Azerbaijan is celebrating the sixth anniversary of Victory Day on Sunday, 8 November, marking the liberation of Shusha during the 44-day Second Garabagh War in 2020, a decisive moment in the country's restoration of control over territories occupied for nearly three decades.
Celebrations are expected across the country. Azerbaijan's First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva has also marked the occasion with a message honouring Azerbaijani servicemen, veterans and those who lost their lives.
The anniversary comes six years after the conflict ended with a trilateral statement signed on 10 November 2020, paving the way for the return of additional territories to Azerbaijani control and the beginning of a major reconstruction programme in Garabagh.
There will be military bands scheduled to perform at six locations in Baku between 4 pm and 6 pm on Sunday. A concert followed by fireworks is also planned near the Clock Tower on Baku Boulevard.
Victory Day commemorates the liberation of Shusha on 8 November 2020, one of the defining moments of Azerbaijan's military campaign during the Second Garabagh War.
The conflict began on 27 September 2020, when Azerbaijani forces launched a counter-offensive to regain territories under Armenian occupation.
Over 44 days, Azerbaijani troops regained control of numerous settlements, culminating in the liberation of Shusha, a city of major historical and cultural significance to Azerbaijan.
President Ilham Aliyev announced Shusha's liberation on 8 November, marking a turning point in the conflict.
Two days later, on 10 November, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia signed a trilateral statement ending the hostilities.
Under the statement, Aghdam district was returned on 20 November 2020, Kalbajar on 25 November and Lachin on 1 December, with the Lachin corridor remaining under Russian peacekeeping control.
The holiday therefore commemorates the liberation of Shusha and the wider outcome of the 2020 war.
First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva marked Victory Day with a message published on her official X account on Sunday.
“Today we celebrate Victory Day with great pride!” she wrote.
She expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani soldiers, officers and veterans for their role in the country's victory.
“Thank you very much for your heroism, valor, courage, and fortitude, and for allowing us to celebrate this holiday as a victorious nation!” she said.
Aliyeva also paid tribute to those who lost their lives during the conflict and extended her sympathies to their families.
“May peace and tranquility always reign in Azerbaijan!” she added.
Since the end of the war, Azerbaijan has undertaken extensive reconstruction and development projects across its liberated territories.
The programme includes restoring transport links, constructing residential areas and rebuilding public infrastructure to support the return of displaced communities.
The redevelopment of Garabagh has also become an important part of Azerbaijan's regional economic and connectivity plans.
Six years after the Second Garabagh War, Victory Day remains a major national occasion in Azerbaijan, combining celebrations of the country's military victory with remembrance of those who lost their lives.
The anniversary also comes as Azerbaijan continues rebuilding its liberated territories and pursuing efforts to establish lasting regional peace.
For Azerbaijan, 8 November marks both the liberation of Shusha and a turning point in the country's modern history, while the ongoing reconstruction of Garabagh represents the next stage in the region's development.
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