Khojaly Massacre — mass murder of Azerbaijani civilians in the town of Khojaly
The Khojaly massacre was the largest single mass killing of Azerbaijani civilians during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, with estimates of 200–613 deaths.
Key Facts
- Date
- 26 February 1992
- Azerbaijani official death toll
- 613 civilians
- Human Rights Watch minimum estimate
- At least 200 killed
- HRW upper estimate range
- 500–1,000 may have died
- Pre-attack town population
- Approximately 6,300
- Local defenders
- About 160 lightly armed men
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, Khojaly — an Azerbaijani-populated town of about 6,300 people — was subjected to daily shelling and a total blockade by Armenian forces. Cut off from electricity, gas, and water, the town was defended by only around 160 lightly armed local fighters as Armenian forces and elements of the 366th CIS regiment prepared an offensive in early 1992.
On 26 February 1992, Armenian forces together with troops of the 366th CIS regiment attacked and overran Khojaly, forcing nearly the entire Azerbaijani population to flee. As civilians escaped, combatants and forces committed what Human Rights Watch described as 'unconscionable acts of violence against civilians,' killing at least 200 and by some estimates up to 1,000 people, including women and children.
The massacre became the largest single killing event of the entire Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and a turning point in the war. Azerbaijan officially recorded 613 civilian deaths, including 106 women and 63 children. The event has since been a focal point of Azerbaijani national memory and international human rights scrutiny regarding conduct during the conflict.