Azerbaijan marks anniversary of Gubadli’s liberation

Today, Azerbaijan proudly marks Gubadli Day, a national celebration honouring one of the most significant victories of the 2020 Patriotic War and the country’s restored sovereignty over its historical lands. 

As Caliber.Az recalls, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on July 31, 2023, titled “On the Establishment of Days of Cities in the Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan Liberated from Occupation.” Under this order, October 25 was officially designated as Gubadli Day, to be commemorated annually.

The significance of this date traces back to October 25, 2020, when the victorious Azerbaijani Army freed the town of Gubadli after nearly three decades of occupation. On that historic day, the national flag of Azerbaijan once again soared proudly over the liberated city and its surrounding lands.

President of Azerbaijan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev personally announced the liberation of several villages in the Zangilan, Jabrayil, and Gubadli districts, along with the town of Gubadli itself.

Since then, extensive reconstruction and revival efforts have been underway across the district. These works are being carried out alongside large-scale demining operations, as Armenian forces had previously planted numerous mines across the territory.

Gubadli district was originally established as an administrative unit in 1933. It was later dissolved and incorporated into the Zangilan district, before being re-established as an independent district in 1964.

The town of Gubadli was occupied by Armenian armed forces on August 31, 1993. After 27 years, on October 25, 2020, it was liberated by the Azerbaijani Army — a moment now forever etched in the nation’s history and celebrated annually as Gubadli Day.

By Tamilla Hasanova