The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan issued a statement on January 20 - National Day of Mourning.
The statement received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of APA reads:
"On January 20, 2023, on the night of January 19-20, 1990, as a result of the military aggression against Azerbaijan by the units of the Soviet Army and special forces, as well as a contingent of internal troops, by the order of the leadership of the USSR, peaceful protests took place in the cities of Baku and Sumgait, Lankaran and Neftchala. a massacre was committed against the population, including children, women and the elderly.
As a result of the military aggression of the occupying forces, 149 civilians were killed, 744 people were seriously injured, and 4 people went missing.
the discriminatory policy of the USSR leadership against the people of Azerbaijan,
In response to the deportation of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from their historical lands in the territory of Armenia and Armenia's groundless territorial claims against Karabakh, the Soviet army, which was introduced into the country in order to forcefully suppress the mass protests and the national liberation movement initiated by the Azerbaijani people, grossly violated international law and the Constitution, and committed an unprecedented massacre against the civilian population. caused.
Immediately after the tragic events, on January 21, 1990, national leader Heydar Aliyev demonstrated his solidarity with the Azerbaijani people at the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan in Moscow, sharply condemned this crime committed against the Azerbaijani people, demanded a political and legal evaluation of the massacre, and the punishment of the perpetrators.
In the special session of the Milli Majlis held in February 1994, the brutal killing of innocent people on January 20, 1990 was assessed as military aggression and a crime, and in March 1994 "On the tragic events committed in Baku on January 20, 1990" the decision was made.
January 20 - National Day of Mourning was announced.
The January 20 tragedy had a decisive impact on the formation of Azerbaijan's national identity and was a turning point in the restoration of Azerbaijan's state independence.
33 years ago, the people of Azerbaijan, who were subjected to military, political and moral aggression by the Soviet regime, showed that they are loyal to their historical struggle traditions.
On that bloody day, the children of the motherland, who lost their lives in the defense of justice, wrote a bright page in the annals of heroism of our nation.
In addition to the tragedy in our history,
On January 20, 1990, which was marked as a day of national pride, the people of Azerbaijan conveyed to the whole world that they deserve to live free, sovereign and independent.
Despite the fact that 33 years have passed, international legal assessment has not been given to the events of January 20, which are one of the most terrible crimes committed in the 20th century, in which all international legal documents were grossly violated.
The leadership of the former Soviet Union is directly responsible for this crime.
According to international law, the January 20 tragedy should be described as a crime against humanity, and its perpetrators and perpetrators should be punished.
Today, the spirit of our heroic martyrs who died for the independence of Azerbaijan, as well as for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, is happy.
The brave Azerbaijani Army under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Muzaffar,
Within 30 years, our territories occupied by the enemy were liberated, and the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was restored.
The steps against the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan will be adequately answered from now on.
We once again commemorate with deep sadness the dear memory of our compatriots who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of our country, the freedom of our people and the independence of our state."