Daughter of Azerbaijani poet stresses remembrance of repression victims

The holding of events dedicated to Azerbaijani–Lithuanian friendship and the memory of victims of repression is of great importance, Leyla Akhundzada said.

Akhundzada, the daughter of Dilbar Akhundzada, wife of Azerbaijani poet Mikayil Mushfig, made the remarks to journalists during a literary and artistic event in Baku focused on Azerbaijani–Lithuanian relations, shared historical memory, and the remembrance of victims of repression, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

The event was jointly organised by the Union of Writers of Azerbaijan, the Embassy of Lithuania in Azerbaijan, and Secondary School No. 18 named after Mikayil Mushfig.

“The significance of this event is highly valued not only in Azerbaijan but also in Lithuania. The participation of the Lithuanian Embassy is a clear example of this. Such events are very important in terms of shaping the historical memory of the younger generation, commemorating victims of repression, and passing this memory on to future generations. At the same time, such projects play a major role in introducing young people to the works of Mikayil Mushfig, increasing interest in poetry, and promoting his legacy,” Akhundzada emphasised.

Mikayil Mushfig (1908–1938) was a prominent Azerbaijani poet of the 1930s, widely regarded as one of the founders of modern Azerbaijani poetic style, with works often celebrating romance, nature, and lyrical themes.

He was arrested in 1937 during the Stalinist purges as an "enemy of the people," accused of treason and bourgeois nationalism amid criticism from Soviet literary officials, and executed by shooting on January 6, 1938, in Baku's Bayil prison at the age of 29.

By Jeyhun Aghazada