By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo
The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Diplomacy Journal for publication. -- Ed.
On 20 January 2025, it will be 35 years since the military assault against the people of Azerbaijan and an unprecedented massacre targeting civilians by the former Soviet regime in breach of international law.
Towards the end of the 1980s, the former Soviet Union’s disregard for Armenia's illegal territorial claims against our country, deportation of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from their ancestral lands in present-day Armenia, and inciting ethnic riots for backing separatist activities in Azerbaijan's Garabagh region, further stimulated the rise of the national independence movement against the Soviet regime in Azerbaijan.
On the night of 19-20 January 1990 as a result of military aggression by units and special forces of Soviet Army as well as contingents of internal troops against Azerbaijan, massacres intending forcibly suppressing national independence movement in Azerbaijan were carried out against civilians, including women, children, and the elderly in Azerbaijani cities Baku, Sumgayit, Lankaran and Neftchala. Military aggression of the occupying forces claimed the lives of 150 citizens, severely wounded 744 others, and 4 people went missing.
On 21 January 1990, immediately after the tragedy, at the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan in Moscow, National Leader of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev was able to break through the Soviet regime’s information blockade revealing this heinous crime against Azerbaijani civilians, and convey the world community the truth about the massacres.
20 January tragedy had a decisive impact on shaping the Azerbaijani national identity and marked a historic turning point in the restoration of independence of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani people who were exposed to the military, political, and moral aggression of the Soviet regime 35 years ago, demonstrated devotion to their historical traditions of struggle. On 20 January 1990, which was marked in the country’s history as a day of tragedy, as well as of national pride, Azerbaijani people conveyed to the world that they deserve to live free, sovereign and independent.
Following the return of Azerbaijani National Leader Heydar Aliyev to power, at the special session of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) held in February 1994 the brutal killing of innocent people on 20 January 1990 was qualified as military aggression and a crime, and in March 1994 a decision “On the tragic events committed in Baku on 20 January 1990” was adopted.
The 35th anniversary of the January 20 tragedy, which backfired by becoming the peak of the national independence movement, occurs at a historical time for Azerbaijan, since the country has fully restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty following the 44-day Patriotic War as well as the local counter-terrorism measures on 19-20 September 2023.
Azerbaijani people commemorate with deep respect and gratitude the memory of those who lost their lives for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of their motherland.