Two years pass since liberation of Azerbaijan's Shusha from occupation

Today, November 8, is the second anniversary of the liberation of Shusha from the Armenian occupation.

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 two 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 last year, 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 of last year, 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.

In addition, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the opening of the Victory Road from the Fuzuli district to Shusha on November 7 last year. On June 15, 2021, President Ilham Aliyev and the President of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, visited Shusha. A one-on-one meeting was held between the leaders of the two brotherly countries. Later, the Presidents signed the Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Turkey.

On August 29, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the opening ceremony of the museum-mausoleum complex of the great Azerbaijani poet and public figure Molla Panah Vagif in Shusha after repair, restoration, and reconstruction work. On August 30, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation organized the Vagif Poetry Days. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the opening of the two-day event in front of the Molla Panah Vagif museum-mausoleum complex.

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.

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 in 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.