The website of the Chilean news agency Infogate published an article by the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Argentina and Chile, Rashad Aslanov, titled «January 20: Azerbaijan and its first steps towards independence.»
According to AZERTAC, the material notes that this date — January 20, 1990 — entered the history of Azerbaijan forever as the day of the heroic struggle for the freedom and independence of the country. It was brought to the attention that this day led to heavy losses and death of innocent people, but at the same time demonstrated the courage and readiness to fight people who could no longer endure the false policy of the USSR towards Azerbaijan and raised their voice in the name of freedom and independence.
The article says that the Azerbaijani people, subjected to punitive measures by the well-armed Soviet army, did not break down, did not lose their resolve, on the contrary, their right voice sounded even louder. Immediately after the tragedy, on January 21, 1990, national leader Heydar Aliyev visited the office of the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan in Moscow, where he expressed solidarity with his people, strongly condemning the Soviet leadership for committing a bloody tragedy.
As a result of the massacre of the civilian population, carried out by the Soviet army with unprecedented cruelty, up to 150 people died in the capital and nearby regions of Azerbaijan, more than 700 were injured. Among those killed were women, children and the elderly.
The Chilean edition reports that the victims of the tragic events of 1990 are symbolically called «January 20 martyrs.» The Azerbaijani people continue to keep in their hearts the memory of martyrs who paid the highest price for the independence of their country.
