Ankara remembers Azerbaijan’s 'Black January' victims

By Tugcenur Yilmaz

ANKARA (AA) – A conference on Friday commemorated Azerbaijan’s 29th year of Black January, a violent crackdown during the dissolution of Soviet Union.

The Black January massacre is also regarded as the rebirth of the Azerbaijan. On Jan. 20, 1990, nearly 150 people were killed in capital Baku, marking a movement for independence.

Speaking at the conference, Azerbaijan's Ambassador in Ankara Hazar Ibrahim said that Jan. 20 is not only a dark day but also an honorable day for Azerbaijanis as it led them to their path of recovery.

Recalling the events of Jan. 20, Ibrahim said that in the international arena Turkey was the only country supporting Azerbaijan, while international human rights organizations witnessed the atrocities being committed.

A photo exhibition at the conference also showed incidents of the massacre.