The January 20 tragedy is the beginning of our heroic history. This is the first peak of Azerbaijan's path to independence, the awakening of the desire for freedom of our national ideology. It is a glorious history when the people living under the Soviet empire for many years raised the voice of freedom and showed courage for their sovereignty. Despite the fact that 34 years have passed, it is still remembered everywhere today with deep sadness.

On January 19, the memory of the Martyrs of January 20 was commemorated at Sumgait State University.

First, the management of the university, members of the families of the martyrs, professors, teachers, and students laid flowers in front of the monument erected in memory of our graduate martyrs who died during the bloody January in the yard of the university and remembered their souls with a minute of silence.

The rector drew attention to the fact that National leader Heydar Aliyev came to the permanent representation of Azerbaijan in Moscow on January 21 and for the first time expressed his protest against the bloody crime committed against our people, issued a statement and demanded that the perpetrators of the tragedy be brought to justice. This step and decisive position of the Great Leader increased the determination of the Azerbaijani people to fight for national freedom.

A worthy follower of the great leader Heydar Aliyev's path and his political legacy, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, always focuses on the perpetuation of the memory of the martyrs of January 20, the exaltation of their names, as well as the strengthening of the social protection of their families. As always, today's event is attended by members and relatives of the martyrs' families, regular meetings are organized with the martyrs' families, and they are interested in their social problems.

Aysel Shamilova, senior lecturer of the history department of Azerbaijan and Eastern Europe peoples, gave a report on ‘The tragedy of January 20 is a terrible crime committed against the people of Azerbaijan and humanity.’

Zahid Bunyadov, senior lecturer of the department of Philosophy, Sociology and Political Science, ‘The way to the events of January 20’, Jeyhun Gasymbeyli, a teacher of the Department of History of Azerbaijan and Eastern European peoples, ‘January 20 is the peak of the struggle for independence’, Anar Gurbanov, a second-year graduate student of the faculty of History and geography, ‘National Leader Heydar Aliyev's political assessment of the events of January 20 made their reports. They said that although January 20 was one of the most tragic days in our recent past, it was engraved in the memory of our people as a heroic history. This tragedy united the people like a fist and showed the strength of Azerbaijanis all over the world.’