AZERBAIJAN will commemorate “Black January Night” on Jan. 20 to remember the victims of the Soviet attack on its capital, Baku, 27 years ago.
“This unforgettable massacre, grave crime against the humanity is commemorated with pain, every year,” said Elmira Suleymanova, Ajerbaijan’s commissioner for Human Rights or Ombudsman.
“This is not only a day of commemoration of pain, but also a day of commemoration of our martyrs, and of solidarity, proud and honor of our people fighting for the integrity of the country,” she added.
On the night of Jan. 20, 1990, 26,000 Soviet troops invaded Baku, killing 147 unarmed civilians including elderly, women and children and injuring 744 persons. Hundreds also went missing and 841 persons were unlawfully imprisoned.
In addition, hundreds of buildings were destroyed, causing both the state and its citizens to suffer amid huge material damages.
However, Suleymanova said the incident failed to break the will of the Azerbaijan people, inspiring them to fight for their independence, which they regained in 1991.
After Heydar Aliyev assumed the presidency in 1993, he issued a decree ordering the parliament to declare Jan. 20 as a Day of Mourning, which is commemorated in the country each year.