By Ivan Gharibyan

The introduction of Soviet troops to Baku, Azerbaijan, in January 1990, was the only way of putting an end to Armenian pogroms in the city, January 13 to 19, when brutalized gangs led by the national-fascist Popular Front of Azerbaijan (PFA) tortured, raped and murdered Armenians. Since the authorities of Soviet Azerbaijan lost control of the situation, the Soviet troops stationed in Baku were blocked, and some Russian servicemen and their family members killed. It was only the belated entry of Soviet troops to Baku on the night on January 20, 1990, that prevented further annihilation of the Armenian - and Russian - population. Official Azerbaijani propaganda calls that preventive measure "a terrorist act against the Azerbaijani people, attempt to suppress its will for freedom."

The Azeri propaganda, concealing the reasons for the entry of troops to Baku, is trying to convince the Azerbaijani people that murdering hundreds of people for ethnic and religious reasons was "struggle against the totalitarian system, for freedom and independence." However, the Azeri propaganda machinery is unable to refute the facts.

In this context, NEWS.am would like to refer to a documentary entitled "Standing in the breach" (Russian: "Огонь на себя") by N. Koloshinski and A. Sholmov. The documentary, which was shot in 1990, tells all the details about the events in Baku. The Russian servicemen and their wives told about the atrocities committed by the PFA members, some of whom were killed after Soviet troops entered the city on the night of January 20, 1990, and buried at the Shahid Alley.

Armenians and Russians were murdered and persecuted in Baku. But the official Azeri propaganda goes on spreading monstrous lies.