GENERAL INFORMATION Khojaly is located in 345 km to the west from Baku. At the present time, the territory of the region occupied by the Armenian military troops on February 26, 1992. Territory - 922 km2 Population - 11544 Administrative Center - Khojaly

Settlements/Vilages Khojaly town, Khojaly vilage, Kerkijahan settlement, Kosalar vilage, Jemili vilage, Mashali vilage

      Geographical Situation

The region located mainly on the mountain and submountain territories. There were 57 settlements in Khojaly region. After occupation by the Armenian troops these settlements were completely destroyed.

      Economic Characteristics

Region's agriculture was based mainly on the grain growing, viticulture, vegetable-growing and cattle breeding. There were the combinat of building materials, winery, factory of production of the unintoxicating drinks, pig-breeding and cattle breeding complexes, weaving-mill and clothes factories in the Khojaly.


OCCUPATION

Until early 1992 Xocali was a little known, smallish Azeri town of some 7000 souls, located midway between Xankandi and Agdam on the Barda to Goris road and home to Xankandi's airport.

Xocali's fame came only from its tragic fate. For several weeks the town was besieged by Armenian forces and had contact with the outside world only by sporadic helicopter flights. The handful of defenders had little experience, almost no equipment and above all scarce or no support from Baku.

Then on February 26 1992, the Armenians decided to make a final advance. The choice of such a date clearly indicated an intention to revenge the Armenian victims of Sumgait. The Armenian troops advanced in three directions, leaving an open escape way in the direction of Agdam. The people of Xocali tried to escape along the the Gorgor river, with the retreating Azeri troops trying to provide some sort of protection from the hills.

But only 10 kilometres from Agdam, near the village of Nakhichevaniki a tragedy was going to happen. Armenian troops in the hills performed one of the most horrific massacres of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict - shooting from the hills at the defenceless fleeing refugees.

At least 613 people were killed (196 women, 83 children, 150 missing persons until now), also some estimates  point to a number as high as one thousand. Besides the Armenians, Russian troops were also involved in the massacre, namely the 366th Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Interior Ministry, at the time based in Xankandi.

Khocaly itself was burnt by the invaders and now only ruins remain. The town has an archaeological station, where over 100 tombs dating from the 2nd millennum bc can be seen - some have been excavated.