32 years have passed since the events of January 20, 1990, which entered the history of the Azerbaijani people as the Bloody January tragedy. This history has entered the modern history of Azerbaijan as one of the most tragic days, as well as a heroic page of our people, a symbol of the struggle for national independence, freedom and invincible will. The tragedy of January 20, which will live forever in the memory of the blood of our people, is celebrated every year as the National Day of Mourning. As in all parts of the country, Sumgayit State University is taking measures in this direction.

An event dedicated to the 32nd anniversary of the January 20 tragedy was held at Sumgayit State University on January 19.

First, the leadership and students of Sumgayit State University, members of the families of martyrs visited the memorial of students and graduates erected in the courtyard of the university and laid flowers in front of the monument. They commemorated the souls of our martyrs who died for the freedom and territorial integrity of our homeland with a minute of silence.

Participants of the event viewed a book exhibition dedicated to the January 20 tragedy, organized by the Scientific Library of the University. Books with information about the events of January 20 were displayed at the exhibition.

A documentary film about the January 20 tragedy was shown at the event in the assembly hall.

Opening the event, the rector of the university, Professor Elkhan Huseynov, spoke about the causes of the January 20 tragedy, the traces and consequences of this bloody event in our history. He noted that the January 20 tragedy is the next page in the history of heroism and national struggle of our people. The January tragedy was not only a national tragedy, but also showed the inseparable will of the Azerbaijani people. On that terrible night Some graduates of Sumgayit State University, family members of employees heroically wrote a bright page in the history of Azerbaijan, paved the way for the national freedom and independence of the people.

On the night of January 19-20, 1990, under the leadership of the USSR Minister of Defense D. Yazov, troops destroyed barricades from different directions and entered the city, firing on the population with heavy equipment and various types of weapons. As a result, hundreds of people were killed and injured. In these difficult days of the Azerbaijani people, the great politician and prominent statesman Heydar Aliyev visited the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan in Moscow on January 21, 1990 and addressed thousands of Azerbaijanis gathered here and strongly protested against this event. Heydar Aliyev assessed the decision of the USSR leadership to send troops to Baku as a step contrary to humanity, democracy and the constitution and demanded that the perpetrators of this tragedy be punished. In this famous speech, Heydar Aliyev for the first time gave a political assessment to the events of January 20, and the text of his speech was widely disseminated throughout the world and the republic. Despite the state of emergency, a large mourning was held on January 22, 1990 in Baku"s Azadlig Square. Despite all the persecution and influence, the central government has not been able to break the ideas of national democracy and independence of our people. After this tragedy, our people became even stronger. He fought for independence to the end and achieved independence. January 20, 1990 entered the history of Azerbaijan as one of the most tragic days, as well as a heroic page of our people.

The rector also noted that the souls of our martyrs are happy today. As a result of the military and political skills of the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, thanks to the bravery of our mighty army, the martyrdom of our martyrs was avenged by the historic victory of Karabakh in the 44-day Patriotic War. Samir Karimli, Associate Professor of the Department of History and its Teaching Methods, Parviz Jafarov, Senior Lecturer of the Department of History of Azerbaijan and Eastern Europe, spoke on "The struggle of our people on the way to freedom", "The tragedy of January 20 and its consequences". They stressed that this event is not only a bloody page in the memory of the Azerbaijani people, but also a day of pride. They noted that January 20 is not only a tragedy in the history of Azerbaijan, but also the first peak of Azerbaijan"s path to independence, the day of awakening the desire for freedom of our national ideology. This is a glorious history in which the people living in captivity in the Soviet empire for many years raised their voices for freedom and showed courage for their sovereignty.

Afterwards, family members of the martyred graduates, Islam Gahramanov, father of Shahid Vidadi Gahramanov, and Saadat Adiyeva, sister of Martyr Hamza Adiyev spoke at the event.