On January 19, 2026, a conference dedicated to the 36th anniversary of the January 20 Tragedy titled “Bloody January – A Day of Pride and Heroism” was held at Mingachevir State University.

Before the event, flowers were laid in front of the bust of National Leader Heydar Aliyev located at the university, and the memory of the great leader was honored with deep respect and reverence.

The conference began with a one-minute silence in memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Azerbaijani lands, followed by the performance of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Opening the event with an introductory speech, Rector Anar Eminov stated that the January 20 events were a vivid manifestation of the Azerbaijani people’s will for freedom, national unity, and spirit of struggle, emphasizing that this tragedy became a turning point on Azerbaijan’s path to independence.

In his speech, the rector paid special attention to the historical and political assessment given to the January 20 Tragedy by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, noting that through his statement in Moscow, Heydar Aliyev openly condemned the crime, conveyed the voice of truth of the Azerbaijani people to the world, and ensured that the events received official political and legal recognition at the state level in 1994.

It was also emphasized that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the perpetuation of the memory of the January 20 martyrs, the preservation of the Martyrs’ Alley, and the attention and care shown to the families of martyrs demonstrate the consistent continuation of this policy. The rector noted that this represents the successful continuation of the strategic line determined by National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

Afterwards, a video dedicated to the January 20 Tragedy was screened.

The conference continued with presentations by university lecturers. Sama Suleymanova delivered a presentation titled “January 20 – National Will and a Political Perspective on Imperial Violence,” Associate Professor Gunel Yunusova presented “Blood and Pen: The Literary Memory of January 20,” Tural Hasanqarayev spoke on “The Historical Role of the Press in Documenting the January 20 Events,” and Gulnar Mammadova delivered a presentation titled “Collective Trauma and National Identity: A Psychological Analysis of the January 20 Events.”

At the end of the conference, extensive discussions were held on the topic. During the discussions, Esmira Jafarova, Head of the Department of Humanities, along with department lecturers Mirza Javadov and Ilham Mammadov, shared historical facts related to the topic, emphasized the historical and political significance of the January 20 Tragedy as a turning point on the path to independence, and particularly highlighted the importance of the political and legal assessment given to the tragedy by National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

The importance of always honoring the memory of the January 20 martyrs was especially emphasized.

It should be noted that a series of events dedicated to the 36th anniversary of the January 20 Tragedy are being held at Mingachevir State University.