Azerbaijan marks November 8 Victory Day as symbol of national unity

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has issued a statement marking November 8 Victory Day, calling it one of the most glorious pages in the centuries-old history of Azerbaijani statehood. The day symbolises the victory in the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020, which the ministry says demonstrates the nation's unity, unshakeable will, determination and devotion to the Motherland.

The ministry recalled that the war was won six years ago under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and through the heroism of the Azerbaijani Army. The liberation of Shusha on 8 November 2020 ensured victory and ended the nearly 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia. Local anti-terror measures carried out in September 2023 fully restored the republic's state sovereignty, the statement said.

The statement also cited the Great Return program, which aims to rebuild infrastructure in liberated territories and return former internally displaced persons to their homeland. It said Azerbaijan is working with Armenia to build mutual trust and long-term peace in the South Caucasus. The ministry commemorated the martyrs who died for the country and thanked veterans of the war.