36 years have passed since the tragedy committed on that frosty, bloody January night. It is not in vain that it is called Bloody January... On that cold, frosty night, hundreds of lives were ended. Hundreds of people, without distinction of women, children, or the elderly, were brutally massacred. Today, the 20 January tragedy lives on in the memory of the Azerbaijani people as a vivid, painful, yet proud history. On that night, the valiant sons and daughters of Azerbaijan, who prioritized the freedom, honor, and dignity of their homeland above all else, did not retreat before the tanks and weapons of the Soviet army; they sacrificed their lives and ascended to the peak of martyrdom. The blood shed that night became not only a symbol of a tragedy but also a symbol of the nation's national struggle, unity, and will for freedom.
Today, January 20 is not only a day of mourning but also a glorious historical symbol of resistance for freedom, loyalty to the homeland, and the preservation of national identity. The memory of the heroic martyrs is a lesson for every subsequent generation and a moral duty for every Azerbaijani.
On the occasion of the National Day of Mourning, individuals representing the political and public life of the country visited the Alley of Martyrs. The visit ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Ali Asadov, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova, Head of the Presidential Administration Samir Nuriyev, and other state and government officials. They laid fresh flowers on the graves of the sons and daughters of the Motherland who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, and respectfully commemorated their dear memory.
The leadership and deputies of the Milli Majlis also participated in the visit. First Vice-Speaker of the Milli Majlis Ali Ahmadov, Vice-Speakers Ziyafat Asgarov, Musa Gasimli, and Rafael Huseynov, parliamentary committee chairmen, deputies, and employees of the Milli Majlis Apparatus bowed before the spirits of the martyrs.
Among those who visited the Alley of Martyrs were Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Health Teymur Musayev, Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov, other officials, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, as well as representatives of religious communities.
As every year, thousands of citizens visited the graves of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity and freedom of Azerbaijan this year as well. Bouquets of flowers were laid before the martyrs' graves, and prayers were recited for their souls.
January 20 is a day when sorrow and pride are experienced simultaneously. In the Alley of Martyrs, alongside a deep sense of sadness, a great feeling of pride was palpable on people's faces. In this sacred place, it was possible to see participants of the Patriotic War, veterans, servicemen, representatives of state institutions, youth, and schoolchildren. Parents brought their children, and grandparents brought their grandchildren, instilling in them the historical significance of the January 20 tragedy, the unparalleled sacrifice shown by the martyrs for the Motherland and the people, and also this day as an unforgettable lesson of national memory and the struggle for independence.
The Azerbaijani people do not forget this historical tragedy; they live it as proof of their unwavering will on the path to freedom. The memory of the January 20 martyrs will live forever in the hearts of the Azerbaijani people, and this bloody tragedy will remain in history as a symbol of our nation's unwavering will in the struggle for freedom and independence.
Modern.az presents a photo report from the Alley of Martyrs:
