35th years of January Tragedy - the people of Azerbaijan commemorates the martyrs of 20 January

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

The day of January 20, which will live forever in the memory of Azerbaijanis as the Day of heroism, is the symbol of unshakable will in the history of national independence and 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, forced Baku residents to came out to protests in 1990. As a result, in the night of January 19 to 20, the former Soviet military troops attacked Baku by land, air  and sea with unprecedented cruelty. Military aggression of the occupying forces claimed the lives of 150 citizens, severely wounded 744 others, and 4 people went missing. Among those killed were women, children and the elderly, medical employees and policemen.

The next day,  on January 21, Heydar Aliyev, the 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, strongly 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.

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!