The event began with a one-minute silence to honor the memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of Azerbaijan, followed by the performance of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The event began with an opening speech by the director of the Complex, Dr. Rəxəndə Bayramova, who spoke about the significance of the January 20th events in our history and the heroic struggle of our people. She noted that this tragedy was given a political and legal evaluation at the state level through the initiative of the National Leader Heydər Əliyev. In the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on January 5, 1994, titled “On the Commemoration of the 4th Anniversary of the January 20th Tragedy,” the National Assembly of Azerbaijan was recommended to hold a special session regarding the Bloody January events. In the resolution adopted by the National Assembly on March 29, 1994, the perpetrators of the January 20th tragedy were specifically mentioned, and this bloody action was evaluated as a military aggression and crime committed by the totalitarian communist regime to suppress the national liberation movement in Azerbaijan and crush the people’s faith and will.
Then, a participant of that period and a witness to the tragedy, Şovgi Bünyatov, took the floor and shared his impressions. Speaking about the horrors of that night, Şovgi Bünyatov emphasized the strength of the people’s unity and the spirit of freedom. He also highlighted that the January 20th tragedy is not only remembered as a tragic day in Azerbaijan’s history but also as a proof of our people’s determination for freedom, their unwavering will, and as a day that marked the path leading to the restoration of state independence, becoming a source of national pride
