Azerbaijan Embassy Islamabad and Institute of Policy Studies Commemorate Martyrs of 20 January

ISLAMABAD: 20 Jan 2023 – The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Pakistan, together with the Institute of Policy Studies, one of the leading think tanks of this country, held a seminar dedicated to the memory of the martyrs of January 20, “National will and determination of the Azerbaijani people – commemoration of January 20, 1990”.

Leaders of various think tanks, students, embassy employees, Pakistani public and media representatives participated in the seminar.

After the national anthems of both countries were played, the dear memory of the martyrs of January 20 was commemorated with a minute of silence.

Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan, spoke at the event and said that 33 years have passed since the events of January 20, which entered the history of our country as the Black January tragedy.

Mr. Farhadov noted that the massacre of civilians was committed on January 20 by the leadership of the USSR in order to suppress the voice of the Azerbaijani people against the deportation of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from their historical lands in the territory of Armenia and Armenia’s groundless territorial claims against Karabakh.

The ambassador reported that 150 people were brutally killed and 744 people were seriously injured as a result of the military aggression carried out by the Soviet army against Azerbaijan on the night of January 19-20, 1990, violating the norms of international law and the laws of the country.

H.E Farhadov emphasized that despite the fact that the January 20 tragedy was called “Black January”, this event was a heroic page in the history of the struggle for freedom and independence of the Azerbaijani people.

He emphasized that the National Leader Heydar Aliyev came to the permanent representation of Azerbaijan in Moscow on January 21, 1990 and showed solidarity with our people, strongly condemned this crime, demanded a political and legal assessment of the massacre, and punishment of the guilty. The ambassador said that after the coming to power of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev at the request of the people, the January 20 tragedy was given a political and legal assessment at the state level on his direct initiative.

Ambassador said that all actions against Azerbaijan’s independence and sovereignty will always be resolutely responded.  Ambassador emphasized that the brave Azerbaijani Army under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev ensured the territorial integrity of our country as a result of the 44-day Patriotic War.

H.E  Farhadov paid tribute to the heroic martyrs who died for the territorial integrity of both countries. He also shed light on relations and cooperation with Pakistan.

Director of the Institute of Policy Studies Khalid Rahman, Deputy Director Seyid Abrar Huseyin, Executive Director of the Research Center for a Shared Future Society Khalid Teymur Akram and Dean of the International Peace and Stability Center of the National University of Science and Technology of Pakistan, Associate Professor Tughral Yamin spoke about the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan.

Talking about the events of January 20, they noted that this day plays a very important role in the fate of the Azerbaijani people and is a symbol of the country’s struggle for freedom. A video about the events of January 20 was shown at the event. (Fotos: Asif Farooq)