Turkish envoy: January 20 shaped Azerbaijan’s path to independence

Birol Akgün, the Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan, commemorated the events of January 20, 1990, emphasizing the profound impact they had on the nation’s path to sovereignty.

The diplomat noted that the deaths of hundreds of Azerbaijanis during the crackdown represented a high price paid by the people in their pursuit of independence, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Speaking to journalists, Akgün underlined that the sacrifices of the victims of “Black January” were not in vain. “It was precisely these events that, to a large extent, shaped the subsequent path of the Azerbaijani people toward independence and strengthened their determination to establish a sovereign state,” he said.

The ambassador also reaffirmed the enduring strength of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, describing them as unshakable. “Türkiye has always been, and will always be, on Azerbaijan’s side,” Akgün stated, highlighting the historical and ongoing solidarity between the two nations.

By Vafa Guliyeva