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On the anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre, Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca participated in the commemorative event held on 24 February 2025, held under the auspices of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (GNAT), in cooperation with the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Ankara, and the Türkiye-Azerbaijan Friendship, Cooperation, and Solidarity Foundation (TADİV).

Within the scope of the commemoration program, a panel titled “An Example of a Crime Against Humanity Committed Against Turks: Khojaly” was held. The panel was moderated by Member of the Presidential Security and Foreign Policies Council and the President of TADİV, Prof. Dr. Aygün Attar, with the Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca and the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan Ms. Sabina Aliyeva participating as speakers.

Highlighting that Türkiye was the first state to recognize the Republic of Azerbaijan following its declaration of independence in 1991, Chief Ombudsman Mr. Akarca stated that, “Within this framework, Türkiye and Azerbaijan have always maintained close diplomatic and strategic relations. However, beyond these ties, the mutual respect and affection between the nations of the two countries remain strong. Throughout their histories, both nations have shared a bond that is rare among states. When Türkiye and Azerbaijan are mentioned together, the phrase “One nation, Two states” comes to mind. This statement symbolizes the deep brotherhood and friendship between the two countries.”

“In this inhumane incident, the people of Khojaly, who only wished to live in peace, were deliberately killed using the most brutal methods”

Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca stated that what Azerbaijan—having just gained its independence—experienced on 26-27 February 1992, was one of the greatest tragedies not only for the Azerbaijani people, but also for the entire Turkic World and human history. He emphasized that this tragedy was an attack on innocent civilians by Armenian armed forces in the town of Khojaly, with a population of around seven thousand, located in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

Chief Ombudsman also included the following in his speech:

“As a result of this attack, many civilians—primarily Azerbaijanis, as well as Meskhetian Turks—lost their lives. Meskhetian Turks had been exiled to Central Asia and the Caucasus by the Soviet Union in 1944, and they, too, became targets in the Khojaly massacre. This atrocity not only altered the demographic structure of the region but also inflicted a new trauma on the Meskhetian Turks, compounding their historical suffering with fresh pain and loss. In this inhumane incident, the people of Khojaly, who only wished to live in peace, were deliberately killed using the most brutal methods. These losses are more than mere numbers—they represent a profound grief not only for the Azerbaijani people, but for the entire Turkic World.”

“The brutality that took place that day is a dark stain on human history.”

Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca described the Khojaly attack as a shame for humanity, stating, “The brutality that took place that day is a dark stain on human history. However, unfortunately, the failure to punish those responsible for this shame and the lack of international support regarding this atrocity have deeply affected the society. I would like to reiterate that as the Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye, we are always ready to support and collaborate.”

Emphasizing that justice—the most fundamental and powerful aspiration of humanity—has yet to be fulfilled, Mr. Akarca added, “However, I would like to state that today, and from now on, we will continue to raise our voices and persist in our efforts, always upholding the rule of law. Justice is the foundation of both human rights and social peace, and fulfilling this duty is our greatest responsibility. In the name of human dignity, it is our duty to remember what happened in Khojaly, to pass this memory on to future generation, and to ensure it is never forgotten. Today, on the 33rd anniversary of this massacre, we once again affirm that we have not forgotten the pain caused by the Khojaly Massacre. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the innocent victims and to the people of Azerbaijan, and we pray for Allah's mercy upon those who lost their lives.”

Highlighting the strong cooperation and friendly relations between the Ombudsman Institutions of the Republic of Türkiye and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Chief Ombudsman expressed that “We are very pleased with this as well. As you know, Nagorno-Karabakh and its surrounding seven rayons, which are part of the territory of Azerbaijan, were under the unjust and illegal occupation of Armenia for nearly 30 years. On 27 September 2020, the Armenian armed forces launched attacks on Azerbaijan, resulting in the deaths and injuries of many civilians—including women and children—by targeting civilian settlements and using prohibited weapons until a ceasefire was reached. During this time, as a testament to our cooperation, the Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye organized a working visit to Azerbaijan and prepared reports documenting the human rights violations that occurred during the conflict.”

Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca: “Justice, peace, and human rights are being violated in Gaza.”

Stating that similar suffering continues in the 21st century, Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca said, “The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has become the symbol of inhumane practices. Justice, peace, and human rights are being violated in Gaza. This oppression has now reached the level of massacre, and the people of Gaza are faced with death and destruction. The international community remains indifferent to this massacre and genocide in Gaza. This situation is not only a tragedy for the people of Gaza, but also a profound shame for the entire world.”

Emphasizing the vital role of Ombudsmen in protecting and promoting the rights of both citizens and humanity in the face of the challenges of our era, the Chief Ombudsman added; “As you should know, as the Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye, we have prepared a report on the ongoing situation in Gaza and submitted it to relevant parties around the world. Within this framework, the Ombudsman Institution has not remained indifferent to the massacre and the human rights violations committed by Israel in Gaza and prepared the special report ‘Gaza: Nakba of Humanity’. We also shared this report with the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the International Criminal Court, as well as all international organizations and Ombudsmen, to serve as documented evidence.”

Highlighting that all the suffering endured throughout history has never broken the resilience of the Turkic Nation, the Chief Ombudsman stated; “Today, it is of great importance to commemorate the suffering experienced in the past. As Ombudsmen, will continue to fight for peace, equity, justice, and human rights. As the Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye, we will remain committed to monitoring the human rights dimensions of crises occurring around the world.”

Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca, together with the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, visited the 'Khojaly Genocide Photo Exhibition' held at the GNAT.