[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 24, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E242-E243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REMEMBERING THE LIVES LOST DURING THE KHOJALY MASSACRE AND ``BLACK 
                        JANUARY'' IN AZERBAIJAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONALD M. PAYNE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 2015

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for very important reasons. 
First, I would like to commemorate the tragedy that took place in 
Khojaly, Azerbaijan, where on February 25, 1992, 23 years ago, 444 
mostly elderly men, 106 women and 63 children were brutally killed. 
Please join me in recognizing the horrific atrocities that took place 
during the month of February in Khojaly, Azerbaijan.
   Secondly, I would like to recognize the night of January 19, 1990, 
as ``Black January.'' On this day, 26,000 Soviet troops invaded the 
capital city of Baku and surrounding areas. By the end of the following 
day, more than 130 people had died, 611 were injured, 841 were arrested 
and 5 were missing. This event is memorialized as ``Black January,'' 
and, for the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan this event left an 
indelible mark on their minds and hearts.
   Although Azerbaijan thrives today, the people of Azerbaijan 
recognize those who lost their lives in Black January, 1990, and honor 
their sacrifice through their commitment to the ideals of democracy.
   Mr. Speaker, Azerbaijan is a strong ally of the United States in a 
strategically important and complex region of the world. I ask my 
colleagues to join me and our Azerbaijani friends in commemorating the 
tragedy that occurred in the town of Khojaly as well as Black January.

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