A commemorative event dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the "January 20 tragedy" was held at the Institute of Biophysics

A commemorative event dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the "January 20 tragedy" was held at the Institute of Biophysics.

The event began with a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom, independence, and territorial integrity of our homeland. Opening the event, the institute’s executive director, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Karim Gasimov, spoke about the essence of the January 20 tragedy, emphasizing its significance in our national memory and the importance of conveying these truths to future generations. He also shared his personal memories with the participants.

Following this, Gunay Aliyeva, a junior researcher at the Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Laboratory and a member of the Trade Union, delivered a speech on the tragedy. She provided detailed information about the bloody events that occurred in Baku on January 20, 1990, stating that this day has gone down in history as "Black January."

It was also noted that on the night of January 19–20, 1990, Soviet military forces brutally massacred peaceful civilians in Baku. This horrific event could not extinguish the people's desire for freedom, and as a result, Azerbaijan regained its independence. During the massacre, 147 people were martyred, 638 were injured, and 841 were unlawfully detained. This crime flagrantly violated international law, including the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The event also recalled the immediate response of national leader Heydar Aliyev, who held a press conference at Azerbaijan's permanent mission in Moscow to strongly condemn this atrocity. His courageous stance at that time was highlighted as one of the fundamental pillars of Azerbaijan’s struggle for freedom.

In conclusion, it was emphasized that the January 20 tragedy is a proud chapter in our nation’s history, reflecting the spirit of struggle and national unity. Every year on this date, millions of people visit the Alley of Martyrs to pay deep respect to the memory of the martyrs. In 2000, national leader Heydar Aliyev issued a decree establishing the honorary title of "January 20 Martyr," and January 20 was declared a National Day of Mourning.

May God rest the souls of all our martyrs in peace!