January 20, 1990, etched itself into the modern history of Azerbaijan as one of the most tragic yet heroic days for our people. Three decades have passed since the events of Bloody January. During the night of January 19-20, 1990, military units of the former Soviet army perpetrated an unprecedented massacre against civilians who bravely stood for the creation of an independent state and the assertion of sovereignty in the city of Baku.

Despite this heinous act, the people's unwavering love for freedom prevailed, and our nation secured its state independence, paying a high price in blood. The crime committed against the Azerbaijani people thirty-one years ago was, in essence, a horrifying terrorist act against humanity, humanism, and the very essence of being human. In this tragic episode, 147 Azerbaijani citizens were martyred, 638 were injured, and 841 were unlawfully detained. The incident resulted in the gross violation of numerous international human rights documents, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.