19 JANUARY 2015

PHRC commemorates 25th anniversary of 20th January tragedy

On January 19, 2015 the Public Health and Reforms Center of the Ministry of Health (PHRC) held a meeting devoted to the 25th anniversary of the 20th January tragedy. Before the start of the meeting the PHRC staff observed a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the tragedy.

While delivering an opening speech, PHRC Director, Jeyhun Mammadov honoured all the women and men who sacrificed their lives on January 20, 1990 to fight for and defend the right to freedom and independence of Azerbaijan. ‘This date not only does remain as the Commemoration day of those who gave their lives for liberty but also as the day of unity, equality, pride and honour of our people struggling for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan’, he said.

Chief of Civil Protection Defence Staff at PHRC, Shahin Hamidov, said the tragic events of 20 January highlighting the people’s determination in their struggle for independence, sovereignty and rights would stay put in the country’s history. ‘As a consequence of the aggression committed by the Soviet forces 147 civilians regardless of nationality, age and gender were mercilessly killed, 744 innocent people in the capital and surrounding areas were injured, hundreds of people went missing and 841 were illegally arrested. Even after declaring state of emergency on 20 January, 21 more people were killed.’

After noting that due to the initiative of the national leader, Heydar Aliyev, the tragic events of 20 January had been given a legal-political assessment at the state level, Sh. Hamidov concluded ‘Today, the people of Azerbaijan pay great respect and honour to brave sons of our Motherland for their heroic struggle for the right of freedom. We must wholeheartedly defend our independence won at the cost of lives of our martyrs and must make it last constantly and forever, so the national leader Heydar Aliyev bequeathed to us.’

Chairperson of the PHRC branch of the New Azerbaijan Party, Yegana Valiyeva expressed deep concern with the tragic events of 20 January, noting it is impossible to forget the committed carnage and massacre, ‘whenever we recall this malicious crime against humanity, we are consumed with grief, rage and revolt’, she added. Y.Valiyeva also referred to the publications on the horrible tragedy in the world's leading mass media.

Also, PHRC administrative staff members Aris Rustamov and Aliheydar Shakhmarov highlighted the significance of the "Day of Nationwide Sorrow - January 20" in the establishment of an independent Azerbaijan.

In conclusion, PHRC Director, Jeyhun Mammadov, highly praised the struggle of the compatriots fallen on the way toward the freedom and independence of Azerbaijan nation, and once again paid tribute to the victims of the January 20 tragedy.