Azerbaijan.US
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on January 18 paid tribute to the victims of the January 20 tragedy by visiting Alley of Martyrs (Şəhidlər Xiyabanı) in Baku.
According to Azerbaijan.US, the head of state laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame memorial. The national anthem of Azerbaijan was performed during the ceremony.
January 20, 1990 – known in Azerbaijan as Black January – is regarded as one of the most tragic yet defining moments in the country’s modern history. On that night, Soviet troops entered Baku, resulting in the deaths of civilians and marking a turning point in Azerbaijan’s struggle for independence.
The events later came to symbolize national resistance, sacrifice, and the determination of the Azerbaijani people to secure sovereignty and freedom. The victims are honored as martyrs (shehids) who gave their lives for the country’s future.
A formal political and legal assessment of the tragedy was first issued under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev, who publicly condemned the actions taken against the Azerbaijani population. In 1994, January 20 was officially declared a national day of mourning.
The Azerbaijani state continues to provide social support to the families of the victims. Officials say the restoration of the country’s full sovereignty and territorial integrity is seen as a fulfillment of the aspirations for which the January 20 martyrs sacrificed their lives.
