January 20 – The Day of Nationwide Sorrow in Azerbaijan

nThe former General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, Mikhail Gorbachev, was the leader of the Soviet Union when it crumbled and died, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. You might think that Gorbachev would consider that allowing his nation to fall was his worst mistake – but actually he considered declaring a state emergency in Baku, Azerbaijan, to be the biggest mistake of his political career.

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nThat happened DURING the fall of the Soviet Union, on this date in 1990. The Azerbaijani people  were attempting to pull away from the USSR, as were so many other Soviet Republics, and become independent. Unfortunately, Gorbachev ordered a crackdown, and 26 THOUSAND Soviet soldiers entered the city to stop the protests and end the independence movement. Between 140 and 300 Azerbaijanis died under the “state of emergency” effort. In addition, 700 – 800 Azerbaijanis were injured, and from 20 to 30 Soviet soldiers were killed and about 90 injured. 

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nAll of those casualties, all of that suffering, all of those lives cut short – and still the Soviet Union fell and Azerbaijan did become independent!

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nIt was in 1995 that Gorbachev took responsibility for this huge misstep and apologized to the Azerbaijani people. But every January 20 they commemorate those who died during Black January, all those years ago.

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nAlso on this date:

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National Heroes’ Day in Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau 

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nPenguin Awareness Day
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• nJanuary holidays

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• nJanuary birthdays

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• nHistorical anniversaries in January

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• nFebruary holidays

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• nFebruary birthdays

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• nHistorical anniversaries in February
  

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