Today, November 8, is Shusha City Day. Under the leadership of the President and Victorious Commander-in-Chief, Ilham Aliyev, one of the most glorious pages of our Army’s magnificent victory in the 44-day Patriotic War was the liberation of the city of Shusha from Armenian occupation.
During the 44 days of war, our heroic army advanced honourably and confidently toward Shusha, overcoming every obstacle. On November 8, our long-held dream, once thought impossible, became reality: our brave soldiers and officers, crossing steep cliffs and deep gorges, demonstrated true heroism, courage, and determination by liberating the city of Shusha from occupation. This great victory was immortalized by the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev: considering the historical significance of the liberation of Shusha, November 8 was declared Victory Day. On January 14, 2021, the Head of State raised our three-coloured national flag in the city of Shusha.
Shusha, now free, has become a centre of large-scale reconstruction, restoration, and grand events. Along the path opened by our heroic soldiers through the mountains and forests leading to Shusha, a 101-kilometre-long highway was built and named the “Victory Road” by President Ilham Aliyev.
By the Decree of the Head of State dated May 7, 2021, Shusha city was declared the Cultural Capital of Azerbaijan. The Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On the Cultural Capital of Azerbaijan – the City of Shusha,” adopted on May 31, 2021, defines the legal and organizational foundations for the protection, restoration, research, development, and promotion of Shusha as the cultural capital of Azerbaijan. Within the administrative boundaries of the city, the Shusha City State Reserve was also established.
By the Presidential Decree of January 5, 2022, the year 2022 was declared the “Year of Shusha” in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
At the same time, during the extraordinary meeting of the Permanent Council of Ministers of Culture of the member countries of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), held in Bursa, Türkiye, on March 31, 2022, Shusha was declared the “Cultural Capital of the Turkic World” for 2023. On September 25, 2023, at the 12th Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Islamic World held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, Shusha was named the “Cultural Capital of the Islamic World” for 2024. On October 5, 2023, during the 5th meeting of the Ministers of Tourism of the member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization held in Ardabil, Iran, Shusha was declared the “Tourism Capital of the Economic Cooperation Organization” for 2026.
According to the Presidential Decree dated July 31, 2023, November 8 is celebrated as Shusha City Day. The establishment of City Days for liberated territories aims to immortalize the historic victory achieved during the Patriotic War.
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