Three years pass since liberation of Azerbaijan's Shusha from Armenian occupation

Today marks the first-ever day of Shusha city in Azerbaijan, Report informs.

Thus, Shusha City Day is solemnly celebrated on November 8 every year, following the decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on July 31, 2023.

The celebration of this significant day on this date is related to the liberation of the city of Shusha on November 8.

On November 8, 2020, the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, announced the liberation of Shusha from the occupation. The tricolor flag of Azerbaijan was hoisted in the center of the city.

The liberation of Shusha was a successful operation of the Azerbaijani army, which predetermined the outcome of the Patriotic War. On November 7, Azerbaijani special forces, moving in the direction of the city, made their way through dense forests and ravines, hard-to-reach mountain passes. Climbing the rocks in groups of 100 people, the brave fighters of Azerbaijan entered Shusha from several directions, with hand-to-hand fighting ensuing. During the fighting, Armenian troops launched a rocket attack on Shusha, firing Iskander missiles targeting the Azerbaijani special forces. Despite the enemy's resistance, the valiant Azerbaijani army liberated Shusha on November 8.

After the city regained its freedom, restoration, construction, and reconstruction work started in Shusha, and important openings were held there. Thus, large construction projects are currently being implemented in the liberated territories: new schools, mosques, hospitals, and other important facilities, as well as residential buildings, are being built.

During this period, Shusha hosted many local and international events. Over the past three years, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited Shusha many times and got acquainted with the repair, restoration, and reconstruction work there.

In May 2021, the city of Shusha was declared the cultural capital of Azerbaijan by order of President Ilham Aliyev.

At the same time, on May 12–13, 2021, the Khari Bulbul Music Festival was held on Jidir Plain in Shusha. Shusha, the cradle of culture, welcomed its natives and guests again after 29 years.

During the past period, upon the order of President Ilham Aliyev, Aydın Karimov was appointed special representative of the President in the Shusha district. The public legal entity of the Shusha City State Reserve was established.

On January 5, 2022, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree declaring 2022 the “Year of Shusha” in Azerbaijan.

Over the past three years, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have visited Shusha city many times and got acquainted with the repair, restoration, and reconstruction works carried out there.

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and his wife, Ziroatkhon Mirziyoyeva, also visited Shusha on August 23 this year. The heads of state and their wives visited the Saatli Mosque and viewed the “Heydar Aliyev and Karabakh” exhibition at the Creative Center restored by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and the monuments to prominent personalities of Azerbaijan such as Natavan, Bulbul and Uzeyir Hajibayli, which were shot by Armenians in Shusha during the occupation. After viewing the master plan of Shusha, the presidents and their wives visited the Natavan spring, as well as the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque, the House-Museum of Bulbul, Mehmandarov's Estate Complex, and the Jidir Duzu plain.

With the unanimous opinion of the conference participants of the 12th Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World held in Doha, Qatar, Shusha was declared the capital of the Islamic world for 2024.

As a result of local anti-terrorist measures carried out by the Azerbaijani Army in Karabakh on September 19–20, 2023, the territories of Azerbaijan were cleared of separatists, and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan were fully ensured.

On October 15, President Ilham Aliyev visited the city of Khankandi, as well as the Khojavand, Shusha, Khojaly, and Aghdara districts. The head of state also visited the Askaran fortress and raised the Azerbaijani flag there.

Currently, life in Shusha is reviving, and the city is waiting for its residents.

The city of Shusha was occupied by the Armenian armed forces on May 8, 1992. After the occupation, 22,000 people of the city were displaced to different regions of Azerbaijan. During the occupation of Shusha, 195 people were killed and 165 were injured. In addition, 55 people were captured and taken hostage.