Sustainable Development Goals at Baku State University.

On 26 February 2026, a special lecture commemorating the 34th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide was held at the Information and Records Management Faculty of Baku State University (BSU).

The event began with a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide and all martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The lecture was delivered by Knyaz Aslan, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Publishing and Editing at BSU, as well as a veteran of the First Karabakh War.

In his presentation, Knyaz Aslan discussed the historical hostility and acts of violence committed against the Azerbaijani people, focusing on the causes and consequences of the Khojaly genocide, the occupation policy of Armenia, and the suffering endured by the victims. He emphasized that the political and legal assessment of the tragedy was formally established following the return of National Leader Heydar Aliyev to political leadership in Azerbaijan. He also highlighted the significant role of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the “Justice for Khojaly” international awareness campaign, initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, in promoting global recognition of the tragedy.

Drawing on his experience as a journalist during the period of the genocide, Knyaz Aslan shared excerpts from his published articles and personal diary records documenting those events. He noted that the historic victory achieved during the 44-day Patriotic War under the leadership of President of Azerbaijan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev restored the country’s territorial integrity and honored the memory of the victims of Khojaly and all martyrs. He stressed that today the Azerbaijani flag proudly flies over liberated Khojaly and that former residents have returned to their homeland to rebuild their lives.

The event also featured remarks by BSU student and Khojaly resident Ilaha Ganbarova, who shared her family’s experiences during the tragedy. She spoke about relatives who were killed or taken captive and expressed her gratitude for the ongoing reconstruction and revival of Khojaly, noting that her family has already returned to live there.

The event concluded with the screening of a documentary video dedicated to the Khojaly genocide.

SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)