumed a criminal investigation into the killing of dozens
of ethnic Azerbaijani civilians by Armenian forces during the
Nagorno-Karabakh war.

Since 1988 by the Armenian military forces and the Armenian terror
organizations were killed and wounded thousands of Azerbaijanis,
our country has fallen as victim of Armenian terror attacks, were
destroyed and sacked towns and villages of Azerbaijan. Over 600
criminal cases were opened by law enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan
in connection with these barbarian actions of Armenians.

Azerbaijan’s military prosecutor says 339 residents of Khojali, a
predominantly Azerbaijani town of Karabakh, were killed in February
1992 soon after the poorly defended area fell into Armenian hands.

By the Azerbaijani military prosecutor’s office was also opened
a criminal investigation into the February 1992 killing of nearly
50 residents of Garadaghli, an ethnic Azerbaijani village of the
predominantly ethnic Armenian separatist enclave. Unfortunately this
criminal case was also suspended in December 1992.

Moreover, criminal investigation on the Khojali determined there were
3 thousand people in the town at the time of Armenian military forces’
attack by support of 366th regiment of the Soviet troops. As most part
of the population had to leave town during 4 months blockade. Hundreds
of residents were killed, 1000 peaceful people of different age became
invalid during Khojali genocide. Amongst the victims of the Khojali
genocide are 106 women, 63 children, and 70 old men. 8 families were
completely annihilated, 130 children lost one parents, while 25 both
of them. 1275 peace residents were taken hostages, the fate of 150
of them is still unknown. Therefore the Armenian murderers should be
charged in accordance with the United Nations Convention on genocide.

The military prosecutor noted the Armenian military forces have ignored
also the Geneva Convention’s relative to the Treatment of Prisoners
of War that says persons taking no active part in the hostilities,
including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and
those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any
other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without
any adverse distinction founded on race, color, religion or faith,
sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.

In connection with all these criminals of Armenian military forces
the military prosecutor office has been commenced a criminal case
on July 14, 2005. About the criminal investigation’s progressing the
public will be informed regularly, said the military prosecutor.