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Memorial Event Honouring January 20 – National Day of Mourning Held at the Institute of Radiation Problems
A memorial event dedicated to January 20 – the National Day of Mourning was held today at the Institute of Radiation Problems of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The cherished memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and independence of the Motherland during the tragic events of 1990 was commemorated with deep respect and reverence.
Employees of the institute who were eyewitnesses to the crime committed against the Azerbaijani people — Bakhtiyar Najafov, Nizami Rzayev, Oktay Salamov, and others — shared their recollections of those tragic days. Although 36 years have passed since the “Bloody January” massacre, they recalled the events as vividly as if they had occurred only yesterday. The speakers emphasized that January 20 is not only a day of sorrow, but also a symbol of national pride and determination, noting that the martyrs of that day bequeathed the legacy of freedom to the Azerbaijani people.
Ravan Mehdiyeva highlighted that immediately after the tragedy, on January 21, 1990, the outstanding statesman and national leader Heydar Aliyev visited the Permanent Representation of Azerbaijan in Moscow, where he expressed solidarity with his people. He strongly condemned the decision of the USSR leadership to deploy troops to Baku, describing it as an act contrary to humanity, democracy, and the constitution, and demanded that those responsible be brought to justice. Following Heydar Aliyev’s return to political leadership, the Milli Majlis, on March 29, 1994, adopted the resolution “On the tragic events committed in Baku on January 20, 1990”, providing a legal and political assessment of the tragedy at the national level.
It was also noted that the “Eternal Flame” memorial complex in the Alley of Martyrs was constructed at the initiative of Heydar Aliyev as a tribute to the martyrs’ memory. Furthermore, by the decree signed on January 17, 2000, the sons and daughters who were martyred during the tragic January events of 1990 were posthumously awarded the honorary title of “January 20 Martyr.”
As part of the commemorative program, a documentary film dedicated to the events of that tragic night was screened.
The January 20 tragedy, which has become a symbol of the Azerbaijani people’s resilience and honor, stands as one of the most significant and painful pages of recent history. It demonstrated to the world the irreversibility of the nation’s struggle for freedom, democracy, and sovereignty, marking a decisive turning point in the national liberation movement. Despite the passage of 36 years since the mass massacre carried out by Soviet military units on the night of January 19–20, 1990, the Azerbaijani people continue to remember its grave consequences and honor with deep respect those who laid down their lives for the independence of the Motherland.
This brutal act, intended to suppress the Azerbaijani people’s aspiration for independence and to deal a blow to the national liberation movement, ultimately accelerated the collapse of the Soviet empire.
Today, the memory of January 20 is commemorated in a different spirit — as citizens of a Victorious Azerbaijan. The Patriotic War, launched on September 27, 2020, under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, who successfully continues the political course of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, ended in a historic Victory. The martyrs were avenged, and their sacrifice was not in vain. We honor their memory with sorrow, yet also with immense pride.
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