Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 18 / Trend T.Jafarov /
Caucasus Muslims Office Chairman Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade and the heads of the non-Islamic religious communities operating in Azerbaijan have visited the Martyrs' Alley.
They laid wreaths at the monuments to the victims of the bloody events of Jan. 20, 1990, and read the prayers for the dead.
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, 6 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.
The day Jan. 20, 1990 was a heroic page in the history of Azerbaijan's struggle for freedom and territorial integrity.
The Jan. 20th tragedy affected the lives of thousands of innocent Azerbaijanis and demonstrated our inexorable spirit and pride as we fought against the Soviet policies that restricted our freedom. We achieved the independence that we had dreamed of for so many years before as a result.
Azerbaijan commemorates January 20th every year.
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