Baku, January 18 (AZERTAC). Pakistan`s monthly “Centreline” magazine has issued an article dedicated to the 23rd anniversary of the January 20 tragedy by Farooq Riaz Chaudhry titled “20 January, 1990 - A day of nightmare for Azerbaijan people”.

According to the Azerbaijan embassy to Pakistan, the article covers the events happened at the end of the XX century in the eve of Soviet Union`s collapse in Azerbaijan. The author writes: “Collapse of the USSR was one of the most remarkable events of the XX century. Decline of economy, war in Afghanistan, Chernobyl catastrophe, deficit of trust to ideas of communism shook the pillars of the great empire. The Armenian nationalists tried to avail this chance and raised territorial claims to Azerbaijan demanding to annex Nagorno-Karabakh district to Armenia. In 1988 more than 300 thousands Azerbaijanis were expelled from their homelands in Armenia. Some of them were killed with brutality, some died on the mountain passes trying to escape from men-hunters. The then leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachov backed Armenian separatists instead of calming down tension. In respond, thousands of protesters moved to the central squares of Azerbaijan’s capital and other cities demanding to put an end to the communist rule and to restore independence and sovereignty of Azerbaijan”.

The article states: “At early morning hours of 20 January, 1990, twenty six thousands of Soviet troops, including the special forces entered Baku from different directions and stormed demonstrators firing the crowds. The forces of Baku garrison and the internal troops joint them, having come out of their barracks, and started shooting and smashing by tank tracks unarmed people. As a result of this unprecedented illegal action, 134 men were killed, about 700 men wounded, 841 men got arrested and 5 were declared missing. There were many children, elderly, women, representatives of different ethnic groups and religions amongst the killed innocent civilians. The soldiers gutted 200 houses, state and private movable and immovable property. Military operation was a rough violence of constitutions of the USSR and Azerbaijani SSR as well as International Pact on civil and political rights. Prior to operation the energy block of Azerbaijan Television was blasted and people were deprived of information. The state of emergency was announced only seven hours after operation began. These all are clear indications of the fact that the main aim of this massacre was to teach a lesson to the nation who dared to demand independence”.

“Azerbaijan gained its independence on October 18, 1991. By decree of Mr. Heydar Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, all victims of the massacre were awarded the title “Martyrs of January 20”. The families of the 20 January’s victims taken care by Government of Azerbaijan. Facilities for free accommodation, education, healthcare and other the privileges provided to them. They are also paid monthly cash allowances. Those who embraced martyrdom on that black day are buried in the Alley of Martyrs which is located on the highest peak of Baku. Every year hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis visit that place to pay tribute to the sons and daughters of Azerbaijan who laid down their lives for the freedom of motherland,” Farooq Riaz Chaudhry addes.

The article is available at http://dnanews.com.pk/20-january-1990-a-day-of-nightmare-for-azerbaijan-people/.