Never Forget !!! Remembering #BlackJanuary The tragic events of January 19-20, 1990 mark a turning point in the story of Azerbaijan’s independence from the Soviet Union. Every year at the end of January, Azeris enter a period of mourning for their loved ones who were lost in the attack by Soviet military forces who stormed Baku and murdered hundreds of civilians. In the lead-up to January 20, tensions between Azeris and the Soviet Union had been building; the collapse of the Soviet Union was clearly imminent. One by one, former satellite nations were shaking off the chains which bound them to the Soviets, and Azerbaijan was leading the charge in the Caucasus region. January 19, 1990, 26,000 Soviet troops stormed Baku. They began to open fire on protesters at will, crushed many with tanks, and arrested hundreds more for imprisonment and torture. Though the final death toll is still contested to this day, at least 137 people died from wounds received that night and during subsequent violent confrontations. A vast majority of the casualties were civilians, with over 700 wounded. Almost the whole population of Baku turned out to bury the dead on the third day-January 22. For another 40 days, the country stood still as its citizens engaged in a period of mourning and mass protest. 20.01.1990
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 20:37:28 +0000