A Commemorative event dedicated to the 32nd anniversary of the “January 20” tragedy has been held at Baku Engineering University (BEU).

At first, the Rector of BEU professor Havar Mammadov and the attendees  viewed the exhibition dedicated to the beloved memory of martyrs.

A video clip featuring the tragedy of “January 20” was demonstrated after a minute of silence in memory of the martyrs who had died for the freedom, independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,  and  the State anthem was played.

Speaking at a commemorative event, the Rector Havar Mammadov stressed that the tragedy of January 20, marked as a Day of National Mourning,  played an important role in the history of the independence of Azerbaijan. The  Rector mentioned that an unprecedented crime commited under the instruction of the leadership of the USSR on the night of  January 19-20 ,1990, the brutal murder of innocent people could not oppress the determination of Azerbaijani people  to struggle for  their independence. Noting that Azerbaijani people had already demonstrated their invincibility, heroism, loyalty to the motherland, determination and will to fight for freedom,  he emphasized that the events of “January 20”, engraved on the bloody memory of our nation as a horrific tragedy,  was also one of the  glorious pages of our heroic history.

Stressing  that the event gained true political and legal evaluation only after the National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s return to power, the Rector mentioned the National Leader’s  visit to the Permanent Representation of Azerbaijan to Moscow together with his family members . He  denounced murderous actions of Soviet troops in Baku and sharply condemned Soviet leadership for committing the bloody tragedy by exposing the bloody policy pursued by them.

Pointing out the commemoration of another anniversary of “January 20” tragedy for the second time in a new reality as a victorious nation, Havar Mammadov outlined that the historic victory of Azerbaijani army in the 44-day Patriotic War under the leadership of our Victorious Commander –in- Chief, President Ilham Aliyev made the souls of our martyrs rest in peace. 

 In his speech the Azerbaijani MP, doctor of political sciences, Professor Elman Nasirov by touching upon the main factors leading to the tragedy of “January 20”, put forward the territorial claims of Armenia to Azerbaijan and the pro-Armenian policy of the leadership of the USSR.  He enumerated historical facts starting from the february of 1988, such as  expulsion of more than 200.000  of our compatriots  from Armenia by force and torture , the killing of 32 and the  wounding of 166 Azerbaijani citizens  as a result of shelling on the Azerbaijani bordes. The MP stated that Kremlin gave a legal assessment to the illegal and  inhuman actions of Armenia, and instead of punishing the criminals it opted for the policy of seducing the offender. E.Nasirov mentioned on the policy and its consequences that created an atmosphere of mistrust and a wave of nation wide protests against the pro-Armenian leadership of the USSR in Azerbaijan,noting that if the leadership and opposition of Azerbaijan could demonstrate the ability of putting national interests above their personal interests, and if it had not taken anti-national and provocative steps, Moscow’s chances of implementing bloody scenarios against the Azerbaijani people could have been diminished.

 Stressing the processes of that period in a chronological order, he expressed his views on the responsibility of the US, another world superpower, for the tragedy of January 20, committed by the leadership of the USSR. At the same time he mentioned on domestic and international, political and legal assessment of this crime against humanity.

Adding that the issue related to the tragedy of “January 20” gained full political and legal assessment at the state level thanks to the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, he expressed his deep regret on the fact that, the crime had been given the necessary political and legal assessment in the international arena and perpetrators of the tragedy had not been brought to international justice and received blameworthy punishment yet. 

E. Nasirov brought to the attention the measures taken for strenghthening social protection of the disabled and martyrs’ families in connection with the events of “January 20”.

Humbat Aliyev, Head of the Department of Mathematics and Informatics, the participant of the First Karabakh War, in his concluding speech touched upon some points and historical facts regarding the issues of “January 20”,  and emphasized that the memory of the victims of the “January 20” tragedy , one of the glorious pages of our history, will stay in the hearts of our people forever.

Public Relations Department