January 20th was commemorated in Gabala region as a day of struggle for sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

On January 20, 1990, on the day that entered as a heroic page in the history of the struggle for freedom and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the use of the military units by the Soviet army against the angry masses, which took action in public in Baku expressing their strong protest against aggressive actions of Armenia, bringing territorial claims against our country, and them being patronized by the USSR, resulted to the unprecedented tragedy in Azerbaijan. On those terrible days valiant sons and daughters of the country have put above all the freedom, honour and dignity of their country, and people have given their lives, and risen to the top of martyrdom. Martyrdom is a vertex, the conquering of which is not given to everyone. And the duty of every nation is a manifestation of respect for the people, who gave their lives for their country. We have given enough martyrs, whether in the Karabakh war or in the events of 20 January. Now the monuments erected in their honour, their graves are revered with respect. In connection with the "Twenty-seventh anniversary of the tragedy of January 20th" a plan of action was approved according to the decree signed by the head of the region executive power. The action plan in connection with the anniversary reflected the commemoration of January 20th in the departments, enterprises and organizations of the region as a symbol of the struggle for the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, organization of literary art compositions, meetings, conferences and discussions, reflecting the events of January 20th, organization of special lessons in the region schools on the tragedy of January 20th, a minute of silence in memory of the martyrs, broadcast of funeral music, provision of information in connection with the tragedy in the "Gabala" newspaper, published in the region, as well as on television and in other news agencies. We owe the independence of our people achieved to the spirit of the martyrs. Expressing this feeling Gabala region community on January 20 visited the Alley of Martyrs to honour the heroes who gave their lives in the struggle for the freedom and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, with deep respect honoured their memory laying flowers to the memorial "Eternal Flame".