Today.Az » Politics » Events on 20 January tragedy anniversary to be held abroad
15 January 2014 [11:18] - Today.Az


Azerbaijan`s diaspora organizations will hold various events in a number of countries to mark 24th anniversary of 20 January tragedy.

Victims of the tragedy will be commemorated in many countries like the United States of America, Canada, Latin American countries, Australia and New Zealand, State Committee on Work with Diaspora said.

Starting from 19th January, commemorative events, roundtables will be organized in Washington, Huston, San-Francisco and other cities of the USA where Azerbaijanis live compactly.

The 24th anniversary of the Black January will be also marked in Magdeburg, Berlin and other cities of Germany.

The memory ceremonies dedicated to the 20 January tragedy will be organized in Haag, Amsterdam and Rotterdam of the Netherlands too.

Turkey, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and other countries will also host commemorative events dedicated to the tragedy.

The tragic events of January 19-20, 1990 mark a turning point in the story of Azerbaijan`s independence from the Soviet Union. Every year at the end of January, Azerbaijanis enter a period of mourning for their loved ones who were lost in the attack by Soviet military forces who stormed Baku and murdered hundreds of civilians.
L
ate at night on January 19, 1990, 26,000 Soviet troops stormed Baku. They began to open fire on protesters at will, crushed many with tanks, and arrested hundreds more for imprisonment and torture. Though the final death toll is still contested to this day, at least 130 people died from wounds received that night and during subsequent violent confrontations. A vast majority of the casualties were civilians, with over 700 wounded.


/AzerTAc/



Copyright © Today.Az