Aliyev and Erdoğan visit Khojaly Genocide Memorial

On Victory Day, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Türkiye honored the victims of the 1992 Khojaly tragedy and laid wreaths at the memorial, followed by the Victory Monument in Khankendi.

RuskiGazeta Editorial DeskNovember 08, 2026, 05:44 PMUpdated: November 08, 2026, 09:31 PM

Aliyev and Erdoğan visit Khojaly Genocide Memorial

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the Khojaly Genocide Memorial in the city of Khojaly on November 8 and laid wreaths there, the press service of the Azerbaijani president said.

Published photographs show the leaders viewing the memorial's museum exhibition, which features a model of the city and documentary materials about the events of 1992. Erdoğan signed the memorial's guest book.

The presidents of Azerbaijan and Türkiye view the memorial exhibition

On the night of February 25-26, 1992, 613 civilians were killed in Khojaly, according to Azerbaijan's official figures, while another 1,275 people were taken hostage. Azerbaijan commemorates the victims of the tragedy every year on February 26.

After Khojaly, the presidents visited the Victory Monument in Khankendi and laid wreaths there. Earlier that day in Shusha, they held an official welcoming ceremony for the Turkish leader, a one-on-one meeting and a joint press conference, as well as a photo session at Shusha Fortress.

Wreaths at the Victory Monument

At the Victory Monument in Khankendi, President of Türkiye Erdoğan laid a wreath, prayed for the martyrs and reviewed information about the memorial, Anadolu Agency reported. Aliyev addressed the nation there in the morning on the occasion of Victory Day. “The history of the Patriotic War is captured on every step of the staircase leading to this Triumphal Arch,” he said.

The Anadolu video shows honor guards carrying to the monument a wreath with a ribbon from the president of Türkiye. Erdoğan adjusts the ribbon while Aliyev points to the inscriptions on the steps and tells his guest about the memorial. The ceremony took place in the rain; after laying the wreaths, the presidents walked together across the memorial square under umbrellas.

Aliyev and Erdoğan visit Khojaly Genocide Memorial

On Victory Day, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Türkiye honored the victims of the 1992 Khojaly tragedy and laid wreaths at the memorial, followed by the Victory Monument in Khankendi.