20 January - heroic road to freedom and independence of Azerbaijan

34 years passed since the most bloodest ever during Soviet history military assault against the people of Azerbaijan and an unprecedented massacre of civilians.

The day of January 20, which will live forever in the memory of Azerbaijanis as the Day of heroism, symbol of unshakable will in the name of national independence, freedom of Azerbaijani people.

After ethnic cleansing on the territory of Armenia, when about 300.000 Azerbaijanis where forced to leave their historic lands without taking any belongings, while many thousands were tortured, brutally killed and suffered on the way to Azerbaijan, then Sumgait pogroms, initiated from the same center and starting separatism in Karabagh, Baku residents came out to protest against aggressive acts of Armenia and in 1990, the night of January 19 to 20, the former Soviet military troops attacked Baku by land and sea with unprecedented cruelty. Among those killed were women, children and the elderly, medical employees and policemen. Military aggression of the occupying forces claimed the lives of 150 citizens, severely wounded 744 others, and 4 people went missing.

The next day,  on January 21, Heydar Aliyev, National Leader of Azerbaijan, in spite of danger and also his serious illness, visited in Azerbaijan’s permanent Mission  in Moscow and he expressed solidarity with his people, sharply condemning the Soviet leadership for committing the bloody tragedy. He stated that it is an action against democracy and humanism and everyone involved in this crime must be appropriately punished.

Following the return of National Leader Heydar Aliyev to power in our country, at the special session of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) held in February 1994 the brutal killing of innocent people on 20 January 1990 was qualified as military aggression and a crime, and in March 1994 a decision “On the tragic events committed in Baku on 20 January 1990” was adopted.

Though the Azerbaijani people suffered military, moral and political aggression, they displayed their ability to maintain the traditions of historical heroism and resist the cruelest attacks for the sake of the freedom and independence of their motherland, even at the cost of losing their lives. 

This year first time we commemorate blessed memory of our heroes after the complete restoration of our sovereignty, for which our sons and daughters sacrificed their lives. We remember with deep respect and gratitude the memory of our Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Allah rəhmət eləsin!