Memorial event dedicated to the 34rd anniversary of the National Mourning Day January 20 was held
19.01.2024 /The Institute of Control Systems (ICS) of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan held a memorial event dedicated to the 34th anniversary of the National Mourning Day January 20. The event was attended by the institute's administration, heads of departments and laboratories, scientists and specialists.
A minute of silence was observed to honor the memory of the victims of the tragedy. Then a video dedicated to the January 20 tragedy, prepared by the ICS staff, was shown.
Opening the event, General Director of ICS, Academician Ali Abbasov spoke in detail about the history and causes of the events of January 20, one of the most cruel and terrible crimes against humanity. He noted that on the night of 19-20 January, 1990, the Soviet regime, aiming to suppress the Azerbaijani people's determination and aspiration for freedom, undermine their unity, committed an unprecedented criminal act. Units of the Soviet army without warning entered Baku city and other areas, ruthlessly massacring the civilian population. As a result of this aggression 146 people were brutally killed, 744 people were wounded, more than 800 people were arrested.
Speaking about the course and consequences of the bloody January events, A. Abbasov said the strongest statement about the terrible genocide committed against the Azerbaijani people had been made by National Leader Heydar Aliyev. The great leader, despite pressure from the Soviet regime, took steps to convey to the world the will of the people for freedom, the voice of truth. The academician noted that on the day following the tragedy, January 21, Heydar Aliyev had held a press conference at the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan in Moscow, and thus the first political assessment of the tragedy had been given.
Describing the political period after the tragedy, which was marked with difficult processes, A. Abbasov stressed that this tragedy, committed by the unjust Soviet leadership, had failed to break the yearning of the powerful Azerbaijani people for independence. He noted that under the leadership of the great leader our nation, which has always stood straight before the ongoing political processes and did not retreat from the liberation struggle, brought its voice to the world and took its rightful place among the advanced countries as an independent state.
A.Abbasov noted that today the head of state Ilham Aliyev honorably continues the political course of the national leader, and talked about the concepts aimed at the comprehensive development of the state. The academician said that as a result of the fact that the glorious Azerbaijani army under the leadership of the President of the country, the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev put an end to the 30-year long yearning of the nation and liberated our lands from the Armenian occupation, the 44-day war was written with golden letters in the world history as the most important victory of the recent years of the Azerbaijani people. After this historic victory, precise conduct of the local anti-terrorist operation and raising of our tricolor state flag in October this year in Khankendi and other territories have realized the most difficult and hard, but also the highest goal of the Azerbaijani people and the New Azerbaijan Party. With brilliant victories, Azerbaijan has achieved full restoration of both historical justice and territorial integrity.
At the end of his speech, the academician, stressing that January 20 is remembered not only with pain and sorrow, but also as a day of honor, shared his memories, honored the memory of the victims of the tragedy and expressed confidence that their bright memory will always live in our hearts.
Then the head of the laboratory of intelligent information-measuring systems, Mazahir Isayev, DSc in Engineering told the participants of the event in detail about the history and political causes of the tragedy of January 20. He noted that back in the 1980s, the Soviet leadership, which had favored the Armenians who sought to grant independence to Nagorno-Karabakh and encroached on the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, committed a number of crimes, deported Azerbaijanis from Karabakh and Yerevan and organized the Sumgayit events.
He noted that on January 19, 1990 Mikhail Gorbachev signed a decree declaring the state of emergency in Baku, in flagrant violation of Article 71 of the Constitution of the USSR. However, the plan of reprisal against the civilian population in Baku was carried out in secret. The population, unaware that the state of emergency was declared at night, was subjected to ruthless massacre, atrocities unprecedented in the history of mankind.
Stressing that the story of January 20 is not only one of the terrible tragedies that befell the Azerbaijani people, but also a symbol of the liberation struggle, a heroic chronicle, M. Isayev shared his memories and honored the memory of the victims of the tragedy.
Associate Professor Asif Rzayev, DSc in Engineering, Ilgar Mammadov, DSc in Mathematics, Associate Professor Adalat Pashayev, PhD in Engineering, Associate Professor Gulchin Abdullayeva, PhD in Mathematics, Rahila Sadigova, PhD in Mathematics, and Chair of the Council of Young Scientists and Specialist Lamiya Najafova spoke about the history and causes of the January 20 tragedy and shared their memories.
The memory of the martyrs, who gave their lives for the independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, will live in our hearts forever!