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Thirty-four years have passed since the bloody 20 January tragedy. On 20 January – National Mourning Day, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Alley of Martyrs on the 34th anniversary of the bloodshed which was committed by the Soviet empire in Baku, Azernews reports.

The head of state paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom.

President Ilham Aliyev laid a wreath at the "Eternal Flame" monument.

The national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was played.

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20 January 1990 entered the history of Azerbaijani people as one of the most tragic, sorrowful, but at the same time heroic and valiant pages. This is how Great Leader Heydar Aliyev characterised the events of January 20 in his time. Great leader said with great foresight that the more we distance ourselves from those days, the deeper we will realise their importance in the history of Azerbaijani people. Indeed, 20 January 1990 was a turning point, a turning point in the life of the Azerbaijani people.

34 years have passed since those tragic days. Today, as the national leader said, we see more clearly the place that 20 January occupies in our history. On that day, the Azerbaijani people suffered the first losses in the name of their freedom and independence. Brave sons and daughters of the Motherland who died for freedom wrote a new bright page in the heroic chronicle of our nation. People's unity and national dignity prevailed over the force of arms, and that is one of the most important moments that characterise 20 January.

Political and legal assessment of the tragedy of January 20 was given at the state level, thanks to national leader Heydar Aliyev. Coming to the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan in Moscow on January 21, 1990, Heydar Aliyev demonstrated that he was close to his people, gave a political assessment of the January 20 tragedy, said that what happened was illegal, contrary to democracy, humanism, a gross political mistake made as a result of betrayal of the centre and the then leadership of the republic.

He expressed condolences to our people in connection with the tragedy, held a press conference where he called criminals the representatives of the authorities and military, who allowed the terrorist act in Baku, and the massacre of civilians a historical crime against the whole nation. Despite the information blockade by the Kremlin, the text of this historic speech was distributed all over the world, including Azerbaijan, and caused a wide political resonance. A light of hope was lit in the heart of the Azerbaijani people.

On 21 November of the same year, on the initiative of national leader Heydar Aliyev, who returned to his homeland from Moscow in July 1990, the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic adopted a document which for the first time gave a political and legal assessment of the January 20 tragedy. This decision, reflecting the common opinion of the Azerbaijani people, went down in history as a testimony to the determination of the great leader Heydar Aliyev. The document demanded the country's leadership to give a political and legal assessment of the January 20 tragedy. But even after Azerbaijan regained its independence until 1993, none of those in power had the courage to reveal the truth about the tragic events.

Only after Heydar Aliyev, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, returned to the leadership of the republic, the true essence of the events of 20 January was revealed in legal terms. At the meeting held on 12 January 1994, great leader Heydar Aliyev said: "Aggression has been committed against the people and the perpetrators are still not identified. Apparently, the former leadership of the Soviet Union, republics, responsible persons in their personal interests did not reveal the true essence of this great tragedy to the people".

In the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On holding the 4th anniversary of the tragedy of January 20" dated 5 January 1994 Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan was recommended to consider the issue of holding a special session related to the events of Bloody January.

In the Decision of Milli Majlis of 29 March 1994 the perpetrators of the tragedy of January 20 were specified and this bloody action was considered as a military aggression and crime committed by the totalitarian communist regime to strangle the national liberation movement in Azerbaijan, to break the faith and will of people. The memory of the Shehidis was immortalised, "Eternal Flame" memorial complex was erected in "Shehidlar Khiyabani", January 20 was declared the Day of National Mourning, social protection of the families of Shehidis(Martyrs), persons disabled during the events of January 20 was strengthened.

Our country pays constant attention and care to the invalids of 20 January and the families of the Martyrs. Recreational centres for the rehabilitation of the disabled persons of January 20 have been established, the disabled persons and families of the Shehidis have been provided with flats at the expense of the state.

The soul of great leader Heydar Aliyev, souls of all martyrs who gave their lives for independence and territorial integrity of our country have found peace. Because the victorious Azerbaijani Army put an end to the 30-year wait of the Azerbaijani people, liberated our lands from Armenian occupation, created a new reality in the region.

In September 2023, as a result of successful anti-terrorist measures, our sovereignty was fully restored. Now the three-coloured Flag of Azerbaijan flies on all our territories. Large-scale creative work is being carried out in the territories liberated from occupation. Former IDPs are already returning to the territories liberated from occupation, to their native lands. Life is now beginning to revive in those lands.

Full restoration of territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan is also a proof that the blood of 20 January Shehids, all Shehids who gave their lives for liberation of our lands from occupation, has been cancelled. Therefore, our people celebrate the 34th anniversary of the tragedy of 20 January with special pride.

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