Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan. 20 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia /
The Azerbaijani Embassy in Georgia in cooperation with the governmental bodies held events on the 21st anniversary of the January 20 tragedy. The participants of the events commemorated the victims of Bloody January 1990, as well as heroes of Georgia killed in Tbilisi in April 1989.
Fraternal Georgian and Azerbaijani peoples passed a heroic way to freedom together. They had to fight together with the cruelty of totalitarianism.
A round table on the anniversary of the bloody events was organized with participation of the leadership of the district, public members of the region, as well as diplomatic corps in Gardabani on Jan. 17.
The event was organized with participation of the leadership of Kvemo Kartli region, embassy representatives and members of the local community in Marneuli on Jan. 18.
The wreaths were laid to the bust of national leader Heydar Aliyev in Tbilisi on Jan. 19. Despite the danger to his life, he visited the permanent representation of Azerbaijan in Moscow on Jan. 21, 1990 and held a press conference. He expressed a strong protest to the leadership of the USSR for inhumane attitude towards Azerbaijani people
A round table was held with representatives of Azerbaijani and Georgian intelligentsia. A film about the events of those years was demonstrated. Azerbaijani MP Elmira Akhundova participated in the event.
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.