The Armenian Embassy in the United States, in cooperation with the U.S. Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Representative Office of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) and Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) organized an official event on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the Armenian pogroms in Sumgait and Baku, Azerbaijan.

The press service of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that the function was attended by U.S. Congressmen, Armenian clergymen and Armenians residing in the U.S. A documentary on Armenian massacres in Sumgait and Baku was shown.

Frank Pallone, Chairman of the U.S. Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues denounced the Armenian massacres and designated them as genocide. He called on U.S. Congressmen to continue supporting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan pointed out that Armenian massacres in Kirovabad, Shahumyan and Marag would have been prevented if the Sumgait pogroms had been condemned.

Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tatul Margaryan stressed that the combined efforts of the U.S. Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Armenian and Nagorno-Karabakh officials are the best guarantee against distortion of historical facts by Azerbaijan.

The U.S. Congressmen that attended the function denounced the Armenian pogroms as well.

February 27 to 29, 1988, in Sumgait, Azerbaijan, Armenian pogroms took place with the connivance of the Azerbaijani authorities. Over 30 Armenians were murdered and thousands had to flee. The Armenian pogroms are a taboo subject in Azerbaijan.