Azerbaijan Free Speech Foundation sent an appeal on the issue of 20th aniversary of 20 January tragedy to the world nations and countries. It is said in the appeal: “20 years passed from Baku massacre procreated by USSR forces which dated in the history as breaking Article II established “Human’s right to live”, Article III established “Human’s right not to undergo to torture humiliating dignity” of European Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms, and also the requirements of other international law norms. Soviet tanks leading to peaceful people carried out massacre at the night from 19 to 20, 20 years ago. Therefore, 146 people were killed, 700 people were injured, more than 800 movement activists were put into prison. As a result of blowing up of AzTV energy block and generally, till corresponding decree came into force, 9 people were already killed. The massacre began in Baku was continued in the regions of the country. Azerbaijani citizens in Lankaran and Neftchala were fired at intensively.”
It is touched upon the fact of not political estimating of this event by USSR and Russian Federation, a legal heir of this country up to now in the appeal : “ Though 20 years passed from this terrible event, vandalism action, Azerbaijan people, especially relatives of 20 January martyrs worry about not political estimating of this event by Russia, a legal heir of USSR that became archive of history”.
It is specially stressed in the appeal that not acknowledging the crime fact by Russia will remain as a precedent for such kind of bloody events in the future. “Political estimating of this terrible event by Russia will not give back the flowed blood, the sons and daugters of the people died tragically. However, not acknowledging this historical crime officially can play a precedent role to repeat analogic events in future. We call all the world nations to notify attitude to the fact of not political estimating of Russia in order not being repeated such undesireable events in any nation history”.

Baku, 13 January, 2010
AFSF