On the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Ukraine and with the support of the UNESCO and the Mission of Peace International Centers, an international seminar on Armed Conflicts, Their Prediction and Protection of the Territorial Integrity of Countries, and Legal Aspects of Genocide in Khojaly was held at Polytechnic on February 18.
Khojaly tragedy was the killing of ethnic Azerbaijani civilians by the ethnic Armenian armed forces on the night of February 25–26, 1992. It is called the most brutal bloodshed during the Karabakh war: in one night, 613 civilians were killed, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 elderly people. 150 people disappeared and 1275 were taken hostage.
At the beginning of the ceminar, there was held a performance to commemorate the victims of the genocide in Khojaly, in particular, the laying of flowers, screening of the documentary «Justice for Khojaly», which was shot by the United Congress of Azerbaijanis in Lviv region to the 25th anniversary of the tragedy and holding a minute of silence.
Afterwards, Vice-Rector of Lviv Polytechnic Oleh Matviikiv called on all those present for fruitful cooperation, friendship, peace, support and understanding between the Ukrainian and Azerbaijani peoples and between our countries.
Lvivite Leonid Kravets, pilot, commander of the helicopter crew, shared his memories of those tragic events. Another participant in the events in Azerbaijan, the commander of the Cossack troops, a public activist, Colonel general Ivan Plohotniuk, drew a parallel between the tragic events in Azerbaijan and the East of Ukraine.
In addition to scholars, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Ukraine, Azar Khudiyev, military historian, General Ihor Repin, the Ukrainian military, the Azerbaijani diaspora and other respectable guests attended the seminar. At the end of the event the Ukrainian anthem was performed in Azerbaijani.
– In general, the topic of armed conflicts and the protection of the civilian population is always emotionally difficult, that is why I believe scholars and lawyers, both military and civilian, should deal with these issues. Polytechnic has the experience and scientific potential of Associate Professors and Professors who can study such difficult topics. Therefore, we responded to the request of the Azerbaijani side and decided to support holding the seminar. In addition, students from Azerbaijan are studying here, we have signed agreements on scientific and educational cooperation with three higher education institutions of Baku – Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction, Azerbaijan Technical University and the Police Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan. The seminar, dedicated to commemorate the Khojaly civilians, strengthened relations and mutual understanding between our countries and peoples, said Vice-Rector Oleh Matviikiv.
