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Rep. Edolphus Towns

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the people of Azerbaijan in remembrance of the 22nd anniversary of the tragic events of Black January, when at midnight of January 19, 1990, 26,000 Soviet troops stormed the capital city of Baku with tanks and armored vehicles to crush the demonstrators. The shooting continued for three days and among the victims were women, children and elderly citizens.

Black January had a profound effect on Azerbaijan. However, it was the opposite of what the Soviets had wanted. For 40 days, the country mourned the victims and as a sign of mass protest stayed away from work. This was a turning point in the history of Azerbaijan. This massacre did not stop the people of Azerbaijan from continuing their struggle for national independence. The Azerbaijani national movement succeeded to stand against Soviet challenge, and Soviet troops eventually had to withdraw from Baku. Subsequently, Azerbaijan declared its independence on October 18, 1991.

Azerbaijan has developed into a thriving country and has become an essential partner of the United States in the region, collaborating on strengthening energy security and working together to counter terrorism, drug-trafficking and extremism. I would like to thank the Azerbaijani people for their friendship and share my thoughts and prayers with the families of those who gave their lives fighting for a better Azerbaijan. The United States will continue to work with Azerbaijan and other countries in the region to resolve protracted conflicts, to promote democratic development, to maintain stability, strengthen institutions, and enhance the rule of law.