Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The 24^th anniversary of the heinous bloodshed which claimed lives of hundreds of people in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, is being commemorated on January 20.

Azerbaijani people pay tribute every year, on this day, to the victims of the January events, which went down in Azerbaijan's history as the Black January.

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

The invasion was launched at midnight and was committed with brutality; even children, women and the elderly were not spared.

As a result of the intrusion of troops into Baku and regions of the country, 133 people were killed, 611 wounded, 841 illegally arrested, and five went missing.

Though the Azerbaijani people suffered military, moral and political aggression, they displayed their ability to maintain the traditions of historical heroism and resist the cruelest attacks for the sake of the freedom and independence of their motherland, even at the cost of losing their lives. The heroic sons of the motherland perished on January 20, 1990 while defending the freedom and independence of Azerbaijan and with their bravery made history in the chronicles of the country.

20^th January of 1990 is a day, which was registered in the history as a heroism page for the freedom and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

As a result of it, Azerbaijan gained independence, which it had been dreaming of many years and achieved sovereignty.

Subsequently, Azerbaijan declared independence on October 18, 1991. And today the Azerbaijanis are proud of those who are ready to perish for the sake of their people's national identity.

Under the decrees of the President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev dated December 16, 1999, all the victims of the crackdown were awarded the title "Martyrs of January 20."