Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

Members of ANAS Presidium, heads of institute and organizations and a group of employees pilgrimaged the Martyrs Avenue on January 20 – National Day of Mourning. They put fresh carnations on graves of heroic sons of motherland, sacrificed themselves for independence of the country and territorial integrity, and expressed their deep respect for their memory.

26 years pass since January 20, heroism page of Azerbaijan people.

On night from January 19 to 20, 1990, armed forces of former Soviet Union committed unprecented massacre in Baku city, against civil people who tried to establish independence country and get own sovereignty. But this bloody crime could not break freedom desire, people gained independence even at the expense of the blood.

Twenty-six years ago, the crime fact that committed against the people is a terrible terror act carried out against humanism. 147 Azerbaijani citizens were killed, 638 wounded and injured, 841 people were arrested illegally in the tragedy, and actually, a number of international instruments on human rights, including the requirements of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were violated.

The day after bloody event, national leader Heydar Aliyev went to Permanent Consulate of Azerbaijan to Moscow, strongly condemned this brutality in the press conference, and boldly declared to the world causes of the massacre, its organizers, as well as names of the perpetrators.

After national leader Heydar Aliyev’s returning to power, tragedy gained political-legal status. In March of 1990, Milli Majlis made decision “on the tragic events in Baku on January 20, 1990”.

“Martyrs do not die, they live in our hearts forever”, - said President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and always focuses on perpetuating their memories, strengthening social conditions of families and takes measures in this direction.

Every year on the anniversary of the tragedy, millions of people visit the Martyrs Avenue in Baku, which is built on the highest point, commemorates the memory of heroes. National leader Heydar Aliyev’s thoughts in tribute to the memory of the martyrs come to mind: "The people who died in the January 20 are heroes, they are heroes of our nation. But their martyrdom is the symbol of our people’s heroism”.

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