Azerbaijan's 'Black January': Remembering The 1990 Crackdown That Helped End Soviet Rule

The use of Soviet troops against civilians in Baku on January 19-20, 1990 cemented Azerbaijan’s resolve to leave the USSR and reclaim its independence. The crackdown occurred amidst signs that Moscow was losing control of the situation on the ground in Azerbaijan. Tensions were spiraling with neighboring Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region and Azerbaijani protesters wanted officials to resign. Current Time spoke with an eyewitness of these events.