Leyla Aliyeva attends play dedicated to Khojaly genocide anniversary

The Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theater has staged "An almond tree blossoming" play commemorating the 26th anniversary of Khojaly genocide.

Head of the Department of Youth Policy and Sport Issues at the Presidential Administration Yusuf Mammadaliyev, vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder of Justice for Khojaly campaign Leyla Aliyeva as well as representatives of foreign embassies and youth organizations in Azerbaijan were among the audience.

The name of the play is associated with a new logo of Justice for Khojaly campaign picturing a broken branch of an almond tree blossoming in February, which symbolizes unfulfilled destinies of Khojaly people. The almond flower on the logo reflects the hope for securing justice in relation to the genocide committed by the Armenian armed forces on the night from Feb. 25 to 26, 1992 in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly, an ancient habitat in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, and non-recurrence of such ferocious acts.

On Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed in the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. As many as 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown.

The play was directed by Gulnar Hajiyeva. Key roles were performed by actors Kerem Hadizade, Zemfira Abdusammad, Mirzaga Mirzayev, Elnur Karimov, Asiya Atakishiyeva, Gushvar Sharifova, Mehriban Huseynova, Zulfiyya Alhuseynova, Elshan Shikhaliyev and Manaf Dadashov.

After the performance, vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva spoke with the actors.