20 JANUARY / 2024 / 09:40
The 34th anniversary of Black January marks a significant turning point on Azerbaijan's path to independence. This period is a proud chapter in the nation's history, showcasing the people's readiness to sacrifice everything in defense of their homeland's freedom, honor, and dignity. On that dreadful night, the patriotic sons and daughters of Azerbaijan ascended to martyrdom, prioritizing the liberty and honor of their land and people above all else.
The gunfire that night changed the course of history, becoming a defining moment for national awakening and the freedom movement. On the night of January 19 to 20, 1990, by the direct order of Mikhail Gorbachev, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, military units from the USSR Ministry of Defence, the State Security Committee, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs were deployed to Baku and several Azerbaijani regions. The peaceful population was subjected to mass shootings using heavy machinery and various types of weapons, resulting in a premeditated military atrocity. In mid-January 1990, over 66,000 soldiers and officers from the USSR's defence and internal affairs ministries, along with other special military units, were brought to Baku and stationed at Qala and "Nasosnaya" airfields, the Republic stadium, and the Salyan barracks. The deployed forces included Armenian officers and soldiers mobilized from Stavropol, Rostov, and Krasnodar, as well as Armenian military cadets.
Defying the threats, the National Leader Heydar Aliyev protested against the Soviet regime's actions, providing the first political and legal assessment of the bloody tragedy inflicted upon the Azerbaijani people. On January 21, 1990, despite the Soviet regime's prohibitions and risking his life, Heydar Aliyev visited the Permanent Representation of Azerbaijan in Moscow, condemning the organizers of the bloody massacre before the international community. He courageously exposed the massacre as a gross political mistake against law, democracy, and humanism, facilitated by the negligence of Moscow and republican leaders.
To immortalize the memory of the sons and daughters martyred in January 1990, ensure their names are honored, and strengthen the social protection of their families and children, President Ilham Aliyev has taken significant steps. Based on the Presidential Decree dated January 19, 2006, "On the establishment of the Azerbaijan Republic President’s scholarship for the family of the January 20 martyr," scholarships have been provided to the families of martyrs to increase state care. Besides repair and reconstruction works at the Martyrs' Lane, where they rest, a memorial complex in memory of the January 20 martyrs has been erected at the "January 20" circle in the Yasamal district of Baku, at the intersection of Hasan bey Zardabi and Muzaffar Hasanov streets.
The Azerbaijani people do not forget the sons and daughters who, in January 1990, faced armored vehicles bare-handed for the freedom of Azerbaijan and sacrificed their lives for the country's independence. Every year on January 20, at 12:00, a minute of silence is observed across Azerbaijan to honor the memory of the January 20 martyrs. Signals are sounded from ships, vehicles, and trains, and state flags are lowered as a sign of mourning. The events of Bloody January are not only a tragic moment for the Azerbaijani people but also a glorious chapter in the history of a nation willing to sacrifice everything for its dignity.
As National Leader Heydar Aliyev stated, although this aggression deeply shook our people morally and led to significant losses, it could not trample our spirit or break our pride. It has been eternally engraved as a new chapter in our history of heroism and marked the beginning of a new phase in Azerbaijan's journey towards independence. Following the initiative and instructions of the Great Leader, the National Assembly adopted a resolution on March 29, 1994, regarding the tragic events of January 20, 1990, in Baku. Despite the complexity of the times, Heydar Aliyev also engaged in investigating the causes and perpetrators of the January 20 tragedy, leading to the revelation of the truth.
The empowerment of the Azerbaijani army and its equipping with the most modern combat weapons under the leadership of Ilham Aliyev, the worthy successor of the Great Leader and the head of state, has ensured that every inch of our land is freed from the enemy. The National Army has adequately responded to every aggression, ensuring that the blood of the martyred sons of the Motherland has not been shed in vain.
"Azerbaijan always highly appreciates the bravery of these heroic sons and daughters, shows respect to their souls, and forever holds their memory in high esteem," says Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
