Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

The Azerbaijani government has approved a plan of events on the 23rd anniversary of the January 20 tragedy -- whose victims will be commemorated in Azerbaijan and far beyond, Azertag state news agency reported.

Hundreds of civilians were crushed or injured by the Soviet troops in Baku on January 20, 1990, on an order from the USSR leadership that was trying to maintain the Communist regime in Azerbaijan and strangle the national liberation movement.

The order issued by the Presidential Administration's head envisages holding events, conferences, meetings, delivering lectures, and spreading materials about the tragic events in the leading mass media of the world including TV channels and internet.

According to the plan of events, Azerbaijani diplomatic missions and communities abroad will hold events to draw the attention of the world community to the bloody January developments and to bring the truth about the mass killings to world nations.

Humanitarian aid will be rendered to the families of the January 20 victims, amenities work will be carried out around the Alley of Martyrs where Azerbaijani heroes are buried, a special lesson will be given at all educational institutions, and the country's major religious confessions will conduct special religious ceremonies dedicated to the memory of the victims.

State flags of Azerbaijan will be lowered in the country on January 20 to mourn the victims. The victims will be commemorated by a minute of silence, and ships, cars and trains will sound horns at noon that day.