US Congressman issues statement on 26th anniversary of 20 January
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Co-Chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus Steve Cohen made a statement on the 26th anniversary of 20 January tragedy.
The statement provides detailed information about the tragedy.
The US congressman said that on 20 January 1990, Soviet troops stormed Azerbaijan's capital city of Baku and attacked civilians in the city.
The congressman said that the January 20 tragedy united the Azerbaijani people and resulted with the declaration of independence in Azerbaijan. He also said Azerbaijan turned to rapidly developing country, adding democratic values and free market economy were established in the country.
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 the growing independence movement and to prevent 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.
Some 137 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 country.
The 20th of January, 1990 is marked in the modern history of Azerbaijan as one of the most tragic days of the country, and at the same time as a heroic page.
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