BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 1. The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has issued a statement on the 35th
anniversary of the January 20 tragedy, Trend reports.
“Anniversary of the bloody massacre committed 35 years ago on
the night of 19-20 January by the former USSR against civilians in
order to suppress the national liberation movement of the
Azerbaijani people, is annually commemorated in our country as 20
January – National Mourning Day.
On 20 January – National Mourning Day, which is both a moment of
profound sadness and pride in our contemporary history, we honor
with the deepest gratitude all our Martyrs who sacrificed their
lives for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity
of our country.
Discrimination policy of the former Soviet authorities against
our country and people at a time when fabricated provocations such
as the “Sumgayit events” were orchestrated and implemented in order
to justify the continuation of unfounded territorial claims of
Armenia against Azerbaijan in 1980s, as well as the mass
deportation of the Azerbaijanis from the territories of present-day
Armenia, led to the rise of the national liberation movement of the
Azerbaijani people.
In an attempt to put down the national movement which advocated
for the independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, on
the night of 19-20 January 1990, units and special forces of the
Soviet Army, as well as contingents of internal troops brutally
massacred civilians in Baku, Sumgayit, Lankaran and Neftchala. As a
result of the 20 January military aggression which was one of the
most heinous crimes against humanity of the last century committed
against innocent people, including children, women and the elderly
in violation of all norms of international law, 150 civilians were
killed, 744 were seriously wounded, 4 went missing.
Notwithstanding the complexity of the particular period and the
precautions taken by the former Soviet authorities to prevent the
spread of the 20 January realities, immediately after the tragedy,
bringing the brutal massacre to the attention of the international
community is associated with the name of the National Leader Heydar
Aliyev. Following the restoration of our independence and the
return of the National Leader to power in our country, a number of
crimes committed against our people, including the 20 January
tragedy, were given a political and legal assessment, and in March
1994 a decision “On the tragic events committed in Baku on 20
January 1990” was adopted by the Milli Majlis (Parliament).
Notwithstanding the fact that the 20 January tragedy was
orchestrated and implemented in order to crush the resistance of
the Azerbaijani people, this brutal massacre marked a turning point
in the history of the independence, solidarity and national
liberation movement of our people, as well as the beginning of the
inevitable collapse of the USSR, which had long been delayed.
Unity and determination of our people, which overcame the most
challenging days and the most complex struggles of history, became
the basis of the brilliant victory of the Glorious Azerbaijan Army
led by the Victorious Commander-in chief during the 44-day
Patriotic War, which resulted in ensuring our territorial
integrity, as well as an end to the occupation and conflict as a
result of counter-terror measures, which led to the complete
restoration of our sovereignty on 19-20 September, 2023.
On the 35th anniversary of the 20 January tragedy, which
profoundly shaped the history of our independence, we solemnly
commemorate our Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our country
and territorial integrity, and wish good health to our citizens who
experienced health loses along that way!
Long Live Azerbaijan!”, the statement reads.
