“Black January” tragedy

On January 20, 1990, 26,000 troops under orders from the Soviet leadership in Moscow invaded Baku, killing hundreds of innocent civilians and injuring over thousand, and setting in motion the events which led to Azerbaijan’s independence a year and a half later.

The significance of the “Black January” for the eventual collapse of the USSR cannot be overestimated. Peaceful demonstrations had been taking place for several weeks in downtown Baku, protesting the Soviet control of Azerbaijan. In fact, Azerbaijan was the first among the former Soviet republics to mount a serious move toward independence, and it was the prospect of a breakup of the Soviet empire that prompted Mikhail Gorbachev to send both armored troops and KGB officials to Baku. Despite the bloodshed, the Soviet leadership was unable to stop the quest for freedom of the Azerbaijani people.  In 1991, Azerbaijan finally restored its independence.

Commemorating the 24th anniversary of the “Black January” tragedy in USA and Canada

January 17, 2014 – Azerbaijani community remembers tragic events of the “Black January” Azerbaijani Cultural Center. 308 Avondale, Houston, Texas. https://www.facebook.com/events/386804718132847/

January 18, 2014 – Embassy of Azerbaijan in Canada will hold a commemoration event to honor the victims of that tragic day. The event will take place on January 18 at 6 pm @ Hart House, University of Toronto 7 Hart House Circle, Toronto ON

January 20, 2014 – “Azerbaijan’s Black January: How a Country Earned its Freedom” on Monday, January 20, 2014. Time: 7:00pm . Place: Consulate General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles 11766 Wilshire Blvd., Suite1410, Los Angeles, CA . R.S.V.P. by January 16 at (310) 444-9101. or e-mail: rsvp@azconsulatela.org

January 21, 2014 – Embassy of Azerbaijan in USA will hold a commemoration event on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the tragic events of January 20, 1990 in Baku. Time: 6:00pm. Location: Embassy of Azerbaijan, 2741 34th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. Reservation required: (202)337-3500 or rsvp@azembassy.us http://www.azembassy.us/articles/bj14.pdf