Today, Azerbaijani society commemorates the anniversary of the January 20 tragedy with deep sorrow and respect. 36 years ago, people who took to the streets for freedom and state independence did not back down from their will, despite heavy losses. In those days, everyone, regardless of age or gender, flocked to the squares, taking the first steps towards Azerbaijan's independence.
Among them were also deputies currently represented in the Milli Majlis.
Modern.az contacted the deputies who were involved in the process and learned how they remember that day.
Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee on Public Associations and Religious Organizations, Fazil Mustafa, stated that they were involved in the processes:
“As someone who was involved in the January 20 processes, I can say that we experienced dangers and the risk of death. The car, in which I and 4 other individuals from the Popular Front were, was fired upon by Soviet soldiers. If we hadn't immediately reversed the car and driven away, our chances of survival would likely have been slim. We were at all the barricades to assess the situation. Until morning, at the Headquarters of the National Defense Council, the cleaning of weapons and ammunition and the provision of information to foreign news agencies were handled by up to 10 of our student friends. We carried out these tasks together. We answered calls from Turkey and other countries, informing them about what was happening in Baku. At the same time, they could not neutralize the National Defense Headquarters in any way. In the morning, when it was already daylight, we left there, went to Baku State University, and together with my groupmate Qoshqar Mammadov, we toured every auditorium, bringing the entire university out for a rally. We organized a crowded rally in front of the university. May Allah have mercy on those who died. The death of our student friend, a patriotic and sensitive acquaintance, saddened me. Later, incidents like the passing of a mathematician named Yusif are bitter, difficult, but honorable events in the name of martyrdom.”
Deputy Arzuxan Alizade also stated that he was an active participant in the events of that period:
“We had joined the National Liberation Movement since our student days. We were involved in the processes. I remember the night of January 20 very well. At that time, in what was then called Lenin Circle, now Sabunchu Circle, there was also a statue of Lenin. There were four entrances to this area, and we had blocked those roads. At that time, I was the chairman of the Popular Front's support group at the Machine-Building Plant located in Sabunchu. We had blocked a part of the roads with young people. News had come that troops were being deployed in the city. Around 2 AM, troops were deployed to our area, and they ordered us to retreat. At that time, Samit Bagirov, a member of the Popular Front's Executive Board, came and asked us to withdraw because there was already a massacre in the city. We thought that the bullets being fired were rubber bullets. They came with tanks and fired over our heads. I reached home at 04:00 AM; my father came, very agitated. I was involved in the process. I also remember January 22, the day of our martyrs' funeral, very well. We experienced a great tragedy. At that time, it felt very heavy to us. In fact, I consider that day a part of the chronicle of heroism.”
Deputy Razi Nurullayev was in military service in Kazakhstan when the January 20 tragedy occurred:
“At that time, I was in military service in Kazakhstan. When the news broke, Azerbaijanis almost revolted. I also held a position in the military unit dealing with inter-ethnic issues. The next day, three of us left the military unit and came to the city of Alma-Ata. One person's uncle lived there; he hosted us for two days and said that escaping from a military unit was a crime. They would catch us. He returned us to the military unit. In the military unit, they beat and tortured us very severely. One person – I am still friends with him, he was from Goranboy – was tortured a lot. They threw him and me to the ground, tied our hands and feet, and placed the legs of a “bed” on top of us. Then they sat on us, eating and drinking. The next day, they took us to the Syr Darya river and gave us a net to catch fish. We almost drowned. By God, we were very scared. We caught fish, they ate them, then they felt sorry for us and gave us a small fish. Those were difficult times. We suffered a lot of oppression. But we made a name for ourselves.”
Deputy Aqil Abbas stated that he transported weapons from Baku to Aghdam one day before the tragedy:
On January 19, I had made preparations to take weapons, ammunition, and cartridges to Aghdam. At that time, I was living in Mammad Araz's house. They were checking houses back then. I thought if they found the weapons, I would be in trouble. I called the guys from Aghdam, and they came and collected the weapons and ammunition in oil cans and took them away. That day, I bought a ticket and went to Aghdam. I arrived in Aghdam at 7 AM on January 20. I gave the weapons and ammunition to Eldar Bagirov's battalion. Right then, I heard news that such an incident had occurred. No one could talk to Baku. With Eldar Bagirov's help, I called my home in Baku from the post office and also another friend. I spoke with my wife. When I spoke with my friend, I learned in detail what had happened. Eldar Bagirov also spoke with him. In Aghdam at that time, they were saying that 3000-4000 people had died. After that day, I got into a taxi and came to Baku.”
Deputy Sayyad Aran stated that they hoisted a black flag in Imishli:
“That day I was in Imishli. The incident reached us around 10 AM. At that time, I was the head of education in the district. Our employees rose up with great excitement and a spirit of protest. On that very day, we hoisted a black flag over the Education Department. People gathered in one place, chanting slogans; there was great excitement. At the same time, we didn't understand what had happened that they came with tanks against the nation. This angered the people. Although the middle and younger generations wanted to go to Baku to see the events with their own eyes, they could not reach the center. Before reaching the city, they learned information from others and came and told us.”
Deputy Aydin Huseynov recalled the moment the Soviet army drove tanks towards them:
“Like all Baku residents, I remember that day. At that time, I was working in the Komsomol. My colleagues and I came to the front of the Salyan barracks. Around 12 or 1 AM, the military unit directly opened fire on people. We were able to flee and take refuge in the sports palace located on what is now Tbilisi Avenue. Many became martyrs next to us that night. We brought several of them to the hospital called "Semashko." I remember that night with all its horror and details. It was very difficult and challenging. Ultimately, the beacon of hope for the Azerbaijani people's fear, panic, and despair was the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev. As a result of Heydar Aliyev's conference in Moscow, this massacre did not encompass larger territories – Nakhchivan, Ganja, Lankaran.”
Chairman of the Milli Majlis Science and Education Committee, Anar Isgandarov, noted that he conducted advocacy work among students:
"I am an eyewitness to the January 20 massacre. Before the massacre occurred, during the day, there was a crowded rally in front of what is now the Presidential Administration. I was also a participant in the rally. We were all already convinced that the Soviet army would attack Baku. Therefore, some people retreated to their homes when darkness fell, while others went to places where barricades were erected on all four sides of the city. As teachers of Baku State University, we also conducted propaganda work among students. In the evening, bullet sounds began to be heard all over the city, and it became clear that the army had entered the city. People became martyrs all over the city. Therefore, a large part of the teachers of Baku State University went to the "Semashko" hospital. I was one of them. We met with the wounded patients. I remember that we spoke with the wounded who were able to and could speak, and we collected information about them. That information reached higher officials. January 20 was the day the trust in the Soviet state was broken. On that day, we understood that it was impossible to remain part of this state."
