Co-chairs of the Working Group of the US Congress on Azerbaijan, Democratic Party member Steve Cohen, representing Tennessee in the House of Representatives, and Republican Party member Robert Aderholt, representing Alabama, have issued statements on the 35th anniversary of the 20 January tragedy.
In his statement, Congressman Steve Cohen described the ‘‘Black January’’ killings as one of the most tragic events in Azerbaijan’s history. He said: “On the night of January 20, 1990, approximately 26,000 Soviet troops stormed Azerbaijan’s capital city of Baku in tanks and armored vehicles. That night, the Soviet military bulldozed innocent Azerbaijanis and opened indiscriminate fire on peaceful demonstrators, including women and children. As a result of these merciless acts, 147 people were killed, around 800 were injured, 841 were arrested, and 5 went missing.”
The US Congressman expressed his condolences to the families of the martyrs of 20 January.
He also noted that the United States was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan, highlighting the establishment of diplomatic relations on February 28, 1992.
As co-chairman of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, Steve Cohen urged his colleagues to honor those who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijan’s independence.
In his statement, Congressman Robert Aderholt acknowledged that Azerbaijan is marking the 35th anniversary of Black January. He noted that this period marked the beginning of the end of Soviet power in Azerbaijan, an era of cruelty and horror. Despite these hardships, the Azerbaijani people, unafraid of communist oppression, sought freedom. He emphasized that on January 19, 1990, in Baku, Soviet troops killed more than 100 Azerbaijani demonstrators, and over 700 people were wounded. Nevertheless, despite the violence, the people of Azerbaijan continued their peaceful protests, which ultimately led to independence from the USSR on October 18, 1991.
Aderholt urged his colleagues to honor those who gave their lives during the Black January events and the struggle for freedom. He also expressed the US’s continued support for the people of Azerbaijan and their right to freedom and independence.
