Tragedy of 20 January was commemorated in a series of events in the Netherlands

A series of events were held in the Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam to commemorate 30th anniversary of 20 January 1990 tragedy. Azerbaijani diaspora residing in the Netherlands, diplomats, students and youth actively participated in these events. Memory of the victims of 20 January tragedy was honoured by a minute of silence. 

On the night of January 19-20, 1990 Soviet troops attacked Baku, Azerbaijan from all directions, including the sea in order to suppress movement for the independence and freedom of Azerbaijanis. During that night, Soviet army used unjustifiable force against local civilians. Soldiers indiscriminately fired on women, elderly and infants; even drivers of the ambulance cars and doctors were subjected to brutal killing. Tanks and armoured transporters were crushing civilians and medical vehicles with people inside.  The heavy-handed crackdown resulted in 147 civilian deaths and the injuring of around 800 people.  Human Rights Watch reported that the violence used by the Soviet Army on the night of January 19—20 was so out of proportion to the resistance offered by Azerbaijanis as to constitute an exercise in collective punishment.