Participants of the Third National Urban Forum visit Shusha, A Symbol of Azerbaijani Heritage
Shusha, The Gulf Observer: On October 15, participants of the Third National Urban Forum visited the city of Shusha, a cherished symbol of Azerbaijan’s history, culture, and resilience.
The visit began with a tour of the first residential complex constructed in Shusha since the city’s liberation. Aydin Karimov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Shusha district, briefed the delegation on the ongoing restoration and reconstruction efforts.
Karimov highlighted that during nearly 30 years of Armenian occupation, Shusha’s historic buildings, mosques, and cultural monuments suffered extensive damage and vandalism. Following the city’s liberation, large-scale restoration, reconstruction, and infrastructure projects were launched under the directives of the Azerbaijani leadership. The inauguration of the first residential complex, consisting of 23 buildings, has already enabled former internally displaced persons to return to their ancestral homes.
The delegation also visited Shusha Central Square, where they viewed the bullet-riddled statues of eminent Azerbaijani figures — composer Uzeyir Hajibayli, opera singer Bulbul, and poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan — which stand as enduring reminders of the city’s turbulent past and its ongoing revival.
The visit concluded with a stop at the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque, one of Shusha’s most revered religious and architectural landmarks, which has been meticulously restored as part of Azerbaijan’s comprehensive efforts to revitalize the city’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
