On January, 20th in Azerbaijan it is marked Day of the Nationwide Sorrow. In the night from 19 for January, 20th, 1990 in Baku and a number of areas of Azerbaijan the Soviet Army had been carried out the bloody cruel suppression of the political opposition which have ended with  dest-ruction more of hundred of civilians. Similar events have occurred earlier in Alma-Ata (1986), in Tbilisi (1989), later in Dushanbe (1990), in Vilnius and Riga (1991) where the Soviet citizens beca-me victims, however events in Baku had no analogs on the cruelty and quantity of victims. Intrusi-on into Baku large contingent of parts of the Soviet army, internal troops and special purpose groups was accompanied by special cruelty. Punishment over the peace population has been made, hundreds people have been killed, wounded, were missing. Military men had been crushed and bur-ned 200 houses and apartments, 80 cars, including ambulances. Among killed there were women, children and old men, and also ambulancemen and polismen. Military men with special cruelty shot people on a place in an emphasis, carried out deliberate arrivals of tanks and an armored troop-car-rier on automobile cars with murder in them people, fired at hospitals, interfered the medicosanitary personnel to assist wounded men.
The bloody tragedy, happened in Baku in January, 1990 has shown antinational character of a totalitarian regime, fictitiousness of the sovereign rights of union republics when armed forces of the USSR have been once again used against own people.
The analysis of the actions which are carried out by party, by state structures on the threshold of January, 20th, and also the inconsistent processes going to Baku, shows that the January tragedy was a consequence of in advance prepared military operation. The Karabakh problem, and also hea-vy economic situation became the major factor which has caused growth of the Azerbaijan national movement. Unsuccessful efforts of the center to resolve the Karabakh crisis along with inability of a republican management to protect national interests of Azerbaijan, with a distress of the refugees expelled from Armenia have led to national explosion. Mass meetings have begun with the begin-ning of January, 1990 in Baku to make the protest against an inactive government. The authority of Communist party has sharply fallen, there was a threat of loss of the power. On January, 15th state of emergency in a number of areas of Azerbaijan has been declared. On January, 17th supporters of the Popular Front oppositional to the power have begun continuous meeting before a building of the Central Committee of Communist Party, having blocked to it all approaches.
Within January, 16-19th on approaches to Baku the large grouping of the Soviet armies by an aggregate number more than 50.000 military men from structure of parts Transcaucasian, Moscow, Leningrad, other military districts, navy fleet, internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been created. The Baku bay and approaches to it have been blocked by the ships and boats of the Caspian military flotilla. Quickly the appeal of reservists from the Krasnodar, Stavropol edges and the Rostov region, their transfer in Baku on January, 16th, 1990 has begun. Among reservists there were many persons of the Armenian nationality that should be considered as provocation of forces interested in inflating of the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict.
Subsequently by Court of inquiry it has been established that reservists and the staff of the parts entering into a city, was exposed to the strengthened psychological processing: misinforma-tion about necessity of the given action in connection with protection of Russian which ostensibly brutally are destroyed by local population extended, the false data was informed on a significant amount of snipers and the submachine gunners of the Popular Front which will meet armies the massed automatic and machine-gun fire, etc. Thus, the staff waited for furious fire resistance and, in essence, has been psychologically prepared for cruelty display. Some days before events members by a family of the Soviet military men from a city of Baku were urgently evacuated. Thus, all con-ditions for realization of military aggression and for input of armies were created.
For realization of this planned criminal act to Baku there have arrived the Minister of Defence of the USSR D.Jazov and the Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR V.Bakatin, other higher mili-tary ranks and party functionaries who assured of all performances that have arrived to understand a situation and not to admit input of armies in a city.
Blasting by group of a special purpose of KGB of the USSR on January, 19th at 19:30 the power block of the Azerbaijan television and the full termination in republic of radio and telecasts in day of input of armies became the next stage of military operation.
In the night from 19 for January, 20th, 1990 the Soviet army stormed Baku for the purpose of defeat of the Popular Front and rescue of the power of Communist party in Azerbaijan, being guid-ed by the decree about input in a city of state of emergency which has been declared since the mid-night. However that the teleether after power unit explosion at television station has been discon-nected, townsmen didn't know that occurs. The majority citisens of Baku have learned about intro-duction of state of emergency only in 5:30 mornings from the announcement by radio and from the leaflets scattered from helicopters when was already too late.
As a result of operation code-named "Blow" in a city 134 civilians have been killed, 700 persons are wounded, many persons were lost. Murders accompanied also introduction of armies in other cities of Azerbaijan. Tanks and armoured troop-carriers went on live people, leaving hundreds killed and crippled on the way. The army used the advanced fighting means, on people shot from tanks, mortars, automatic machines. Some persons was killed in the apartments from the bullets which have been started up by soldiers in windows of houses. The British journalist Tom de Vaal wrote: «Tanks crept through barricades, rumpling on the way cars and even first aid vans. Accor-ding to eyewitnesses, soldiers shot at running people, finished wounded men. The bus with civilians has been fired, and many passengers, including the fourteen-year girl, were killed».
Subsequently the Soviet management motivated carrying out of the military action by neces-sity of protection of the Armenian population, and also protection of families of military men. Hu-man rights organization Human Rights Watch asserts that the majority of the facts, in particular documents of military Office of Public Prosecutor in Baku, testify that the military action has been planned in advance, without pursuing the aim of protection of Armenians and families of military men. It is obvious that the action pursued the aim of destruction of political opposition, suppression of national movement, inflating of international conflicts. Heads of Soviet Union asserted that insurgents of the Popular Front of Azerbaijan have opened fire on soldiers. However independent organization "Shield" which consists of group of lawyers and reserve officers, having studied documents has specified that military operations couldn't find out «armed insurgents of Popular Front of Azerbaijan» on which presence was based application by the Soviet armies of fire-arms and has come to conclusion that the army waged war with the citizens, having demanded to begin criminal investigation against the Minister of Defence of the USSR Dmitry Jazov who personally conducted operation. Also cases of application by armies of the bullets forbidden by the international community with the displaced center of gravity have been found out.
In the morning the Decree of the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of M.S. Gorbachev about introduction since January, 20th in Baku of state of emergency on January, 20th has been announced. It is remarkable that the announcement of introduction of state of emergency and a curfew has followed after introduction of armies in a city and the made slaughter. Besides, the Decree has been accepted with rough infringement of point 14 of article 119 of the Constitution of the USSR according to which as an indispensable condition of introduction of state of emergency it is required considerations of a question of Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of union republic. In the speech on radio on January, 20th, 1990 the Chairman of Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan Kafarova E.M. has declared the resolute protest in connection with rough infringement of the sovereignty of republic and the announcement of state of emergency in Baku. Kafarova E.M. with all responsibility has declared that governing bodies of Azerbaijan didn't make any decision on introduction of state of emergency and didn't give the consent to acceptances of the similar decision.
From the date of tragedy activity of all mass media in Azerbaijan have been suspended and the people has been deprived the right to information reception. The Azerbaijan people have ap-peared in information blockade, however progressive freedom-loving people in process of forces tried to inform to the public truth. So, known Russian film director Stanislav Govorukhin in 7th number of a weekly journal «Moscow news» from February, 18th, 1990 in article «Rehearsal?» wrote: «In the night from 19th on 20 armies have entered into a city. But the Soviet Army was in-cluded into the Soviet city as army of invaders: under the screen of night, on tanks and armoured cars, clearing away a way by fire and a sword. According to the military commandant, the expense of ammunition this night-60 thousand cartridges. The automobile car stood on the roadside on sum-qait’s road, passing a tank column, in car- three scientists from Academy of Sciences, the three professors, one of them-the woman. Suddenly the tank has left a column, gnashing caterpillars on metal, has moved the car, having crushed all passengers. The column hasn't stopped — has left to smash «the enemy who has sat down at a city»».
The Soviet military management tried declare victims as insurgents, however even the superficial review of circumstances of their  destruction shows falsity of statements of military men. So, Abbasova Farida Nariman kizi, born in1952, has been shot on a balcony of the house. Abdullaev Tariel Hadzhibala oqli, born in 1965, is arrested in Lenkoran, at sending in Baku is strangled by military men in the helicopter. Abbasov Zohrab Geydarali oqli, born in 1970, is brutally beaten by military men, has died of a beating on square. Abdullaev Eyyub Mahmud oqli, born in 1967, is killed in hotel "Nakhichevan". The sergeant of militia Abilgasanov Ilgar Yusif oqli has been stopped in the street for check of documents and shot, without having had time to show them at all. The cook Aqaquseynov Nureddin Aslan oqli, born in 1951, is shot in own car when came back home. The construction superintendent who was coming back from building, Aliev Bayram Madat oqli, born in 1950, have been beaten by military men, has died of traumas by the blunt tool, injury and damage of an internal and edges. Allahverdiyev Ruslan Kamal oqli, born in 1957, is shot in a back, crushed by the tank. The driver of "first aid" Ashrafov Rahman Ismihan oqli has got wound when transported wounded men in hospital. Has died in three days in neurosurgical hospital. The doctor of other carriage of "first aid", Marhevka Alexander Vitalevich has died on the spot at bombardment of the carriage of "first aid" by military men. Babayeva Surayya Latif kizi born in 1913, is killed on January, 22nd at building bombardment in which she was, from passing by an armoured troop-carrier. Baqirov Baloglan Habib oqli, the veterinary surgeon born in 1966, is shot and crushed by the Soviet tank on January, 22nd at returning home. Badalov Rovshan Seyfulla oqli, born in 1965, has been shot on January, 26th by the Soviet military men whom trying to hide a crime, have poured over a body gasoline and have burned. The younger sergeant of militia Bagirov Telman Melik oqli is shot by the Soviet soldiers, trying to stop bombardments. On January, 24th left of moving on a route of Baku-Sumgait of a column the infantry fighting vehicle has driven into the car standing at a roadside "Zhiguli". In the car the professor, the Doctor of Chemistry, the author of 110 proceedings, more 40 inventions Mamedova Svetlana Gamid's kizi, and also her associate, professor Ismail Mursagulov and Ibragim Ibragimov have been crushed. After commission of crime the column has continued away. Abduev Tariel Orudzh oqli, born in 1949, coming back from work has been wounded. The car carrying it in hospital, has got under bombardment and has turned over, Abduev was killed. Abdullaev Zahid Abdulla oqli, went in the bus home, was killed at bombardment of the bus by military men. Mamedova Larisa Farman kizi, the schoolgirl of 7th class was killed, when military men have fired at the bus in which she with the father, the bus driver, went home. The list may continued.
On January, 20th on a city the information has extended that military men on purpose to hide traces of crimes, load bodies of victims on military boats on purpose to drown in the sea. Captains of the civil ships of the Caspian sea shipping company blocked the Baku bay, without giving passes of the military ships. Some of civil courts have been fired from boats, and also large-caliber machine guns from coast, but they haven't left a bay.
Under an unremitting rumble of sirens of civil courts and factories on January, 20th and 21 bodies of victims have been cleaned from streets, on places of  death of people have been scattered ten thousand scarlet carnations. On a Central Committee building there were inscriptions: "Down with the Soviet empire!", "down with the CPSU!", "the Soviet army — fascist army", and on a building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs the slogan "Glory to the CPSU!” has been brought down. In the evening on January, 21st has opened emergency session of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic which recognized as wrongful input of armies in Baku and has suspended the Decree of Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR about state of emergency in a city, having declared that if the central authorities ignore this decision, the question on an exit of Azerbaijan from the USSR will be state.
On January, 22nd, 1990 practically all population of a city left on funeral of the sons and daughters. In the sky tens military helicopters have been lifted, the Baku bay has been surrounded by the military ships, on roofs of houses there were machine guns, at crossroads both large streets and prospectuses there was a military technology, but all it was able not stop a human stream. All victims have been buried in the highest point of a city - Upland park. Here there was an Avenue of shehids - a brotherly cemetery where remains of womens, old mens, young mens, childrens of different nationalities - Azerbaijanians, Russian, Jews, Tatars, Lezghins, Georgians etc. They have been buried as heroes of struggle for independence.
That day the airport, station, long-distance telecommunication have stopped work and all 40 days of mourning each hour sounded sirens of the ships and factories.
On January, 25th the civil vessels blocking the Baku bay, have been grasped by a naval landing. The military management reported that the Soviet Army has restored overthroved Soviet power in cities of Azerbaijan.
However in practice, as the British journalist Tom de Vaal considers, "on January, 20th, 1990 Moscow, in effect, has lost Azerbaijan". Right after on January, 20th has begun 40 days of mourning in which current crafts, factories, ports, railway stations, the airports didn't work. This protest strike which has captured all republic has caused a huge loss to economy of the USSR – republic not only itself didn't yield revenue, but transportation of cargoes across all caucasus, and also trade of the USSR with Iran was sharply reduced. Ten thousand Azerbaijan communists have publicly burned the party-membership cards. The republic has accepted a course on secession of the USSR and creation of the independent state.
The illegal announcement of state of emergency in Baku, intrusion of armed forces into a city and the arranged brutal punishment over the peace population with attraction of heavy machinery and a lethal weapon in the conditions of total absence or resistance was a crime against the Azerbaijan people.
As the national leader of the Azerbaijan people Heydar Aliyev marked, «On January, 20th, 1990 has become history of Azerbaijan as one of the most tragic days, and at the same time as heroic page of our people.”