Renaissance_Square,_Stepanakert

Renaissance Square, Stepanakert

Renaissance Square, Stepanakert

Square in Stepanakert, Karabakh, Azerbaijan


Renaissance Square (Armenian: Վերածննդի հրապարակ), known commonly as Veratsnound or Revival Square[2] or Victory Square[3] (Azerbaijani: Zəfər meydanı) was the main square in the city of Stepanakert (Khankendi), in Karabakh, Azerbaijan.[4] It was developed in 1994 following the Battle of Shushi and the securing of the area by the Artsakh Defense Army.

Quick Facts Native name, Former name(s) ...

History

Soviet era

The Presidential Palace, which was the former residence of the President of Artsakh,[5] is the main building in the square. It is the former building of the Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, having been built in the 1960s.

Artsakh era

The following landmarks and buildings were located on the square when the city was under Armenian control:[4][6]

The square commonly hosted political and social rallies,[10] weapons exhibitions,[11] New Year's Eve events[12] and processions. During the Shushi Liberation Day celebrations, a military parade of the former Defence Army took place.[13] During a visit to the capital in August 2019, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan led a mass rally on the square with chants of "Unification", which was originally chanted during the Karabakh movement in the late 80s.[14][15]

In Azerbaijani Karabakh

Azerbaijani Commandos marching past President Ilham Aliyev during a Victory Day parade on 8 November 2023.

Stepanakert came under the control of Azerbaijan on 29 September 2023, after the Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh on 19–20 September 2023, which led to the dissolution of the de facto Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.[16][17][18][19] A Victory Day parade took place on the square in the presence of President Ilham Aliyev on 8 November 2023.[20] In early March 2024, Azerbaijani authorities demolished the National Assembly of Artsakh building and the Artsakh Freedom Fighters Union building.[21][22]


References

  1. "The Soviet-era name of the square was Lenin's Square (named after communist idol - Vladimir Lenin, Russian communist revolutionary, politician and political theorist)". Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  2. Holding, Deirdre; Allen, Tom (2018-12-12). Armenia: With Nagorno Karabagh. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 9781784770792.
  3. Pointon, Matthew (31 October 2017). Among Armenians. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780244043810.
  4. Holding, Deirdre (September 2014). Armenia: With Nagorno Karabagh. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 9781841625553.
  5. "About Hotel". Armenia Hotel. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
  6. "So-called "police" of separatists, abandons weapons in Khankendi, leaves Karabakh". Trend News Agency. 29 September 2023. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  7. "Presidential consultant in Karabakh shares picture from Azerbaijan's Khankendi". Businesselend.com. 29 September 2023. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  8. "Azerbaijani police takes up serving in Khankendi". News.az. 29 September 2023. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  9. "Armenians describe journey to safety after fall of their homeland". The Independent. 2023-09-29. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  10. "Azerbaijanis Destroy Artsakh National Assembly Building". The Armenian Report. 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  11. "Azerbaijanis destroy Karabakh parliament building". News.am. 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-05.

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