The State of Texas House of Representatives passes a House Resolution commemorating Khojaly Massacre

As a result of annual action campaigns by the U.S. Azeris Network (USAN), Texas House of Representatives passed a resolution recognizing and commemorating victims of Khojaly Massacre

On February 25-26, Armenian armed forces attacked and occupied a town of Khojaly, ethnically cleansing its Azerbaijani civilian population in the city limits and its outskirts. According to official data, 613 civilians, including 106 women, 83 children, 79 elderly have been brutally killed while the other sources put the death toll as high as 1,000. Khojaly Massacre remains the largest massacre of modern times in South Caucasus and has been condemned world wide by human rights organizations, governments and was extensively covered by international media.

The resolution HR 535 was authored by State Representative Jim Murphy (R-TX) and adopted by the House of Representatives on March 3, 2011 by a non-record vote. This resolution recognizing Khojaly Massacre is the first resolution passed within State Legislature in Texas and nationwide.

The entire Board of Directors of USAN is expressing its profound gratitude to Rep. Murphy, House Speaker Joe Straus and all Texas legislators for their commitment to humane values in recognition of tragedies imposed on Azerbaijani people.

H.R. No. 535

WHEREAS, February 26, 2011, marks the 19th anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre in Azerbaijan, and the observance of this somber date inspires reflection by individuals across the globe; and

WHEREAS, On February 25 and 26, 1992, Armenian armed forces, accompanied by Russian military troops, occupied the town of Khojaly as part of the bitter warfare that had been taking place in the Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1988; and

WHEREAS, When a large group of Azerbaijani civilians attempted to evacuate the area, they were fired on by the Armenian and Russian soldiers, resulting in the largest massacre of that bloody conflict; estimates of the exact number of people killed vary from 160 to as many as 1,000, with many women and children among the dead; and

WHEREAS, The massacre was reported by major news organizations and has been viewed by the Human Rights Watch/Helsinki organization as a violation of customary law regarding the treatment of civilians in war zones; moreover, numerous governments around the world have condemned the attack; and

WHEREAS, This tragic event is a sobering reminder of the terrible carnage that can be inflicted in wartime and the enduring need for greater understanding, communication, and tolerance among the people the world over; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature, hereby commemorate the 19th anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre in Azerbaijan.

Joe Straus, Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. 535 was adopted by the House on March 3, 2011, by a non-record vote.

Robert Haney, Chief Clerk of the House

Jim Murphy, State Representative,

District 133

Photos of the victims Khojaly genocide