Armenian political analyst criticizes U.S. Embassy's 'solidarity' statement on Khojaly

Armenian political analyst Hakob Badalyan on Thursday criticized the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan over a statement marking the anniversary of the 1992 events in Khojaly, questioning its expression of solidarity with the Azerbaijani people.

“Today, we join the people of Azerbaijan in remembering those who lost their lives in Khojaly in 1992,” the U.S. Embassy said. “On behalf of the U.S. Embassy in Baku, we express our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who lost loved ones. As we remember the victims, we are reminded of the importance of human dignity, compassion, and building a lasting peace for future generations.”

Badalyan noted that while the embassy’s statement did not use the term “genocide”, it explicitly referenced Khojaly and expressed solidarity with the Azerbaijani people.

“What does ‘solidarity’ mean when U.S. officials are fully aware of how official Baku characterizes the Khojaly events?” Badalyan wrote, arguing that the civilian deaths occurred amid political turmoil in Azerbaijan at the time.

Badalyan also raised the question of whether the U.S. Embassy in Armenia has issued similar statements commemorating the anniversaries of the Sumgait and Baku pogroms against Armenians.