Great Return

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By Anar KARIMOV, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Azerbaijani culture complete with the liberation of Karabakh

The Khudaferin bridge is a masterpiece of medieval architecture of Azerbaijan. It was badly damaged during the years of Armenian occupation

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Imaret is the palace of Panahali Khan of Karabakh in Aghdam. 18th century. During the occupation of Aghdam by the Armenians, it was used as a cattle corral

significant part of the abundant historical and and the Caucasus troops commander of the Tsardom of cultural heritage created and cherished by the Russia, Gen. Pavel Tsitsianov. In 1822, the khanate was AAzerbaijani people for millennia, preserved to abolished. date and passed on from one generation to another, is It is worth mentioning that the Karabakh khan re- linked to Karabakh. This historical cradle of our nation tained his special status after the signing of the Kurak- has been known around the world for centuries for its chay treaty and it was further passed on to Mehdigulu ancient monuments and unmatched art. The extensive Khan Javanshir, a son of Ibrahim Khalil Khan. Mehdigulu history of Azerbaijan’s national culture has taken hold in Khan (died in 1845), who was granted the military rank this land. Culture, music (Mugham art), literature, as well of Major-General in accordance with an order of Russian as architecture and various types of folk art, covered a Tsar Nicholas I, went down in history as the last Kara- long path of development in this area particularly fol- bakh khan. lowing the establishment of the Karabakh Khanate in The Karabakh khanate covered vast territory stretch- the 18th century. ing from the Araz river to Lake Goyche and encom- The land of Karabakh emerged in the present-day passed the Karabakh plain and the mountainous area, Azerbaijani territory in the 4th century BCE. Beginning as well as Zangazur, Bargushadi, etc. Initially, the Bayat with Caucasian Albania, which existed until the 8th cen- Castle (Kabirli area) was the administrative center of tury CE, it was part of states headed by rulers of Azer- the khanate, but it was later transferred to the area baijani descent in different periods of history. The Kara- where Shahbulag Castle (a fortress in the present-day bakh Khanate was one of the Azerbaijani khanates that Aghdam district) built by Panah-Ali Khan (in 1751) is lo- emerged in lieu of the collapsed empire established by cated. However, local wars ongoing in the region were Azerbaijani Nadir Shah Afshar in 1747. prompting Panah-Ali Khan to construct a new and more The founder of the Karabakh Khanate was Panah-Ali reliable fortress city that would be unapproachable for Khan (ruled in 1747-1763). It was later ruled by his son, an enemy attack. Thus, the city of Shusha that was sur- Ibrahim Khalil Khan (in 1763-1806). The khanate was in- rounded by mountains and precipitous rocky areas from tegrated into the Russian Empire under the Kurakchay three sides providing natural fortification was founded treaty signed on May 14, 1805 by Ibrahim Khalil Khan in 1752 at the most strategic point of Karabakh.

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Restoration of the mausoleum of the vizier of the Karabakh Khanate and poet, Mullah Panah Vagif, in Shusha is nearing completion. The mausoleum was built in 1982, but was plundered and seriously damaged during Armenian occupation

The period of prosperity in the Karabakh cultural heritage is closely related to local khans and the activ- ity of their successors. The Shahbulag Castle, built in the 18th-19th centuries, the Asgaran Fortress, as well as dozens of mosques, madrasas, caravanserais, bridges and mansions, were considered to be pearls of Kara- bakh. The Shusha fortress city was an uncovered mu- seum with one-of-the-kind architectural samples. There were a total of 17 neighborhoods in the city with each possessing its own shades and hues, historical build- ings, mosques, bath-houses, water springs, etc. Shusha was a significant cultural center of not only Karabakh but the entire Azerbaijan in the second half of the 19th century, along with being a cradle of national music. It was called “the South Caucasus conservato- ry”. Dozens of outstanding personalities like the great khanendes (singers) who promoted the Azerbaijani mugham in Europe, including Jabbar Garyaghdioghlu and Mahammad Kechachioghlu, as well as the author of the first opera in the Muslim East, composer Uzeyir Hajibayli, hail from this territory. Theatrical and circus performances were staged in Shusha for the first time in Shusha. In addition to writing poetry, Natavan was a tal- the history of Azerbaijani culture, along with European ented artist and excelled in artistic embroidery. French and Oriental concerts, musical and scientific events. A writer Alexandre Dumas (‘father’) wrote in his “Tales of publishing house and a library were opened as well. the Caucasus” in 1858 about his meeting with Natavan Azerbaijani literature has an abundant history traced and her creative talent. Natavan was also known to have back to Karabakh. In the Middle Ages, this land nurtured undertaken charitable activities, such as the construc- such well-known thinkers of the East as Said Amirul Bar- tion of numerous buildings in Shusha, along with as- dayi, Sadullah Bardayi and Mahammad Garabaghi. Molla sisting the needy people and building a water pipeline Panah Vagif, vizier (chief minister) of the Karabakh Khan, in the city. The Karabakh literary community was also laid the foundation of a new national school of poetry in home to well-known satirical poet Gasim Bay Zakir and Azerbaijani literature in the 18th century. Furthermore, Ashiq Pari, a poet and folk singer. In the late 19th cen- the 19th century was the “Golden Age” of literature in tury and the early 20th century, this land also nurtured Karabakh. This era was mainly tracked in the city of such writers and playwrights as Najaf bay Vazirov, Ab- Shusha. “Tazkireyi-Navvab”, a piece of work composed durrahim bay Haqverdiyev, Yusif Vazir Chamanzaminli by Mir Mohsun Navvab, a Shusha-based painter, poet and Suleyman Sani Akhundov. and scholar, cites the names of up to 100 writers who The Karabakh school is one of the seven main car- lived in the city in that time period. Prominent poetess pet-making schools in Azerbaijan. Barda and the city of Khurshidbanu Natavan (1832-1897), known as “Khan’s Shusha have been recognized as major regional centers daughter” (a daughter of Mehdigulu, the last Karabakh of craftsmanship since the 10th-11th centuries and the Khan), made a special contribution to the enrichment 18th century respectively. Carpet-weaving was wide- of literature in Shusha and Karabakh overall. Natavan spread in Aghdam, Fuzuli, Jabrayil and other regions. brought together a great number of poets of that era by Numerous Azerbaijani carpets made in Karabakh adorn establishing a literary community called «Majlisi-uns» in well-known museums around the world. www.irs-az.com 7 Great Return

The Govhar Agha Mosque in Shusha. 19th century. It was built by Azerbaijani architect Kerbalai Sefikhan of Karabakh. During the years of Armenian occupation, original Azerbaijani ornaments and elements were destroyed and attempts were made to falsify it as a “Persian” mosque

tory in the Caucasus. The Armenian Gregorian Church had always been disgruntled over this fact. Armenian clerics started making claims to Albanian churches fol- lowing the mass relocation of Armenians from Iran to the northern Azerbaijan territories, in particular, Kara- bakh, as a result of the Russo-Persian Wars in the early 19th century. The process became endemic after the Russian Orthodox Church synod (governing body) passed a decision in 1836 to transfer the Albanian Apos- tolic Church to the jurisdiction of the Armenian Grego- rian Church. Afterwards, dozens of Albanian churches were Armenianized in Karabakh. During the period of the Armenian occupation of Karabakh, the Armenians began presenting Ganjasar and Khudavang, the well- known Albanian temples dating back to the early Mid- dle Ages located in the Kalbajar district, and Aghoghlan Monastery in Lachin, as their shrines internationally, and Horse-breeding in Karabakh has a long history as also attempted to alter the initial architectural appear- well. Purebred horses from Karabakh have been known ance of these structures and their crosses. well in many countries since the Middle Ages. Karabakh Pursuing a deliberate policy aimed at misappropriat- horses have been part of special royal cavalry units in ing the national cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani peo- Europe and a number of races. ple, the Armenians referred to the legacy of Caucasian Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region has also been famed in Albania as “Armenian heritage” and failed to refrain from the world for the Azykh Cave, an ancient human habi- not only stealing samples of material culture but also tat dating back around 2 million years. Karabakh is also claiming affiliation with historical personalities. Graph- home to the successors of the Paleolithic-era Guruchay ic examples of these attempts include their efforts to culture, as well as the Kura-Araz and Khojaly-Gadabay “Armenianize” Hasan Jalal, the founder of the Albanian cultures that existed during the Bronze Age and the Iron Cross principality in Karabakh in the 13th century, and Age and superseded one another. Scores of historical Arzu Khatun, his successor. and cultural monuments have been recorded in Kara- During the occupation of Azerbaijani territory the bakh, including 13 monuments of global importance Armenians were engaged in persistently ruining an- (including six architectural and seven archaeologi- cient samples of the Islamic civilization in Karabakh that cal sites), 292 monuments of nationwide importance had history spanning centuries. About 70 mosques in (119 architectural and 173 archaeological sites) and Shusha, Aghdam, Gubadly, Zangilan and other areas 330 monuments of local importance (270 architectural were adversely affected by the Armenian occupation monuments, 22 archaeological monuments, 23 gar- and only a few of these shrines remained in these ter- dens, parks, monumental and memorial sites and 15 ritories. The shrines are either semi-dilapidated or their decorative art samples). historic appearance was altered under the pretext of A significant number of Christian monuments dat- “restoration” (such as Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque in ing back to the epoch of Caucasian Albania, including Shusha). A Russian Orthodox church in the Kuropatkino ancient places of worship and shrines, are available in village of the Khojavand district, which dates back to Karabakh as well. The Albanian Apostolic Church was the 19th century, is among the religious sites destroyed the most ancient Christian shrine with an extensive his- as a result of the Armenian occupation.

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Bread Museum in Aghdam. It was built in 1983 but was destroyed during Armenian occupation of the city

Karabakh was also known as a beautiful tourism “There have been many wars and destruction world- zone with delightful nature and recreation areas. The wide in the history of mankind, but in my opinion, such resorts and health centers located in the region were vandalism and devastation taking place in the 20th cen- attracting visitors from across the world. tury and the deliberate destruction of cities and villages The historical part of Shusha was declared historical- is unprecedented. This is barbarity, cultural genocide.” architectural reserve on the initiative of Azerbaijani na- This is a statement from the Azerbaijani President and tional leader Heydar Aliyev in 1977. Strides were further it is the truth. taken to boost the development of tourism in the city. Armenia displayed particular ruthlessness in deal- The historical, cultural and natural abundance creat- ing with the Azerbaijani cultural legacy in the occupied ed and cherished by the Azerbaijani people in Karabakh land. The objective behind these actions was to wipe for centuries had been subjected to unprecedented out the entire cultural heritage created by Azerbaijanis aggression and vandalism during the Armenian occu- over many centuries along with all traces of their history pation in 1992-2020. Acts of vandalism were regularly and existence in these territories. committed against the Azerbaijani historical-cultural President Ilham Aliyev repeatedly stated in his heritage during this time period, which also saw the speeches that Azerbaijan would never reconcile to the displacement of about a million Azerbaijanis by Arme- occupation of its territory and liberation of its native nia. Moreover, the homes of the evicted people were land at any cost was the paramount task and objective plundered, dozens of cites and settlements and hun- for the country. In addition to holding talks brokered dreds of villages were razed to the ground. The invad- by international mediators, an emphasis was placed on ers destroyed over 20 museums featuring up to 40,000 building Azerbaijan’s armed forces and improving their exhibits. Scores of valuable samples, paintings and logistics and combat readiness. The Azerbaijani army sculptures, keepsakes of prominent personalities and was ready to restore the country’s territorial integrity in other exhibits pertaining to Azerbaijani history and cul- accordance with an order of the Supreme Commander- ture were stolen from those museums. While looting In-Chief. Finally, the day has come and Azerbaijan de- residential areas, the enemy appropriated hundreds of clared to the whole wide world that it would no longer Azerbaijani carpets, sold many of these items in foreign tolerate invading Armenia’s persistent provocations. The markets and completely destroyed, misappropriated or powerful and victorious Azerbaijani army taught a his- changed the purpose of ancient monuments. toric lesson to the invader under the leadership of the www.irs-az.com 9 Great Return

The Shahbulag castle in Aghdam. It was built in 1751-1752. During Armenian occupation of the city, an attempt was made to falsify the monument as “ancient Armenian”

Supreme Commander-In-Chief in the Patriotic War that liberated territories. A pertinent query has been sent to started on September 27, 2020. Karabakh and the city of UNESCO in this regard. Shusha, a cradle of Azerbaijani culture, were liberated in Consistent efforts are also being made to inform the 44-day war following their occupation by Armenian the world community of Armenia’s hostile actions in armed forces for about 30 years. Karabakh. Delegations of numerous countries and in- The Patriotic War ended in a glorious victory. Azer- ternational organizations, representatives of diplomatic baijan put an end to the injustice that was merely ob- missions accredited to Azerbaijan and foreign media served by the world community for many years, having outlets visit the freed Azerbaijani regions and witness reinstated not only its own territorial integrity but also firsthand the consequences of the 30-year-long occu- international law. Azerbaijanis witnessed the bitter ram- pation of these territories. Major world media publish ifications of vandalism defying the values of humanity news reports and air programs concerning the barbaric as soon as they set foot on their land cleansed off the actions committed against the Azerbaijani culture. Armenian intruders. In addition to residential homes, historical and cultural monuments dating back many centuries and left behind by our forefathers, including In accordance with President Ilham Aliyev’s decree fortresses, tombs, mosques and churches, house mu- “On organization of temporary special governance in seums, caravanserais and other historical structures, as the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan liberated well as cemeteries, were levelled. from occupation”, issued on October 29, 2020, Ministry It is worth mentioning that Azerbaijan’s Ministry of of Culture representatives continue their monitoring ac- Culture has appealed to UNESCO and ICESCO, the UN tivities aimed at preliminary inventory control and safe- Alliance of Civilizations, as well as the culture ministries guarding of historical and cultural facilities in the liberat- of 150 countries, over the hostile acts committed by Ar- ed territories. A total of 314 historical and cultural mon- menia with regard to the Azerbaijani cultural heritage uments registered by the state have been examined to in our historical land during the occupation period. date (by June). Moreover, monitoring was carried out The appeals called for international condemnation of upon 125 facilities (newly discovered monuments) with our ill-wishing neighbor’s actions and taking action in historical, architectural and archaeological features that accordance with the requirements of relevant conven- had not undergone state registration in those territo- tions. At the same time, the Azerbaijani government ries. The monitoring led to a conclusion that most of the is taking security measures in the territories liberated reviewed historical and cultural monuments and facili- from occupation and demining activities are underway. ties with historical, architectural and archaeological fea- Azerbaijan is also ready to host a UNESCO mission in the tures had been completely destroyed by the invaders.

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A Karabakh carpet. Karabakh carpets make up a separate group of Azerbaijani carpets. Armenia tries to portray them as “Armenian Artsakh carpets”

Only ruins of some of these monuments remained on the spot and they sustained tampering and vandalism. In addition, 855 cultural facilities have been revealed during the preliminary monitoring in Shusha, as well as the Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Khojavand, Gubadly, Agh- dam and Kalbajar districts. These included 457 libraries, 345 clubs, 20 museums, 25 children’s musical schools, a movie theater, two theaters, two galleries and three film clubs.

Large-scale restoration and rebuilding work has been launched in the territories liberated from the Armenian occupation. Overall, this process could be considered as the beginning of a new stage in the country’s social and cultural life. It is reassuring that the Azerbaijani people tackled the efforts made under the leadership and su- pervision of the head of state with great vigor and vic- torious zeal. Firstly, extensive construction operations are being carried out in Shusha. President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva visited the city four times since the beginning of 2021. Close familiarization with the ongoing rehabilitation and rebuilding activities indicates the attention and care provided by the country’s leader- ship for this ancient cradle of Azerbaijani culture. tural heritage map. The primary goal of the rehabilita- Rehabilitation is currently underway upon the tombs, tion endeavors is to restore the city of Shusha, which caravanserais, house museums and mosques that were has been declared the “Cultural Capital” of Azerbaijan by affected by Armenian vandalism in Shusha during the the President, and its historic role in the country’s cul- occupation, as well as the Gazanchi Church, whose his- tural heritage, as well as inform the international com- torical looks had been altered. The church, built in the munity that it is a cradle of national art and music. The 1880s, was listed among the monuments under state “Kharibulbul” music festival was organized by the Hey- protection in the Soviet era (according to a decision dar Aliyev Foundation on the Jidir Duzu plain in Shusha No.145 passed by the Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan on President Ilham Aliyev’s instructions on May 12-13, SSR on April 27, 1988). Furthermore, it was recorded by 2021, which marked our glorious return to the capital the government in a relevant register approved under of Azerbaijani culture. Just six months after its liberation the ruling No.132 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Re- from a long-lasting invasion, the ancient city once again public of Azerbaijan on August 2, 2001 (inventory item embraced the environment of national music and art, No.358). Restoration of the Gazanchi Church based on which was embedded in history as an overall triumph historical documents and archival material is envisaged of Azerbaijani culture. in compliance with its initial art style and architectural On June 15, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and appearance, just like all other historical-cultural monu- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the Shu- ments in Azerbaijan. The ongoing overhaul and reha- sha Declaration. In addition to other significant clauses, bilitation efforts in Shusha are expected to reinstate its the historic document inked in Shusha envisions over- historical and cultural image and turn the ancient city haul of the socio-economic and cultural infrastruc- into a new and attractive destination on the world cul- ture in the liberated Karabakh, as well as cooperation www.irs-az.com 11 Great Return

Monitoring is conducted on the lands liberated from the occupation for subsequent restoration in ensuring that the region regains its previous fame. cluding Victory Museum and Open Air Museum of Oc- Shusha will host a plethora of traditional cultural events cupation, were presented. in the future. This year, Days of Vagif Poetry will be held In addition to implementing construction and reno- in the city. Organizations from Turkic and Islamic world vation operations in all residential areas liberated from countries are expected be closely involved and support occupation in line with high standards on the President’s these events. instructions, Museums of Occupation will be established ICESCO recently made a tremendously important outdoors. These museums will be instrumental in con- proposal with regard to Shusha. During a visit by its di- veying internationally the acts of vandalism perpetrated rector-general to Azerbaijan in January, the organization by Armenia in the occupation period and will also in- suggested announcing Shusha the cultural capital of the form future generations of this page in history. Islamic world. Moreover, the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) suggested declaring Shusha as Cultural Capital of the Turkic World in 2023. These pro- The liberation of Karabakh from occupation signi- posals indicate the high appreciation of the Turkic and fies not only restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial in- Islamic world to the cultural richness of this ancient city. tegrity and the return of Azerbaijanis to their homes, Comprehensive rehabilitation is also underway in but also the return of culture to this land on a broader the city of Aghdam, the largest residential area in Kara- scale. Therefore, the Ministry is implementing relevant bakh that was razed to the ground entirely during the projects and events under the “Getting culture back to occupation period. A number of foreign nationals who Karabakh” slogan. Having brought back culture and re- witnessed Armenian vandalism in Aghdam, regarded stored historical-cultural heritage in these territories, we those ruins as “Hiroshima of the Caucasus”. During an- will demonstrate to the rest of the world that the Azer- other visit to the region by President Ilham Aliyev on baijani people are the real and indigenous possessors of May 28, Republic Day, the foundation was laid for the Karabakh, in contrast to those who had been engaged rehabilitation of Aghdam, the city’s general plan was in barbaric actions and plundering of these territories drawn up and a number of infrastructure projects, in- for about 30 years.

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International Music Festival “Kharibulbul” in Shusha. 2021. It was first held in 1989 and was not organized during Armenian occupation

The restoration of territorial integrity in the 2020 As part of the “Let’s get to know our Islamic heritage” Patriotic War paved the way for presenting and pro- project, videos about monuments of Islamic culture lo- moting Azerbaijani culture in the world comprehen- cated in Azerbaijan, including mosques, tombs, khan- sively. For the first time in Azerbaijan’s independence qahs and caravanserais, have been made and presented history, the country’s cultural heritage could be dis- to the public this year through the ministry’s website played with its entire diversity and abundance. One and social media. Recently, the ministry also launched of the priorities of the Azerbaijani government’s cul- a global campaign called Peace4Culture. The project is tural policy is preserving and protecting the customs aimed at protecting cultural heritage through peace, and traditions, languages and religious beliefs of mi- building sustainable peace-loving communities, as well norities and small ethnic groups represented in the as studying the contribution of culture to peace-mak- country. Restoration of shrines pertaining to different ing and the role of peace in the development of culture. religions, including samples of the ancient Albanian Christian heritage that were looted and appropriated by the Armenians in Karabakh during the occupation, The Azerbaijani culture is starting a new stage in its is in the focus of the government’s attention. Accord- development. Karabakh and Shusha stand out for their ing to the President’s instructions, rehabilitation of abundance with every patch and stone built there re- Albanian-Udi shrines will be carried out in these ter- flecting national historical and cultural legacy; the proj- ritories as well. ects undertaken by the government are swiftly bringing The Ministry of Culture is implementing various proj- us closer to the day when this land will open up and ects in this field as well. The first stage of the “Let’s get embrace the rest of the world. Mankind in unaware of to know our Christian heritage” project, launched in No- most of our cultural riches that had been inaccessible to vember 2020, is being completed. As part of the project, ourselves for many years. From now onward, the Azer- short videos relating to Christian temples, churches and baijani culture, which is now complete and enriched, shrines under state protection in the Azerbaijani terri- just like our native land, will be presented to the world tory are made and aired. community within a variety of new projects. www.irs-az.com 13