Azerbaijan Commemorates 34th Anniversary of January 20 Tragedy

Baku, The Gulf Observer: Nation Remembers ‘Martyrs of January 20’ with Solemn Commemorations and Global Calls for Recognition.

On this solemn occasion, Azerbaijan commemorates the 34th anniversary of the tragic events that unfolded during the January 20 Tragedy in 1990. In the late hours of January 19 to 20, troop units from the USSR Defense Ministry, State Security Committee, and Ministry of Internal Affairs launched a brutal attack on Baku and several regions of Azerbaijan, following orders from the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev.

The occupation of Baku by the Special Forces of the Soviet Army, along with a substantial contingent of internal troops, was marked by unprecedented brutality. Civilians were targeted with heavy weapons and various types of guns, resulting in the ruthless killing of 82 people and fatal injuries to 20 individuals. The application of emergency measures did not halt the violence, as an additional 21 lives were lost in Baku within days, along with eight more in regions where no emergency situation was declared.

The illegal deployment of troops claimed the lives of 131 people, with 744 sustaining injuries in Baku and surrounding regions. Among the victims were women, children, elderly citizens, as well as members of the emergency assistance team and police.

The tragic events were further exacerbated by mass arrests, with 841 civilians detained during operations in Baku and other cities and regions of the Republic. One hundred twelve of the detainees were sent to prisons in various cities of the USSR.

Military servicemen, in an act of aggression, targeted 200 houses, 80 cars, and emergency assistance vehicles, resulting in the destruction of a significant amount of public and private property through fires ignited by incendiary bullets.

Symbolically known as the “Martyrs of January 20,” Azerbaijan mourns the loss of 150 individuals who fell victim to the tragedy. Immediately following the events, on January 21, 1990, National leader Heydar Aliyev, accompanied by his family, expressed solidarity with his compatriots at the Permanent Representation of Azerbaijan in Moscow. He vehemently protested against the bloody operation of the USSR leadership and exposed those responsible for the military intervention.

Despite the ruthlessness and brutality displayed by the Soviet Army, the Azerbaijani people, resilient and united, held a mourning rally at “Azadlig” Square on January 22 for the burial of the January 20 martyrs. Approximately 2 million people participated in the burial ceremony in the Alley of Martyrs.

The January 20 tragedy received legal and political assessment at the highest legislative level, the Milli Majlis, on March 29, 1994, initiated by National leader Heydar Aliyev. Since then, January 20 has been observed as a Day of National Mourning every year, with officials and citizens visiting the Alley of Martyrs to pay their respects.

As part of the commemorative events, special measures will restrict traffic towards the Alley of Martyrs from 7:00 am until the conclusion of the ceremony on January 20. Authorities recommend the use of public transport instead of private cars to ensure the safety of visitors.

At 12:00 Baku time on January 20, a minute of silence will be observed to honor the memory of the victims. Ships, cars, and trains will sound signals, and national flags in Azerbaijan will be lowered as a sign of mourning.

Beyond its borders, embassies, diplomatic missions, and Azerbaijani communities worldwide are taking measures to draw the attention of the global community to the tragic events of January 20, 1990.