Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan
The victims included elderly people, women, children, and even medical personnel. The killings were indiscriminate, with the slain including Azerbaijanis, Russians, Jews and Tartars. In addition to the massacre in Baku, killings took place in the Lenkaran and Neftchala regions of Azerbaijan, claiming the lives of 26 people.
Mikhail Gorbachev on 27 April 1997 commented that: “Proclaiming the state of emergency in Baku and sending an army to the city was the biggest mistake of my political life.
President of Azerbaijan H.E. Ilham Aliyev paid a tribute to 20 January shahids in Martyrs’ Lane on this National Morning Day. He visited the graves of shahids and laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument. Government officials, foreign diplomats and members of the public visit Martyrs’ Avenue, where the victims of the 20 January tragedy are buried. A variety of events conferences, round tables, photo exhibitions and documentary screenings were held in many countries.
At the same time Azerbaijani media published articles dedicated to the January 20 tragedy. Azerbaijanis living in countries throughout Europe held a variety of events dedicated to the January 20 anniversary.
In 1994, the National Assembly of Azerbaijan approved a full political and legal report evaluating the Black January events. On 16 December 1999, the former President Heydar Aliyev declared that all victims of Black January would be awarded the honorary title of 20 yanvar s?hidi “Martyrs of 20th January”. The memorial called “Martyr’s Lane” was constructed to preserve the memories about those who lost their lives. Every year Azeris come to lay flowers and remember the struggle for independence.
Heydar Aliyev came to the Azerbaijan SSR’s office in Moscow and fiercely denounced the bloodshed. The father and former President of Azerbaijan stood against all odds and condemned this attack as crime against humanity while even living in Moscow at that time. He extended his support to people. He fought bravely for the independence of his beloved country and ultimately succeeded to achieve it.
His defiance helped to inspire the Azerbaijani people and Aliyev became a leader of the struggle for liberty. The force could not stop the people of Azerbaijan from seeking their freedom. In fact, it only increased their resolve to re-establish a free and independent Azerbaijan. His defiance helped to inspire the Azerbaijani people and Aliyev became a leader of the struggle for liberty.
The journey of Azerbaijan people towards independence and preserving of the territorial integrity of their country began in 1988 and eventually developed into a national liberation movement. The failure of the USSR government to envision renewed Armenian claims on Azerbaijan’s territory, and separatist activities in Nagorno-Karabakh, further bolstered the people’s national liberation spirit. Thousands of people protesting against the policy of the USSR held demonstrations all day long in the central square and the streets of Baku. The leaders of the Soviet empire perpetrated the Jan. 20 massacre in Azerbaijan, a republic with strengthening tendencies toward independence.
January 20, 1990 symbolizes the superiority of human traits over state terrorism. It upholds the true pictures of heroism and horrendous crime. It projects the purity of self-determination over the power of destruction. It values the importance of sacrifice and courage in order to achieve larger than life goals i.e. independence. Today, Azerbaijan’s freedom is solid and irrevocable which is the blessing of departed souls of January 20, 1990 martyrs
Black January showcased Azeri people’s supreme human values which enforced former USSR to withdraw from their soils and ultimately they got independence. It was the bloods of so many innocent people which blasted the military supremacy of the former USSR. Humanity won and horrendous crimes defeated and destroyed.
Life has totally changed and it is because of its visionary leaders and hardworking people. Now Azerbaijan stands for socio-economic prosperity, diversification, culturalism hub, and above all investments. It is now city of arts, hospitality, dialogue, diplomacy and development.
Concluded
