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THE STATEMENT
Commissioner
for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of
Azerbaijan
on the 21th Anniversary of the
Tragedy of January 20, 1990
21 years have passed since the terrible day
which was the part of the genocide policy of
Soviet Empire against Azerbaijan, resulted in
gross violation of human rights and freedoms and
remained in the history as 20 January tragedy.
The tragedy that was one of the most terrible
acts of torture, inhuman treatment committed
against humanity in the XX century engraved in
memory of our nation forever and became the day
of honour as the first martyrdom summit of the
independence of Azerbaijan.
At the night from 19 to 20 January, 1990,
according to the Orders of the leaders of the
USSR, armoured military forces consisting also
of Armenian officers attacked Baku city,
Sumgayit and in districts of Azerbaijan. Civil
population was annihilated with special cruelty
and torments, everything was destructed by tanks
and armoured military cars.
Hundreds of civil people who struggled for
independence and protected their land, including
women, the elderly, and children were killed,
injured or missing, a lot of administrative
buildings, houses and transport facilities were
seriously damaged.
In order to conceal the exact number of the
killed persons the military offenders
annihilated even their corpses. Only the next
day people were informed about the state of
emergency proclaimed in Baku by military
commandant of Soviet Empire to Baku.
Only in Baku city over 130 civilians were
killed, more than 600 were injured and extensive
destructions were carried out as a result of
military operations jointly conducted by the
Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal
Affairs and the State Security Committee of the
USSR.
During the attack prohibited bullets were used,
ambulance cars and doctors were fired at; tens
of medical servants were injured and killed.
Soviet Union violated the fundamental right of
persons – the right to live, in mass scale,
breaking the norms of international law and the
constitution of the USSR and committing
unprecedented military aggression against
Azerbaijan.
This tragedy is one of the dark pages of the
disgraced history of the Soviet authority as one
of the grievous crimes, unprecedented savagery
committed by the state against its citizens and
as an act against the humanity. The slaughter
committed by the Empire with the intention of
affirming its dictatorship in Azerbaijan gave
contrary result and strengthened persistent
struggle of our people for the independence and
demonstrated their determination towards it.
It was national leader Haydar Aliyev who for
the first time gave political-legal appraisal to
this tragedy. Yet on January 21, 1990 in his
sharp statement he called criminals those who
organized slaughters and demanded to give
political assessment to the crimes committed in
Baku and to punish the perpetrators.
On the recommendation of the national leader
who proclaimed that date as the Day of National
Mourning, the Azerbaijan Parliament (Milli
Majlis) for the first time gave the official,
political and legal assessment to this event and
declared that this tragedy was against struggle
for freedom and independence of the Azerbaijani
people.
Every year 20 January is commemorated as the
Day of National Mourning and the Azerbaijanis
recall heroism of courageous sons of our nation
with respect, besides a range of events are
conducted all over the country in this regard,
martyrs’ families are given special allocation
in accordance with the relevant Decree of the
country President.
The Alley of Martyrs became a holy place
and sanctuary for our nation, also a monument
accusing the perpetrators of the tragedy. Each
time when the foreign guests, public-political
figures, the representatives of international
organizations visit the Martyrs Avenue, they
once more witness the offensive actions of the
persons committed the slaughter against our
people, and get information about the truth of
Azerbaijan and this bloody tragedy.
By committing this crime Soviet Empire
supported uncontrolled political forces of
Armenia. As a result, the Armenian long term
aggression, ethnic cleansing policy were carried
out, massacres were committed against
Azerbaijanis, twenty percent of the country
territory was occupied, more than one million
people became refugees and IDPs in their own
country being banished from Nagorny-Karabakh and
seven surrounding districts of Azerbaijan.
Today when all progressive humanity, nations
strive for peace, development, Armenia carries
out the policy of violence. Consequently, this
has a negative impact on stability,
peacebuilding and development processes in the
South Caucasus and in Europe.
The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev makes every effort for peaceful
solution of the conflict. In the press
conference held during the visit of the
President of European Commission José Manuel
Barroso to Baku, the President of Azerbaijan
noted the fact that Azerbaijani lands are under
long-term Armenian occupation is a matter of
anxiety and this is a potential threat to
regional security. He emphasized that the
European Parliament adopted a Resolution in this
regard, last year; this Resolution complies with
the Resolutions of the UN, Council of Europe and
other influential organizations.
He noted the resolution of the conflict in near
future will lead to returning of Azerbaijani
refugees and IDPs to their lands, to restoration
of our territorial integrity recognized by the
world and of security in the region.
Head of European Commission noted it is the
time for peaceful resolution of the conflict,
and European Commissioner makes its efforts
towards it.
Upcoming days, the issue of resolution of
Nagorny-Karabakh conflict will be an agenda item
for discussion once more, restoration of
violated rights of Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs
will be raised in the session of the Council of
Europe Parliamentary Assembly.
As it is seen from the above mentioned, today
influential international organisations
recognize Armenia as an aggressor and demand
vacation of Azerbaijani lands and restoration of
Azerbaijani territorial integrity. World
community already acknowledges the fairness of
the Azerbaijani position, that its territorial
integrity should be restored; refugees and IDPs
should return their native lands.
One of the main achievements of modern
international law was the raising protection of
human rights and freedoms to the level of
international cooperation, and creation of
international maintenance in this regard. Thus,
human rights exceed the boundaries of internal
power of states and attain international
importance.
The principles of the Universal Declaration
on Human Rights and other International Acts on
Human Rights were violated as a result of crime
committed against civil population on January
20, 1990. It makes bringing the guilty to
international legal responsibility inevitable.
Nevertheless, international legal appraisal was
not given to this bloody tragedy till now.
Recently,
the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon announced
the priorities for UN for 2011. These priorities
include inclusive and sustainable development,
advancing human rights, improving responses to
humanitarian crises, promoting a more safe and
secure world, etc.
We believe that world community, international
organizations will support the justified demands
of Azerbaijan, considering these priorities and
this horrible act of crime which was committed
against our people, planned beforehand and
accompanied with anti-humanism, anti-democracy
and with mass violation of human rights will
receive international recognition and the
perpetrators will be punished soon.
Our people, who are persistent in their lawful
demands, don’t forget the unity demonstrated by
the tragedy victims who fought for the national
independence and will further strengthen the
solidarity of the Azerbaijanis now and in future
for sustainable development, solution of prior
problems of our country, the Rule of Law,
democratization, protection of human rights in
the name of powerful Azerbaijan.
Prof.
Elmira Suleymanova
The Commissioner for Human Rights
(Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan
19.01.2011
The
Statement is addressed to the Secretary-General
of the United Nations, United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights, European
Commission, Council of Europe, OSCE,
International Ombudsman Institute, European
Ombudsman Institute and Asian Ombudsman
Association, International Peace Bureau,
International Peace Federation, ombudspersons of
foreign countries, embassies of Azerbaijan
abroad, as well as the foreign embassies in
Azerbaijan, and organizations of Azerbaijani
Diaspora.
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