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Azerbaijanis Mark 30th Anniversary Of Bloody 'Black January' Crackdown

Azerbaijanis are set commemorate the 30th anniversary of Black January, a bloody crackdown by Soviet troops that failed to stop Azerbaijan’s independence movement.

On January 20, 1990, more than 200 people were killed after emergency rule was declared and Soviet soldiers fired into crowds of protesters in Baku.

It was part of an attempt by Moscow to prevent the disintegration of the Soviet Union. But the crackdown only strengthened the local independence movement, and the following year Azerbaijan became a sovereign state.
Residents of Baku wave to Soviet tanks entering their city. More than 26,000 Soviet troops invaded the capital of Azerbaijan SSR on the night of January 19,1990. 
1 Residents of Baku wave to Soviet tanks entering their city. More than 26,000 Soviet troops invaded the capital of Azerbaijan SSR on the night of January 19,1990. 
Soviet soldiers block a Baku street on the night of January 19, 1990. Moscow declared a state of emergency and moved in troops after ethnic violence flared between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. Soviet officials used the tensions as a pretext to suppress a growing nationalist movement and support for the pro-independence Popular Front of Azerbaijan.
2 Soviet soldiers block a Baku street on the night of January 19, 1990. Moscow declared a state of emergency and moved in troops after ethnic violence flared between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. Soviet officials used the tensions as a pretext to suppress a growing nationalist movement and support for the pro-independence Popular Front of Azerbaijan.
Gregory Vartanian tells fellow Armenians how he was injured when 40 people ransacked his apartment in Baku. On January 13, 1990, a week before Soviet troops invaded, many ethnic Armenians were targeted. At least 50 people were killed in Baku during ethnic violence between Armenians and Azerbaijanis after fighting flared in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Thirteen thousand Interior Ministry troops who were stationed in Baku did nothing to stop the violence.
3 Gregory Vartanian tells fellow Armenians how he was injured when 40 people ransacked his apartment in Baku. On January 13, 1990, a week before Soviet troops invaded, many ethnic Armenians were targeted. At least 50 people were killed in Baku during ethnic violence between Armenians and Azerbaijanis after fighting flared in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Thirteen thousand Interior Ministry troops who were stationed in Baku did nothing to stop the violence.
This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing.
Azerbaijanis surround a victim of the Soviet crackdown in Baku starting on January 20,1990. Over several days, more than 200 people were killed and at least 700 were wounded as Soviet troops fired without warning into crowds of protesters. Ordinary citizens were targeted. The dead included Azerbaijanis, Tatars, Armenians, Russians, Jews, and Lezgins, a northeast Caucasian ethnic group.
4 Azerbaijanis surround a victim of the Soviet crackdown in Baku starting on January 20,1990. Over several days, more than 200 people were killed and at least 700 were wounded as Soviet troops fired without warning into crowds of protesters. Ordinary citizens were targeted. The dead included Azerbaijanis, Tatars, Armenians, Russians, Jews, and Lezgins, a northeast Caucasian ethnic group.
This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal
Azerbaijanis surround a victim of the Soviet crackdown in Baku starting on January 20,1990. Over several days, more than 200 people were killed and at least 700 were wounded as Soviet troops fired without warning into crowds of protesters. Ordinary citizens were targeted. The dead included Azerbaijanis, Tatars, Armenians, Russians, Jews, and Lezgins, a northeast Caucasian ethnic group.

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