It has been five years since the liberation of the city of Shusha, APA reports.
As a result of the counteroffensive launched by the Azerbaijani Army on September 27, 2020, the city of Shusha was liberated on November 8, 2020.
The news of Shusha’s liberation was announced to the public by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, in his address from the Alley of Martyrs in Baku.
In his address, the President said:
"Dear fellow countrymen, dear sisters and brothers!
It is with great pride that I declare that the city of Shusha has been liberated from occupation! Shusha is ours! Karabakh is ours! I heartily congratulate all the people of Azerbaijan on this occasion. I heartily congratulate all the people of Shusha. Shusha, which was under occupation for 28 and a half years, has been liberated! Shusha is free now! We have returned to Shusha! We have won this historic victory on the battlefield. 8 November 2020 will forever remain in the history of Azerbaijan. This history will live forever. This is the day of our glorious victory!"
The President noted that announcing the liberation of Shusha from the Alley of Martyrs was not accidental: "Dear sisters and brothers, today I give this good news to my native people here in the Alley of Martyrs. This is not accidental. This is natural. Today, I bow once again to the souls of our martyrs. Today I declare that the blood of our martyrs does not remain unavenged. The blood of the victims of Armenian atrocities, the victims of Khojaly, does not remain unavenged. We took our revenge on the battlefield."
In his address, the Head of State also emphasized that the liberation of Shusha fulfilled his father’s will:
"Today, I also visited the grave of great leader Heydar Aliyev and paid my respects. I said in my heart, I am happy to have fulfilled my father's will. We have liberated Shusha! This is a great victory! The souls of our martyrs and the Great Leader are happy today! Congratulations, Azerbaijan! Congratulations, Azerbaijanis of the world!"
President Ilham Aliyev concluded his address with these words:
"Dear Shusha, you are free!
Dear Shusha, we are back!
Dear Shusha, we will revive you!
Shusha is ours! Karabakh is ours! Karabakh is Azerbaijan!"
On October 16, 2020, during the Patriotic War, President Ilham Aliyev stated in an interview with Türkiye's “A Haber” channel that the liberation of Shusha had been set as a key objective. The President said: "My position has always been that without Shusha our mission would be half done. Therefore, of course, the liberation of Shusha occupies a special place among our goals."
The liberation of Shusha became the culmination of the 44-day war. Under the leadership of the Supreme Commander, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces demonstrated high professionalism and unparalleled heroism, liberating Shusha on November 8, 2020, and achieving a historic victory in the war.
During the Shusha operation, a significant amount of enemy equipment and personnel were destroyed. With the liberation of Shusha, the Armenian army was completely defeated, leaving no capacity for resistance.
By losing Shusha, Armenia recognized its defeat in the war and was forced to sign the capitulation agreement.
The unique Shusha operation has entered world military history with unprecedented battle strategy and tactics. Today, many countries and leading military educational institutions around the world closely study the Azerbaijani Army’s 44-day war of the new generation, especially the Shusha operation.
In honor of the liberation of Shusha, the "For the Liberation of Shusha" medal has been established in Azerbaijan.
By the Order of President Ilham Aliyev, military personnel who participated in the combat operations for the liberation of Shusha and displayed personal courage and heroism were awarded the "For the Liberation of Shusha" medal.
The day of Shusha’s liberation — November 8 — is celebrated as Victory Day in Azerbaijan.
By an Order of President Ilham Aliyev, November 8 was also established as "Shusha City Day."
Note that Shusha was occupied by Armenian Armed Forces on May 8, 1992. During the occupation, 16 of the city’s 17 mosques, as well as other historical and cultural monuments, museums, statues, and cemeteries were destroyed. The palace of Panahali Khan, the mausoleum of Vagif, the house of Natavan, the house museums of Uzeyir Hajibeyli and Bulbul, and many other historical and cultural buildings were completely destroyed.
The occupiers also committed ecological terror against Shusha’s rich nature, destroying and burning rare trees and plant species.
Currently, large-scale restoration and construction work is being carried out in the city of Shusha.
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