Black January tragedy in spotlight of Korean media
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijan’s Black January tragedy, considered as one of the worst crimes against humanity was highlighted in Korean media.
The Korea Post newspaper published an article on this tragedy in collaboration with Azerbaijani Embassy in Seoul.
The newspaper widely covered the bloody crime committed against Azerbaijani people by the Soviet troops.
Twentyfive years have passed since the January events that went down in the history of Azerbaijan as a “Black January.”
On January 20, 26,000 strong Soviet troops entered the Azerbaijani capital Baku from several directions, invading the city in a desperate, brutal and yet futile attempt to strangle a growing independence movement, to prevent from the fall of the Soviet Communist regime in Azerbaijan and punish ordinary people who had rallied on the streets to voice their legitimate protest against the violation of their homeland's territorial integrity.
“Looking to the background of the massacre by the Soviet troops, it is clearly understood that this military operation was totally planned and calculated act. This aggression against Azerbaijani people was fulfilled step by step,” the Korean newspaper wrote.
On that tragic night of January 19, Azerbaijan was isolated from the world. The USSR State Security Committee's "Alfa" group exploded the energy block of the Azerbaijani television to stop it from broadcasting, and the press was silenced. People were not aware of the emergency situation announced in Baku and all those on the streets were killed brutally.
Also, foreigners were not allowed to enter the city. Western reporters were banned from traveling to Baku to cover the events.
On that tragic night, tanks and armored vehicles crushed everything they met on the streets of Baku, and soldiers opened fire ruthlessly. Not only the people on the streets, but also those on the buses and in their homes were shot dead. The Soviet soldiers also fired at ambulances and the medical staff who rushed to help the wounded.
Some 133 people were killed, 611 were wounded, 841 were illegally arrested, and five went missing as a result of the intrusion of Soviet troop into Baku and other regions of the country.
The Korean newspaper noted that this tragedy was a turning point in the history of Azerbaijan.
“Despite being subjected to military, political and moral aggression, Azerbaijani national movement succeeded to stand against Soviet challenge, and the Soviet forces eventually had to withdrawn from Baku,” the Korea Post wrote.
Azerbaijan gained independence it had been dreaming of for many years, and achieved sovereignty. Azerbaijan declared its independence on October 18, 1991.
Under a decree of the President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev dated December 16, 1999, all the victims of the crackdown were awarded with the title "Martyrs of January 20."
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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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