Baku State University (BSU) held an event marking the 35th anniversary of the January 20 tragedy.

The ceremony began with a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijan's independence and territorial integrity. Participants then laid flowers at the monument outside the university's academic building No. 2. Following this, the event continued in the university's large assembly hall.

In his opening address, BSU Rector Elchin Babayev described January 20 as a symbol of the Azerbaijani people's struggle for independence, freedom, and resilience. He emphasized that the military aggression carried out by the Soviet army on this day stands as one of the gravest crimes against humanity. The rector highlighted the sacrifice of Azerbaijan's patriotic sons, who placed their homeland's freedom and dignity above all else, achieving martyrdom on that tragic night 35 years ago. This event, he noted, catalyzed the national liberation movement, transforming it into a political reality and solidifying the path toward an independent Azerbaijan.

Rector Babayev also recalled the decisive actions of national leader Heydar Aliyev, who condemned the USSR leadership's actions during a statement made at Azerbaijan’s representative office in Moscow. On Aliyev's initiative, the events of January 20 were given their first legal and political assessment on March 29, 1994.

The rector further noted the role of BSU's teachers, students, and graduates during the events of January 20, many of whom courageously stood against the enemy forces. Among them were those who achieved martyrdom: "The memory of our student martyrs will forever live in our hearts. The unity and resilience demonstrated during the events of January 20 ultimately paved the way for our nation's Victory in the 44-day Patriotic War. Through the leadership of Supreme Commander-in-Chief President Ilham Aliyev, the courage of our army, and the unity of our people, all our martyrs were avenged," he concluded.

Deputies of the Milli Majlis, Hikmet Babaoglu and Rizvan Nabiyev, along with Associate Professor of the Faculty of History Elvira Latifova, also addressed the audience.

The event concluded with a screening of the documentary "In the Footsteps of History – Bloody Saturday Night."