Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 18 / Trend News A.Huseynbala /

Azerbaijan believes the perpetrators of the Jan. 20 tragedy should be brought to the International Criminal Tribunal.

"Although it is too late, the perpetrators of the Jan. 20 tragedy should be brought before the Hague Tribunal because it is important," opposition Grand Union Party MP Fazil Mustafa told Trend News today. 

The Soviet Army commenced military operations against Azerbaijan early morning Jan. 20, 1990 before declaring a state of emergency. The tragedy claimed the lives of 131 people, including 117 Azerbaijanis, six Russians, three Jews and three Tatars. Some 744 people were severely injured. Four went missing and 400 were arrested. Twenty one people were killed after a state of emergency was declared on Jan. 20. Twenty six people were killed in the Neftchala and Lankaran regions.

According to Mustafa, the Azerbaijani parliament has done much in this direction.

"The Azerbaijani parliament adopted the appropriate decisions. The documents reflect the names of the perpetrators. It is time to give a legal assessment of this tragedy and the governmental agencies must take all necessary steps," he added. 

According to him, parliamentary decisions should be invoked when addressing the Hague Tribunal.

"We must appeal to the international court for the legal assessment of the Jan.20 tragedy, without thinking about the result," Sabir Rustamkhanli, Civil Solidarity Party chairman, told Trend News today.

According to him, there is no better way to bring to the attention of the international community the tragedy committed by the Soviet empire against the Azerbaijani people.

"I welcome the Caucasian Muslims Department head's initiative. The participants of the slaughter and those indirectly guilty were interviewed after the tragedy. Using this interview, as well as other documents we can prepare a very serious appeal," Rustamkhanli said.

Rustamkhanli said that former USSR president Mikhail Gorbachev, as well as other people committed the crime.

"Gorbachev signed the decree to bring troops in Baku on Jan.15. We know everyone associated with this crime. All the undeniable facts established by documents and proving the crime committed by the former USSR leadership, should be sent to the international court," the MP said.

"I really highly appreciate and support the initiative to bring the perpetrators of the 20 January tragedy to the Hague Tribunal", MP, Ana Vatan Party Chairman Fazail Agamali told Trend News today.

According to Agamali, the relevant government agencies should pay attention to the Caucasian Muslims Department head's initiative to accelerate this process. "I think that the issues should be investigated once more from a legal point of view. The concrete steps should be taken," he said.

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