Today marks the 105th anniversary of the liberation of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, from occupation, Turanews.kz reports.
After Azerbaijan declared independence on May 28, 1918, the country split into two parts. Bolshevik-Dashnak formations seized power in the capital, creating the Baku Council of People’s Commissars.
In the regions of Azerbaijan they controlled, Bolshevik-Dashnak armed formations committed genocide against the local population and massacres of people. Since June, armed detachments of the Bolsheviks began large-scale operations to capture the western regions of Azerbaijan. Bolshevik-Dashnak formations advancing in the Shamakhi direction destroyed all Azerbaijani villages along the way, killing civilians.
In this situation, the Caucasian Islamic Army under the command of Nuru Pasha arrived to the aid of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
The Caucasian Islamic Army and the newly formed Azerbaijani formations of the National Army defeated the Bolshevik-Dashnak formations near Goychay and moved towards Baku. Moving in several directions towards the capital, army formations liberated Shamakhi, Kurdamir and other settlements from occupation.
On September 15, after fighting that lasted until noon, the Caucasian Islamic Army liberated the city of Baku from occupation. The next day, an official parade of the Caucasian Islamic Army and Azerbaijani troops took place in what is now Sahil Park.
The liberation of Baku was a turning point in the history of Azerbaijan. It marked the beginning of a new era of independence and sovereignty for the country.
The people of Azerbaijan will never forget the sacrifices made by the Caucasian Islamic Army and the Azerbaijani National Army in the liberation of Baku. A memorial to Turkish soldiers was erected in Baku, and a tombstone to an unknown Turkish soldier was erected in Shamakhi.
