BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. The Commissioner
for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Sabina Aliyeva, has issued a statement on the
anniversary of the January 20, 1990, tragedy, Trend reports.
“On the night of January 19–20, 1990, it has been 36 years since
the armed forces of the former USSR carried out a brutal military
intervention against the civilian population of Azerbaijan, aiming
to violently suppress the national will and the people’s demands
for independence.
This horrific act, committed against humanity, flagrantly
violated the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other
international legal instruments protecting human rights. The
January 20 tragedy, with its mass casualties, stands as one of the
most egregious crimes of the 20th century, both in scale and in its
cruelty.
That night, in Baku and other regions, the disproportionate use
of military force against unarmed civilians left 150 people dead
and 744 injured. Alongside violations of international law, the
assault trampled the constitutional provisions of both the former
USSR and the Azerbaijan SSR (Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic).
Our multinational people, who had risen to defend their land and
national identity, were mercilessly massacred.
The unprovoked targeting of civilians, threatening life and
health without warning, is absolutely unacceptable under
international human rights law and constitutes a violation of
fundamental rights that states must uphold even in emergencies.
January 20 stands as a stark reminder of the severe breach of
international law.
At the time, the most courageous statement was delivered by the
National Leader Heydar Aliyev, speaking on behalf of the
Azerbaijani people from Moscow. Despite immense pressure and
personal security risks, on January 21, 1990, Aliyev condemned this
grave crime before the press at the Permanent Representation of
Azerbaijan in Moscow, declaring the former USSR leadership directly
responsible. His words carried profound historical significance as
the first political and legal condemnation of the tragedy.
The failure of the international community and relevant
organizations to provide timely legal and political accountability
created a climate of impunity, laying the groundwork for subsequent
human rights violations in the region.
As the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, I emphasize that a thorough, objective
investigation of the January 20 events under international law is
essential. Recognizing these atrocities as crimes against humanity
and holding all responsible decision-makers accountable, not only
the perpetrators, is crucial for restoring justice.
I call upon international organizations, particularly the
relevant UN mechanisms, to take a principled stand, bring the
perpetrators to justice, and cooperate to provide an international
legal assessment of this tragic event.
The memory of the martyrs of January 20 will forever live in the
hearts and consciousness of the Azerbaijani people,” the statement
reads.
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