Memorial event dedicated to the 35rd anniversary of the National Mourning Day January 20 was held

18.01.2025 /

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 35th 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 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, committed an unprecedented criminal act. 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 voice of the people for freedom. The academician noted that on the day following the tragedy, 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.

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 the 44-day war under the leadership of the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev was written with golden letters in the world history as the most important victory of the recent. After this historic victory, precise conduct of the local anti-terrorist operation achieved full restoration of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty.

At the end of his speech, the academician honored the memory of the victims of the tragedy and expressed confidence that their bright memory will always live in our hearts.

Then Head of Laboratory of ICS Prof. Ramin Rzayev spoke 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. During the bloody January events, peaceful people who raised their voices against injustice and lawlessness were mercilessly killed by Soviet troops.

Noting that the tragedy of January 20 actually marked the beginning of the collapse of the USSR, R. Rzayev noted that Armenia and its supporters failed to achieve their goal - to break the determination of the Azerbaijani people for freedom. The day after the tragedy, our invincible and courageous people took to the squares, attended the funerals of their innocently killed compatriots and chanted slogans of freedom.

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, R. Rzayev shared his memories and honored the memory of the victims of the tragedy.

At the end of his speech, the professor noted that the Republic of Azerbaijan, which has now fully restored both its territorial integrity and sovereignty, has taken a worthy place among the leading countries of the world thanks to the far-sighted policy of President Ilham Aliyev. Aliyev spoke about the goals facing the country.

Associate Professor Asif Rzayev, DSc in Engineering, Ilgar Mammadov, DSc in Mathematics, Associate Professor Adalat Pashayev, PhD in Engineering, and Rahila Sadigova, PhD in Mathematics, 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!