The memory of the victims of the January 20 tragedy was honored in Paris.

The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in France and the Permanent Delegation to UNESCO jointly organized the commemoration of the martyrs of January 20 in Paris. Our diplomats visited the graves of the prominent representatives of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic – Alimardan bey Topchubashov and Jeyhun Hajibeyli in the Saint-Cloud cemetery near Paris and laid a wreath on their graves. The souls of the martyrs who died for the Motherland were commemorated in silence.

The Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Azerbaijan to UNESCO, Ambassador Elman Abdullayev, spoke about the brutal massacre committed against our people on the night of Bloody January. Heavy-armed Soviet units and tanks claimed the lives of hundreds of people, wounded, and destroyed a peaceful city known for its tolerance. Unprecedented repression against our people gave impetus to the strong sense of national unity of Azerbaijan.

The Ambassador noted that the tragedy of January 20 strengthened the determination of our people to achieve their independence. At such a difficult time for Azerbaijan, national leader Aliyev at a press conference in Moscow strongly condemned this atrocity, demanded a political assessment of the massacre committed against our people and the prosecution of the perpetrators.

Elman Abdullayev said that our people always honor the memory of our martyrs who died for the Motherland on January 20, 1990. This tragedy was the beginning of the path to independence. January 20 is the page of honor and heroism of our history, the day when our national will triumphed.