Baku, 19 January 2023 (TDI): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan shared an official statement on the occasion of the National Mourning Day i.e. 20 January.
The day is commemorated to honor the martyrs of January 20th, 1990, when the Soviet military forces brutally attacked the civilian population of Azerbaijan, resulting in 150 deaths and 744 injuries.
This was because the leadership of the then Soviet Union had ordered the aggression to suppress mass protests as well as the national independence movement in Azerbaijan, which was sparked by discrimination and territorial claims.
Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of Azerbaijan condemned the crime and demanded accountability for the perpetrators.
Along these lines, in 1994, the Azerbaijani parliament officially declared the events of military aggression and crime and designated January 20th as a National Mourning Day.
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It is pertinent to note that the tragedy had a significant impact on the formation of Azerbaijan’s national identity and was a turning point in the country’s journey toward independence.
However, despite 33 years passing, the events have yet to be given an international legal assessment and the leadership of the former Soviet Union is held responsible.
Nevertheless, Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity has been restored and any actions against the country’s independence and sovereignty will be met with resistance.
On this day, the country remembers with sadness the sacrifice of those who lost their lives for the freedom and independence of Azerbaijan.
