On Tuesday, upon the initiative of Artsakh Ministry of Culture, Youth Affairs and Tourism, a commemoration ceremony dedicated to the innocent victims of Sumgait pogroms took place at the Memorial Complex of Stepanakert.
Victims of Sumgait pogroms commemorated in Stepanakert (Photos)
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 27, ARTSAKHPRESS:Pastor of the St. Hakob Armenian Church of Stepanakert priest Minas Movsisyan offered requiem service at the Complex.
Subsequently, “Ordinary Genocide, Sumgait, 1988’’documentary was shown.
Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth Affairs and Tourism, Gayane Grigoryan told Artsakhpress that by paying tribute to the victims of Sumgait pogroms we condemn such atrocities.
In Gayane Grigoryan’s words, by this event they want to inform the youth about what happened 30 years ago in order for them to not allow such atrocities against the Armenian people.
“As a result of Genocide carried out by Azerbaijan 30 years ago we had hundreds of victims, wounded people and forcibly displaced people.
It’s a pity that this atrocity hasn’t been condemned properly,’’ Gayane Grigoryan said.
Participant of the commemoration ceremony and vice-president of “Hayk’s Generation” social organization, Ruben Hayriyan said,
“We ought to be able to use all the evidence on international platforms in order to show and prove to the world that genocide occurred in Sumgait.’’.
He emphasized that the genocide occurred in Sumgait should be condemned so that no other nation suffers a similar tragedy.
Artsakh National Assembly Chairman, Ashot Ghulyan; Artsakh Minister of Culture, Youth Affairs and Tourism, Sergey Shahverdyan; members of social organizations; students; schoolchildren and others were present at the event.
On February 27, 1988 the Azerbaijani authorities launched the massacres of Armenian population in Sumgait town 20 km from Baku. During the three-day massacres numerous people were wounded and killed, moreover, some of the victims were tortured and the bodies were burned.
