The Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia organized a solemn evening dedicated to Victory Day in Moscow, APA's Moscow bureau reports.
The event was attended by representatives of Russia's political and public circles, ambassadors of several countries accredited in Moscow, military attachés, and prominent representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora.
Guests were shown a film about Azerbaijan's victory in the Second Karabakh War. Following the screening, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Russia, Rahman Mustafayev, addressed the guests.
He stated that the Azerbaijani flag was raised over the Shusha fortress on November 8, 2020: "Our people worked toward this victory for 32 years."
The ambassador recalled the cities and villages destroyed during decades of occupation, the cultural monuments demolished, and the places of worship desecrated.
Speaking about the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, Mustafayev noted that negotiations within the OSCE Minsk Group had led to the freezing of the conflict, while UN Security Council resolutions had remained a subject of discussion for years.
"The most important lesson and significance of November 8 is that the principles of international law are not implemented automatically. They must be fought for.
They are valuable only when supported by the political will of a national leader, unity with the people, a strong economy, and, most importantly, a modern army capable of implementing these principles," the ambassador emphasized.
Mustafayev thanked the countries that supported Azerbaijan during the 44-day war: "As we celebrate Victory Day, we gratefully remember those who lost their lives and pay tribute to the courage of those who survived."
The ambassador then spoke about the reconstruction of the liberated territories, noting that three international airports, as well as roads, bridges, tunnels, residential buildings, schools, and medical facilities, have been built there.
The diplomat highlighted the contributions of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, and Russia's Astrakhan region, which have financed the construction of social facilities in Karabakh.
According to Mustafayev, approximately $15 billion has already been invested in reconstruction efforts. Around $8 billion is planned to be allocated for these purposes between 2027 and 2030.
The ambassador emphasized that more than 90,000 people currently live, work, and study in the liberated districts of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur.
The diplomat stated that reconstruction efforts have been made possible through demining operations: "Currently, approximately 26% of the mine-contaminated areas of Karabakh and neighboring districts have been cleared of mines, and this work is continuing."
The ambassador identified the beginning of the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia as one of the main outcomes of the liberation of Karabakh. He recalled that the parties initialed a peace agreement in Washington on August 8, 2025, and began the process of border delimitation.
Mustafayev explained Baku's position, stating that provisions containing territorial claims against Azerbaijan must be removed from Armenia's Constitution and legislation before the peace agreement can be signed.
Speaking about relations with Russia, the ambassador emphasized that the Declaration on Allied Interaction of February 22, 2022, forms their foundation.
According to Mustafayev, the meeting between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Vladimir Putin in Dushanbe on October 9, 2025, demonstrated that these allied relations had stood the test of time and marked the beginning of the normalization of bilateral relations.
The diplomat stated that more than 40 high-level visits had already taken place during the first 10 months of this year, twice as many as in the same period last year. He also noted that Azerbaijan maintains trade and economic relations with 75 regions of Russia.
Azerbaijan's Military Attaché to Russia, Colonel Kenan Tahmazov, then delivered a speech. He described Victory Day as one of the most glorious pages in Azerbaijan's modern history and recalled that hundreds of thousands of people had been forced to flee their homes during the years of occupation.
Tahmazov spoke about how Azerbaijan strengthened its defense capabilities and improved the combat readiness of its army.
He particularly emphasized the role of Azerbaijani President and Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, highlighting his strong political will, strategic vision, and decisions made under difficult military and political circumstances.
According to the colonel, during the Patriotic War, the efforts of the country's leadership, the army's actions on the battlefield, and nationwide support were united around a single goal.
Speaking about the liberation of Shusha, the military attaché noted that the courage of the servicemen serves as an example for future generations.
Concluding his speech, Tahmazov emphasized the importance of military diplomacy in building trust between states: "Our country is interested in strengthening lasting peace, security, and stability in the region."
Following the speeches, a festive concert was held. Guests enjoyed performances by international competition laureates Sakhavat Mammadov (tar), Jamal Abdinzade (piano), and Aysun Mahmudazade (soprano).
The event concluded with a gala dinner.
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