February 28, on the day when 18 years ago Armenian pogroms were committed in Sumgait, Armenian President R. Kocharian, Parliament Speaker A. Baghdassaryan, National Security Council Secretary, Defense Minister S. Sargsyan, head of the National Security Service G. Hakobyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II laid wreaths to a khachkar monument to victims of the tragedy. In the words of MOD head S. Sargsyan, the Sumgait crime does not have a term of limitation. «Commemorating innocent victims of Sumgait is our duty. Unfortunately, punishing those guilty is beyond us, however we should keep reminding the world about it. Moves made to recognize this horrible crime would have been sufficient, if the Sumgait pogroms were recognized by the international community,» the Armenian Defense Minister said.

February 27-28, 1988 authorities of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic perpetrated pogroms against Armenians in Sumgait town. According to official reports, 32 persons were killed in that tragedy, dozens were injured. Over 18 thousand Armenians lived in Sumgait in 1988 and they became first refugees.