Lithuanians in Azerbaijan joined the traditional tribute run "The Road of Life and Death" for the first time
On January 10, 2026, Lithuanians living in Azerbaijan participated in the traditional international memorial run "The Road of Life and Death," which was organized for the first time in Baku. The participants honored the memory of the heroes who died on January 13, 1991, in Vilnius and on January 20, 1990, in Baku.
The run began in Martyrs' Alley in Baku and ended at the building housing the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Baku.
The victims of the Soviet Union's crime against humanity on January 20, 1990, are buried in Martyrs' Alley. When the Soviet army invaded Baku, 147 peaceful residents were killed and nearly 800 people were seriously injured.
"As we commemorate Freedom Defenders' Day, which is dear to every Lithuanian, we also express our solidarity with the people of Azerbaijan, who are commemorating the anniversary of Black January just a week apart. Our nations fought the same battle – the battle for freedom. The great sacrifice made by both our nations and the determination to be free oblige us today to strengthen the freedom we have defended," said Lithuanian Ambassador K. Vaškelevičius.
As noted by the Lithuanians who participated in the run, every step of this run is an expression of gratitude and respect for those who fought for Lithuania's freedom, especially those who lost their lives: Loreta Asanavičiūtė, Virginijus Druskis, Darius Gerbutavičius, Rolandas Jankauskas, Rimantas Juknevičius, Alvydas Kanapinskas, Algimantas Petras Kavoliukas, Vytautas Koncevičius, Vidas Maciulevičius, Titas Masiulis, Stasys Mačiulskis, Alvydas Matulka, Apolinaras Juozas Povilaitis, Ignas Šimulionis, and Vytautas Vaitkus.
On the night of January 13, during the Soviet aggression, 14 defenders of freedom were killed and more than a thousand were wounded by tank tracks, bullets, and explosive devices. Three months later, the 15th defender of freedom died in hospital from his serious injuries. Despite the brutal aggression of the paratroopers, the people of Lithuania united to defend their country and their values. Today, January 13 is remembered as the day of the moral triumph of the defenders of freedom.
The "Road of Life and Death" run has been organized since 1992.
