Baku: Representatives of Azerbaijan’s civil society, including public activists, family members of the January 20 martyrs, and veterans, have sent an open letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The letter demands the revocation of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Mikhail Gorbachev, citing his direct responsibility for the tragic events of January 19-20, 1990, in Baku and other Azerbaijani regions.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the letter addresses the Chairman and members of the Nobel Committee, highlighting the mass killing of 150 civilians due to the deployment of Soviet troops in Azerbaijan on Gorbachev’s orders. The letter further describes the event as a crime against humanity, violating multiple international human rights conventions. The Azerbaijani representatives argue that the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Gorbachev shortly after this tragedy is a significant injustice.
The letter, signed by numerous Azerbaijani organizations and individuals, urges the Nobel Committee to revoke Gorbachev’s award to restore faith in the Nobel Peace Prize’s moral authority. It emphasizes that the revocation would address the perceived insult to Nobel values and affirm the international community’s commitment to justice. The Azerbaijani people continue to honor the victims annually and remain hopeful for the rectification of this historical injustice.