Aygun Abasova

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

The path to the January 1991 tragedy began in 1987, when the next mass deportation of Azerbaijanis from their historical lands in Armenia and attempts to annex Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia became widespread.

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

The events of January 20 strengthened the solidarity of the people in the struggle for the independence of Azerbaijan, as well as the sympathy of the international community for this struggle. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

Before the operation, the leadership of the USSR tried to win the support of societies, declaring that this intervention in Western countries was for the fight against violations of rights. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

The events of January 20 increased tensions between the Azerbaijani authorities and the leadership of the USSR, which resulted in the official declaration of independence of Azerbaijan in 1991. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

The events of January 20 are noted as one of the peak of clashes between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Nagorno-Karabakh. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

In memory of January 20, monuments dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives for independence were built in all parts of Azerbaijan. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

During the January 20 incident in Baku, about 2 million people gathered at the funeral of the martyrs, and this understanding was an indicator of strong protest against the Soviet authorities. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

Since the Azerbaijan SSR was part of the USSR at that time, this massacre on the streets of Baku reflected the ruthless policy of the central government against social injustice. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

The Azerbaijani people fought against Armenian separatism in Nagorno-Karabakh in the years before the January 20 tragedy, and this massacre became one of the main traumatic events during that struggle. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

General Secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev said that the main reason for organizing this massacre by the USSR leadership was to prevent demonstrations against the law. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

In the regions and cities where the state of emergency was not declared in the January 20 events – in neftchala on January 25 and in Lankaran on January 26, 8 more people were killed. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

Until the introduction of the state of emergency was announced to the population, the military personnel mercilessly killed 82 people and mortally wounded 20 people. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

More than 200 houses and more than 80 cars were fired upon and burned by Soviet troops. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

On the night of January 19, the power unit of the Baku television Center was dismantled by the USSR intelligence units. This operation was carried out by a special detachment "Vimpel". #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

Before these events began, the USSR Ministry of Defense in December 1989 raised the level of combat readiness of military units in Baku, but did not disclose it to the public. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

The January 20 massacre was not a sudden decision, but an operation planned for months, unlike other Soviet interventions in Lithuania and Georgia, for example. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

After the events of January 20, the people realized more clearly that they could not remain part of the USSR, and in October 1991 the independence of Azerbaijan was officially proclaimed. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

!The night of January 9 was one of the greatest tragedies in the history of the Azerbaijani people and a turning point for the awakening of national consciousness. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

As a result of this massacre, more than 170 people were killed, more than 700 were injured and more than 800 were arrested. #20january1990 #Memoryof20January

[Aygun Abasova @abbsssw_]

With this operation, the Soviet leadership not only tried to destroy the Azerbaijani independence movement, but also sent a message to all the republics of the USSR: "if everyone demands independence, the same fate awaits them." #20january1990 #Memoryof20January