The night from the 19-th to the 20-th of January 1990 became one more black page in the history of Azerbaijan. On this night 131 innocent people were killed and 250 injured by the Russian punitive force which entered the Azerbaijani border in tanks to suspend the people’s will to independence. Azerbaijan, mourning on Shehids (Martyrs) at the 17-th anniversary of that awful night, recognizes it to be the crucial night leading to independence. (20-JAN-07)

That terrible night, 17 years ago, Azerbaijani nation lived one of the saddest events in its history. Hundreds of innocent armless people, including women and elderly people, attempted to prevent the entrance of the Russian tanks, begging the soldiers to stop the violence, but the punitive forces had no heart, they made carnage without mercy even to the minors.

The sunrise on the 20-th of January 1990 opened a terrible view to the nation – the whole city was in blood, dozens of dead and injured people were everywhere, cars smashed, people in search for their beloved ones, those found – in tears. And the life concentrated only around the event – mourning, funeral arrangements, tears, shouts and red carnations – everywhere…

20-Jan-2That night put the end to the love of Azerbaijani nation to the flower – the red carnation – had become the symbol of the bloody night and lost any other meaning, since the millions of red flowers appeared on the funerals on the Martyrs’ Lane, making the red ocean every January so far. And for 17 years, poor red carnation appears only on funerals of Azerbaijani families, but never brings the joy to the good celebration as the redness of flower remind people the blood of 131 Shehids, who sacrificed their lives for our independence …

Allah Rehmet Elesin!
May they Rest in Peace!
Amen!