Martyrs of Black January commemorated in London

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in the United Kingdom held a solemn commemorative event dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Black January tragedy.

The event, attended by around 80 guests, including members of the Azerbaijani diaspora, students of British universities, members of the diplomatic corps in London, media representatives, and other individuals, took place at the embassy premises.

The guests first watched a short film in English, narrating the events of January 1990. A minute of silence was then observed to honor the memory of the martyrs.

Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the UK, Elin Suleymanov, delivered a speech on the history of the January 20 events. The diplomat shared his personal experience of studying in Moscow at the time and witnessing the speech of national leader Heydar Aliyev at the Azerbaijani representation after the tragic events.

He said although Azerbaijan had not yet restored its independence, it was already clear that Heydar Aliyev would become the leader of the new independent Azerbaijan.

Suleymanov emphasized that today's modern, strong, and multicultural Azerbaijan is the most sacred tribute to the blessed memory of the martyrs. He stressed the importance of every Azerbaijani continuing to stand guard over the freedom and sovereignty of the country. The diplomat also highlighted that Azerbaijan is confidently moving forward under the wise leadership of Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.

Tamara Dragadze, a researcher of Georgian origin who was in Azerbaijan during the events of January 20, closely followed the developments. She stated that on that night, peaceful Azerbaijanis were subjected to targeted attacks, with the aim of this bloody campaign being to break the will of the people, but it failed. Dragadze expressed her joy at seeing the successful development of modern Azerbaijan.

Member of the Milli Majlis and Chairman of the Britain-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, Fariz Ismayilzada, noted that January 20 was indeed a turning point in the history of modern Azerbaijan. He spoke about the country's development as an independent state, how it became a regional leader, and the importance of not forgetting the price our state paid for independence.

The event continued with an artistic program, paying tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijan's freedom.