On the instructions of Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, a series of commemorative events marking 31 March — the Day of the Genocide of Azerbaijanis were held across army corps, formations, military units of the Azerbaijan Army, and special military educational institutions, the Ministry of Defense told AZERTAC.

At the ceremonies, a minute of silence was first observed in memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani nation, Heydar Aliyev, the Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Motherland, and the victims of the genocide, followed by the performance of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

It was noted that between March 30 and April 3, 1918, Azerbaijanis were brutally massacred on a mass scale in the city of Baku and various districts of the Baku governorate, as well as in Shamakhi, Guba, Khachmaz, Lankaran, Hajigabul, Salyan, Zangazur, Karabakh, Nakhchivan, and other areas by the Baku Soviet and Armenian Dashnak armed groups.

It was emphasized that, 31 March is annually commemorated at the state level as the Day of the Genocide of Azerbaijanis by the Decree of National Leader Heydar Aliyev dated 26 March, 1998.

The speakers highlighted the significance of the purposeful measures undertaken by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mr. Ilham Aliyev, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, as well as the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, to raise international awareness of the genocide atrocities committed against the Azerbaijani nation by Armenians.

At the commemorative events, literary and artistic compositions were presented, photo exhibitions and documentary films were displayed, and lectures on the subject were delivered during socio-political training sessions.

Military personnel visited the memorials of genocide victims, as well as the graves of those who fell for the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of the Motherland.