20 JANUARY TRAGEDY REMEMBERED IN US CONGRESS
Washington, January 21 (AZERTAC). 20 January tragedy was commemorated in the US Congress.
Member of the US congressional Azerbaijan caucus, Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives representing the state of Tennessee Steve Cohen made a statement on this occasion. According to him, people of Azerbaijan remember 20 January victims who were killed by Soviet troops. Every four years it coincides with the inauguration day in USA.
In accordance with USSR President Gorbachev`s decision on declaration of a state of emergency, 26,000 Soviet troops on the night of January 19-20 stormed Baku, killing 140, wounding over 700 and arresting 841 people. This event sped up the disintegration of the USSR.
The Human Rights Watch report entitled "Black January in Azerbaijan" states: "Indeed, the violence used by the Soviet Army on the night of January 19-20 was so out of proportion to the resistance offered by Azerbaijanis as to constitute an exercise in collective punishment. Since Soviet officials have stated publicly that the purpose of the intervention of Soviet troops was to prevent the ouster of the Communist-dominated government of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the nationalist-minded, noncommunist opposition, the punishment inflicted on Baku by Soviet soldiers may have been intended as a warning to nationalists, not only in Azerbaijan, but in the other Republics of the Soviet Union.".
Cohen noted Azerbaijan managed to keep its independence despite Armenia`s occupying 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands. According to him, Azerbaijan is a prosperous nation whose economy maintained a very strong growth performance. These accomplishments are associated with free conduct of presidential and parliamentary election, market economic reforms in the energy sector and lack of foreign military bases in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan Trade and Cultural Center in Washington and Azerbaijan embassy co-hosted a meeting. American audience watched a documentary “Path leading to Black January” made by the Lider TV.
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