President Aliyev Inaugurates Ganja Memorial Complex on Remembrance Day
Ganja, The Gulf Observer: On September 27, Remembrance Day, President Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of the Ganja Memorial Complex, dedicated to honoring the memory of civilians killed during the Second Karabakh War.
The ceremony began with President Aliyev laying a wreath at the memorial plaque, followed by a minute of silence at 12:00 to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Patriotic War. Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, briefed the President on the details of the complex.
The foundation of the memorial was laid by President Aliyev in January 2022. The complex commemorates the innocent victims of Armenia’s missile attacks on Ganja and seeks to convey the tragic realities of the war to future generations. Earlier this year, First Vice-President and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, along with her daughters Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva, reviewed the project, and in August, President Aliyev and the First Lady inspected the construction progress.
Ganja, located 80 kilometers from the frontline, was repeatedly targeted by Armenian forces with missile systems including Tochka-U, Smerch, and SCUD on October 4, 5, 8, 11, and 17 during the Patriotic War. The attacks resulted in 26 civilian deaths, including six children, and left 142 others wounded.
Constructed on the site of one of these missile strikes, the memorial spans four hectares. Its spiral architectural design symbolizes a rocket crater, and preserved remnants of destroyed buildings are incorporated into the open plaza. The crescent-shaped, two-story building covers 2,400 square meters. The first floor hosts a museum exhibition, while the second floor includes a multifunctional hall for seminars, training sessions, and events.
The museum’s exhibition features sections on “The Early 20th Century,” “Deportation and Forced Displacement,” “Genocide and Massacres,” “Ceasefire and the Patriotic War Period,” “Missing Persons, Mass Graves, and Mine Terror,” and “Toward a Bright Future.” Exhibits detail tragedies including the March 1918 genocide, the deportation of Azerbaijanis from Western Azerbaijan between 1948 and 1953, crimes of ethnic cleansing from 1987 to 1994, and deliberate attacks on civilians during ceasefire and wartime periods. An interactive section allows visitors to explore archival materials, historical documents, and examples of destroyed cultural heritage.
The final section celebrates the resilience and triumph of the Azerbaijani people, highlighting their determination and victory despite decades of injustice.
Following the inauguration, President Aliyev met with Nilay Aliyeva, who lost both parents in the missile attacks, and her grandfather, Zahid Babazade.
