On January 19 the cochairman of working group on Azerbaijan in the US Congress Bill Shuster has made in the House of Representatives a statement in connection with the events Janaury 20, 1990. The statement runs:
"I, as the cochairman of working group on Azerbaijan in the Congress, join the Azerbaijani people who esteems today victims of the events of Black January. On the night from 19 to 20 January, 1990 approximately 26 thousand Soviet troops on tanks and with armored units have intruded in the capital of Azerbaijan, the city of Baku. That night the Soviet military forces, having marched on tanks through bodies of innocent Azerbaijanis, opened fire on peace demonstrators, including women and children. According to Azerbaijan sources, as a result of this ruthless act 134 persons were lost, while 611 wounded, 841 arrested and 5 persons were missing.
In the Human Rights Watch report under the name "Bloody January in Azerbaijan" it is stated that during intrusion into Baku there were brutally violated not only human rights, but also were attacked on the medical personnel, ambulance cars and even hospitals. According to the report, the violence by the Soviet army was application of mass punishment. Doing this, the Soviet soldiers warned not only Azerbaijanis, but also nationalists of Soviet Union, other republics. The Black January massacre, without having broken spirit of Azerbaijanis, on the contrary, strengthened the liberation movement in the country, united the Azerbaijani people for aspiration to freedom.
Today Azerbaijan as the important and strategic partner of the United States is going to mark the 20th anniversary of its secession from the Soviet Union. With pride I express gratitude to the Azerbaijani people for friendship, and extend condolences to the families of victims, who fell for independence of Azerbaijan. I urge my colleagues to visit the memorial of Black January erected in memory of the victims who were killed by the Soviet military men and to join Azerbaijanis, who honor this day”.
/AzerTAc/
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