The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan (MFA) has issued a statement marking the 36th anniversary of the January 20 tragedy.

Axar.az reports that the statement notes January 20 as one of the most tragic, yet dignified and proud pages in the modern history of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The statement draws attention to the fact that as a result of a brutal military aggression carried out by the Soviet army against the civilian population in Baku and other regions of Azerbaijan 36 years ago, 150 civilians were killed, 744 people were seriously injured, and four went missing. It describes the January 20 tragedy as an attempt to suppress the Azerbaijani people’s legitimate aspirations for freedom, national dignity, and sovereignty.

“However, this act of violence failed to break the will of the Azerbaijani people. On the contrary, it further strengthened our people’s determination to restore independence, resist Armenia’s policy of mass deportation and occupation, and fully exercise their sovereign rights. The sacrifice of the martyrs of January 20 played a foundational role in the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1991,” the statement emphasized.

It was also noted that the spirit of patriotism, unity, and resistance demonstrated by the Azerbaijani people on January 20 fulfilled its historic mission during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020 and the anti-terror measures in 2023. Under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev, the valiant Azerbaijani Army liberated the occupied territories and restored the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with international law.

“Our glorious Victory and the new realities created by the Azerbaijani state in the region in the post-war period, its peace and security agenda, large-scale reconstruction and development efforts, and the return of former internally displaced persons to their ancestral lands became a triumph of our people’s unbreakable will and purpose, as well as the ideals for which the martyrs of January 20 and all our heroes who sacrificed their lives for the Motherland fought,” the statement said.

“On this sorrowful yet proud day, we honor the cherished memory of the martyrs of January 20 and all our heroes who gave their lives for the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of our country, and express our deep condolences to their families. We wish good health to all citizens who lost their health along this honorable path.

We once again declare our determination to continue consistent efforts and purposeful actions to ensure that crimes against humanity and international law, such as January 20, are never repeated,” the MFA added.