Today, Azerbaijan observes National Revival Day, APA reports.
The day is associated with the “Meydan (Square) Movement,” which began on November 17, 1988.
On November 17, 1988, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Freedom Square to protest the former Soviet authorities’ policies toward Azerbaijan, which were based on double standards.
The movement was triggered by Armenia’s territorial claims against Azerbaijan, the open separatist movement of Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from their homes in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Faced with these problems and the lack of action by Moscow and the local authorities at the time, the people took the initiative to protest. On November 17, 1988, they gathered in the central square of Baku and began a continuous mass demonstration. Lasting 17 days without interruption and involving millions of participants, it was one of the largest protest movements in the former USSR.
Most local and foreign researchers studying the collapse of the USSR note that the movement that began in Azerbaijan played an important role in the process. Although the nationwide rally was dispersed by Soviet troops on the night of December 4–5, it is remembered as a key milestone in Azerbaijan’s path to restoring independence.
While National Revival Day is celebrated at the state level in Azerbaijan, according to legislative amendments made in December 2006, it is considered a working day.
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