World Azerbaijanis commemorate 20th anniversary of Black January

Opening the event, Ambassador Yashar Aliyev said on January 20, 1990, the Soviet troops invaded Baku killing and injuring hundreds of innocent and defenseless people.

The diplomat noted that thanks to national leader Heydar Aliyev the tragedy was given political and legal assessment.

In Tehran, a commemorative event organized by the Azerbaijani Embassy brought together members of the Azerbaijani community in the country and workers of foreign embassies functioning here.

Ambassador Javanshir Akhundov made a speech at the event, condemning the leadership of the former Soviet Union which ordered the massacre.
The Ambassador also stressed national leader Heydar Aliyev`s role in making it possible to give a legal and political assessment to this bloody and tragic action.

The event also featured a documentary on the tragedy.
In Syria, Azerbaijan`s Embassy hosted an event which was attended by representatives of the community.

Speakers at the event briefed the participants on the Azerbaijani people`s struggle for independence and freedom. They condemned the Soviet leadership`s actions against the Azerbaijani people.

A commemorative event to mark the 20th anniversary of the Black January was organized in Tbilisi.

Making a speech at the event, Azerbaijani ambassador to Georgia Namig Aliyev spoke of history of the tragedy.

The diplomat pointed out the day after the tragedy happened, national leader Heydar Aliyev came to permanent representation of Azerbaijan in Moscow, and held there a press conference overtly condemning the Soviet leadership`s actions against the Azerbaijani people.

The Ambassador praised President Ilham Aliyev`s role in bringing the realities behind the January 20 massacre and Azerbaijanis` genocide to the world community.

In Turkmenistan, the Azerbaijani Embassy lowered the state flag to pay tribute to the January 20 victims, and hosted a commemorative event.

Ambassador Elkhan Huseynov described the 20 January events as a “grave crime” against the Azerbaijani people.

He said only national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev gave political and legal assessment to the events.

The diplomat also hailed President Ilham Aliyev`s keeping problems of martyrs families in focus of attention.

The event participants saw a documentary featuring the tragedy.
The Association of Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Uzbekistan hosted a commemorative event which was attended by members of the community and journalists.

Speaking at the event, chairman of the Association Akif Agatalibov briefed participants on the history of the tragedy. He called the January 20 events “one of the most tragic days in Azerbaijan`s history”.

In Ankara, Azerbaijan`s Embassy has organized an event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 20 January tragedy.

The Embassy also sent data concerning the facts on the tragedy to foreign representation accredited in the country.

Azerbaijani students in Turkey have organized a series of events to honor memory of the martyrs.

In addition, Turkey-based TRT channel has demonstrated a documentary featuring the tragedy.

Azerbaijan`s consulate general in Kars has arranged an event to commemorate anniversary of the 20 January tragedy.

Consul-General Hasan Zeynalov spoke of the history of the massacre.
The diplomat noted the day after the tragedy happened, national leader Heydar Aliyev held a press conference in Azerbaijan`s representation in Moscow where he openly condemned the Soviet leadership`s actions against the innocent and defenseless people of Azerbaijan on 20 January, 1990.

Azerbaijan`s permanent representation to the Council of Europe has arranged an event to honor the memory of martyrs.

The country`s permanent representative to CoE Arif Mammadov spoke of the history of the Azerbaijani people`s struggle for independence and freedom. The diplomat condemned the 20 January events as a “grave crime” against the Azerbaijani people.

The event participants also saw an exhibition featuring the tragedy.
An event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 20 January tragedy was held in the Azerbaijan Trade and Cultural Center in Washington with support of the country`s embassy.

The event brought together U.S. officials, members of the Azerbaijani and Turkish communities and journalists.

The event was addressed by executive director of the U.S. - Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce Mahir Isgandarov, the embassy`s official Khazar Ibrahim and founding editor of the Azerbaijan International Magazine Betty Blair.

They spoke of the history of the Azerbaijani people`s struggle for independence and freedom.

Azerbaijan`s Embassy in the Netherlands has organized an exhibition featuring the 20 January tragedy.

The event brought together heads of diplomatic representations in the country, members of the Azerbaijani community and journalists.

Ambassador Fuad Iskandarov made a speech at the event which was followed by a documentary on the Black January.

Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu made a speech at the Lomonosov Moscow State University on the 20 January tragedy. He said on that day in 1990, the Soviet troops entered Baku to suppress the people`s movement as a result of which 137 innocent people were killed.

/AzerTac/

The ambassador noted the event went down the Azerbaijan history as “Black January.”