Politics

Thirty-six years after the Black January tragedy, Azerbaijan remembers the victims of the January 20, 1990 crackdown, when Soviet troops used military force against civilians in Baku, killing dozens and accelerating the country’s national liberation movement.

The United States has welcomed Azerbaijan’s recent steps to strengthen peace and confidence in the South Caucasus, praising fuel shipments to Armenia as an important gesture and reaffirming support for ongoing diplomatic efforts between Baku and Washington.

Azerbaijani political analyst Elchin Aliogly warns that the idea of a so-called “Greater Azerbaijan” is not a realistic nation-building project but a dangerous geopolitical trap.

President Ilham Aliyev paid tribute to the victims of the January 20 tragedy by visiting Shehidlar Alley in Baku, honoring the civilians killed during the 1990 crackdown that became a defining moment in Azerbaijan’s struggle for independence.

Political analyst says Iran is entering a phase of instability driven by a deep systemic crisis rather than a temporary protest wave, warning that the consequences will extend beyond Iran and affect the security environment of the wider region, including the South Caucasus.

Iran is no longer facing a temporary crisis but a structural dead end. Military pressure has failed, repression has lost its impact, and the political system offers no clear path forward - raising the risk of a far more destructive reckoning ahead.