Black January victims commemorated in Israel
By Sara Rajabova
Haifa University of Israel has organized an event to commemorate the victims of the tragic events of January 20, 1990, in Baku, when tens of civil residents were killed by special troops of the Soviet Army.
The evening was organized by the Association of Azerbaijan-Israel (AZIZ), Heydar Aliyev Fund, the Institute of Studying Iran and Countries of the Persian Gulf.
Ahead of the event, an exhibition of unique photos by the former resident of Baku Boris Dobin was presented in a hall of the House of Students in Haifa.
Director of the Institute of Studying Iran and Countries of the Persian Gulf, Professor Sami Shahvar welcomed the event participants.
Emil Abramoff, a researcher of the Institute, presented a detailed report on January events of 1990 in Baku.
Relatives of three Jews who were killed by soldiers at that night along with other residents of the city - doctor Alexander Markhevka, 17-year old Vera Bessantina, and businessman Yan Meyerovich were present at the evening.
Representatives of the deceased's families expressed gratitude to AZIZ and leadership of Azerbaijan for remembering their relatives and financial support which is provided by the Azerbaijani government.
The participants watched episodes of the movie by Andron Konchalosvky, "Burden of Power", devoted to the awful events which happened 24 years ago. For native Israelis the movie was revelation, but for former Baku residents the events are a non-healing wound; and many people were glad to share their memories.
Tanks going over dead bodies, streets drenched in blood, armored vehicles shooting at peaceful residents - all these events of the past revived in the memory of those who came to the House of Students on January 20, 2014.
The photographer Boris Dobin gifted the unique photos to Heydar Aliyev Fund, as the fund could use it to tell the world truth about the tragic events which led to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Late at night on January 20, 1990, some 26,000 Soviet special forces called "Alfa" entered Baku without declaring a state of emergency and committed atrocities against the innocent Azerbaijani people. The invasion was launched at midnight and was committed with brutality; even children, women, and the elderly were not spared.
A total of 133 people were killed, 611 were wounded, 841 were illegally arrested, and five went missing as a result of the intrusion of troops into Baku and other regions of the republic.