Eternal glory to the fallen: Azerbaijan commemorates heroes of Patriotic War

Today, Azerbaijan marks the Remembrance Day of the Shehids (Martyrs) who fell during the Patriotic War, which was launched in response to Armenia's military provocations and actions against Azerbaijan, as well as to ensure the security of the peaceful population.

This marks the fourth year of Remembrance Day being commemorated in Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports.

A series of events have been organized by central and local bodies across the country to honour the memory of the Shehids, with similar ceremonies taking place outside of Azerbaijan as well.

As in previous years, the Shehids will be deeply honoured in religious sites across the country, including mosques, churches, and synagogues, where prayers will be said for the repose of their souls. At 12:00 PM, a nationwide minute of silence will be observed in memory of all those who gave their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Remembrance Day is observed annually in accordance with a decree issued by President Ilham Aliyev on December 2, 2020, as a sign of deep respect for the servicemen who fought heroically in the Patriotic War and sacrificed their lives for the protection of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

On September 27, 2020, under the leadership of the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani Army launched counter-offensive operations across the front line to prevent military provocations by the Armenian armed forces and ensure the safety of civilians. The 44-day Patriotic War ended with a decisive victory for Azerbaijan on both the battlefield and at the negotiating table. This success came at the cost of the lives of 2,908 Shehids from the Azerbaijani Army.

Most recently, on September 19, 2023, an anti-terrorist operation was launched to counter large-scale provocations in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan, disarm the remnants of Armenian forces, and restore the constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the area. The operation, which lasted only 23 hours and 43 minutes, saw the Azerbaijani army accomplish all its objectives with exceptional professionalism, leading to the dissolution of the illegal junta regime in Karabakh. Furthermore, key leaders of the separatist regime were apprehended thanks to the efforts of Azerbaijani special services and law enforcement.

During this anti-terrorist operation, 192 servicemen from the Azerbaijani Army became Shehids.

As a result of the Patriotic War and the anti-terrorist operation, Azerbaijan succeeded in liberating its ancestral lands that had been under Armenian occupation for many years, fully restoring the country's sovereignty and constitutional order. Today, reconstruction and restoration work is underway in the liberated territories, with people returning to their native lands.

By Tamilla Hasanova