A commemorative event has been held at Baku Engineering University (BEU) on the 35th anniversary of the January 20 tragedy.

After a minute of silence had been observed in memory of our martyrs and the National Anthem had been played, a video clip on the events of January 20 was demonstrated.

Speaking at the commemorative event, Rector Yagub Piriyev noted that the events of January 20 are forever etched in the memory of our people, and the memory of the heroic Azerbaijani children who sacrificed their lives while holding the freedom, honor and dignity of our homeland above all else lives in our hearts. Stating that the tragedy was written in the history of mankind as one of the most serious crimes committed against humanity, the Rector called January 20 a symbol of our people's struggle for freedom and invincible will, a day of honor, and a page of heroism.

Yagub Piriyev emphasized that the first political assessment of the tragedy was given by the prominent statesman Heydar Aliyev. He mentioned that the world-famous politician Heydar Aliyev, despite being purposefully removed from all positions in the USSR and kept under strict surveillance, came to the permanent representation of Azerbaijan in Moscow a day after the incident, putting his life in danger, and openly declared that the tragedy was contrary to international law and the principles of humanism and a gross political mistake made due to the betrayal of political leaders. Stressing that the Great Leader signed historical decisions to give a political and legal assessment to the tragedy after returning to power in Azerbaijan, the rector said that measures were taken to strengthen the social protection of the families of the martyrs and those who were disabled in the incident.

Yagub Piriyev pointed out that after the liberation of our lands from occupation under the leadership of the Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and the writing of the name of Azerbaijan in history as a victorious state, the souls of all our martyrs are happy.

In his speech, Professor of the Department of Social Sciences Abbas Seyidov recalled the complex period in which the events took place in chronological order, and drew attention to the path leading to the January 20 events with historical facts.

At the end, Boyukkhanim Ibrahimova, a 3rd year student of the "Information Technologies" specialty, added that the heroism of those who died during the tragedy created an example of patriotism for young people, awakened a sense of national identity in them, and in this regard, January 20 is a symbol of freedom.

Public Relations Department