29 years have
passed since the tragedy of January 20 which is a sorrowful page of new history
of Azerbaijan. Every year, including this one, the Constitutional Court honored
the bright memory of the Shehids on January 20.
The commemorative
ceremony was attended by judges and the staff of Constitutional Court.
First, the victims
of the tragedy were honored with a minute's silence.
Speaking at the
ceremony, Chairman of Constitutional Court Farhad Abdullayev described the tragedy
of January 20 as an important turning point in the history of independent
Azerbaijan and the beginning of our independence. It was mentioned that the
tragedy of January 20, one of the most horrific pages of massacres and violence
committed against humanity in the 20th century, was perpetuated in
the memory of our people.
Speaking about the
bloody January events, Farhad Abdullayev said that the attack was aimed at
disrupting the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, as a sign of protest
against the biased policy of the former USSR on our country and the local
government's stand in the interests of our people. The deployment of Soviet
military forces in Baku and other regions of the republic showed the inner
nature of the empire's policies. The brutal crackdown of peaceful protests using
heavy military equipment was merely an attempt to protect the collapsing Soviet
political system.
It was noted that
national leader Heydar Aliyev, the eldest son of the Azerbaijani people, who
did not leave his people in these difficult days, made a historical statement
condemning the terrorist act at the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan in Moscow
on January 21. Putting his life and the life of his family members in danger,
showing great bravery, Heydar Aliyev gave a political and legal assessment of
the tragedy of January 20, said that this crime, committed by the fault and betrayal
of the leaders of the former USSR and republic, is contrary to democracy and
humanism.
It was noted that
after the return of the National Leader to political power in 1993, important
steps were taken to investigate the causes of the tragedy of January 20 and
bring those who was responsible to justice. At the initiative of national
leader Heydar Aliyev, the tragedy of January 20 was assessed at the state
level. With this legal document, the events of January 20 were regarded as
military aggression and crime against the Azerbaijani people.
Mentioning the
great leader's care for the families of the martyrs and the disabled, President
Ilham Aliyev, who has successfully pursued the National Leader's political
line, has set a priority at the state level to address the problems of martyrs'
families and those who lost their lives. By the decree of the President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, to the families of the martyrs of January 20 have been
appointed Presidential scholarships and our State constantly assists them. In
order to perpetuate the memory of martyrs, many memorial complexes have been
established in the country.
Then the judges
and the staff of Constitutional Court watched the "Dolu" film, which
was screened by Elkhan Jafarov and telling about the tragedy of January 20. The
film is authored by honored journalist Agil Abbas.
As a continuation
of the memorial ceremony at the evening dedicated to the memory of the victims
of the tragedy of January 20 held in the Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic
Hall, it is planned to listen to the work of V.A. Mozart "Requiem"
performed by the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra named after U.Hajibeyli
under the management of People 's Artist Rauf Abdullayev.