Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 20 / Trend , E.Rustamov/
The day Jan. 20 is a national mourning day for Azerbaijanis both in Azerbaijan and abroad, member of parliament Ganira Pashayeva said in Dmanisi, Georgia, on Jan. 20.
An event was held in Dmanisi on Jan. 19 commemorating the anniversary of the tragic events of Jan. 20, 1990. The event was attended by the local Azerbaijani community, members of the Azerbaijani parliament Ganira Pashayeva and Havva Mammadova, representatives of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Georgia, and the head of Socar's Georgian office. According to Pashayeva, all Azerbaijanis should mark this tragic event regardless of where they live. "The acts of the Soviet authorities aimed to suppress our national liberation movement," she said. "It is not only a day of tragedy, but also a day of heroism, a battle for Azerbaijan's independence. They showed that we must struggle when necessary for our homeland and people." Younger generations did not witness the events, but must understand their essence, Pashayeva added. "We bow our heads before the victims and hope our people never see such a day again," she said.
The Soviet army launched an aggressive military attack against the Azerbaijani people on Jan. 20, 1990, as thousands of Azerbaijanis took to the streets in Baku to protest Armenia's territorial claims against the country. The Soviet military operations resulted in an unprecedented tragedy.
The day was a heroic page in the history of Azerbaijan's struggle for freedom and territorial integrity. The valiant sons and daughters of Azerbaijan sacrificed their lives to place the country's freedom, honor and dignity above all.
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 132 people, including 117 Azerbaijanis. 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.
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