On the 33rd anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre, TRNC President Ersin Tatar and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel issued statements expressing deep sorrow over the tragic event and reaffirming the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ unwavering support for Azerbaijan.

Both leaders highlighted the shared historical and cultural bonds between the Turkish Cypriot and Azerbaijani peoples, emphasizing the importance of standing united against injustice.

President Ersin Tatar underscored that the pain of the massacre, which took place on February 26, 1992, remains deeply felt. He described the attack, in which Armenian forces brutally killed 613 Azerbaijani civilians—including women, children, and the elderly—as a dark stain on human history.

He also recalled that hundreds were abducted, and thousands were taken captive.

Tatar emphasized the significance of Azerbaijan’s victory in the 2020 war, which led to the liberation of Khojaly and Shusha, marking a new era for the region. “With these thoughts and emotions, I remember those who lost their lives in the Khojaly Massacre with mercy and extend the heartfelt solidarity and unity of the Turkish Cypriot people to President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani nation,” he stated.    

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel echoed this sentiment, stressing that the TRNC stands with Azerbaijan under the principle of “one nation, three states.”

He condemned the massacre as a heinous crime against humanity and praised Azerbaijan’s resilience.

“On February 26, 1992, Armenian armed forces massacred 613 innocent Azerbaijanis in the city of Khojaly, injuring hundreds more. Our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters avenged this atrocity in 2020, rewriting history with a glorious 44-day struggle,” Üstel said.

Extending his condolences to the Azerbaijani people, Üstel reaffirmed that the TRNC will always support Azerbaijan in its rightful struggle.