Thirty-six years have passed since that horrific January night which has been etched into the national memory of the Azerbaijani people as Black January, Bloody January, or simply the January 20 Tragedy. Over the years, the heroism of the martyrs has been engraved into the nation’s collective memory; their graves have become sacred places of oath for the people, and their memories are commemorated with deep respect. Our compatriots honor those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and independence of the Motherland as their own loved ones and offer prayers for their souls.The January 20 tragedy committed in 1990 has been deeply imprinted in the historical memory of the Azerbaijani people as a moment of profound sorrow and, at the same time, national pride. January 20 is a page written in blood in the history of Azerbaijan. However, it is not only a tragedy; it marks the first peak on Azerbaijan’s path to independence and the awakening day of our national ideology and aspiration for freedom. It is a glorious date when a nation that had lived under the oppression of the Soviet empire for many years raised its voice for freedom and courageously demonstrated its determination to fight for its sovereignty.As a result of this crime against humanity, 150 peaceful civilians—including children, women, and the elderly—were brutally killed, 744 people were injured, and 841 individuals were unlawfully detained.

It should be noted that January 20 is observed every year in Azerbaijan as the National Day of Mourning.