Soviet military crackdown in Baku on 19–20 January 1990 killed at least 147 civilians and marked a turning point in Azerbaijan's independence movement.
Key Facts
- Civilians killed
- 147
- People injured
- 800
- People missing
- 5
- Date of crackdown
- 19–20 January 1990
- Supreme Soviet resolution
- 22 January 1990 — declared act of aggression
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Rising Azerbaijani nationalism and anti-Soviet sentiment prompted Soviet authorities, including General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev and Defence Minister Dmitry Yazov, to declare a state of emergency in Baku, citing the need to prevent the Azerbaijani independence movement from overthrowing the Soviet Azerbaijani government.
On 19–20 January 1990, Soviet military forces conducted a violent crackdown in Baku, deploying troops under emergency rule. According to official Azerbaijani estimates, 147 civilians were killed, approximately 800 were injured, and five people went missing during the operation.
On 22 January 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR passed a resolution declaring the Soviet presidential decree imposing emergency rule and military deployment an act of aggression, deepening the rift between Azerbaijan and the Soviet central government and accelerating the independence movement.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Mikhail Gorbachev, Dmitry Yazov.
Side B
1 belligerent