NEWS

The historic mosque, located in the Saatli neighborhood of Shusha, was built by architect Karbalai Safikhan Garabaghi in 1883. Adjacent madrassas and mosque buildings where the great Azerbaijani poet Molla Panah Vagif taught were located on the site of the mosque. After occupation of Shusha by Armenia in 1992, the mosque was turned into a ruin, its rich interiors were completely destroyed, and its minaret was partially destroyed.

Although it is named after the village where the Caravanserai was built in the center of Gargabazar village of Fuzuli region in 1681, this historical monument is sometimes called Shah Abbas caravanserai. A relic of the 17th century - Gargabazar Caravanserai was located on an ancient caravan route that was very important for the silk trade. The caravanserai is considered one of the immovable historical monuments of the Republic of Azerbaijan. After the occupation of Gargabazar village by the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia, the armenians turned this historical and architectural monument into a cattle barn.

“On October 11, 2020, as a result of a missile attack from the Vardenis region of Armenia to Ganja - the second largest ancient city of Azerbaijan, 9 people were killed and more than 30 civilians, including children were seriously injured. The strike has caused heavy destruction on public places and buildings,” says a statement by International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation.

“This terrorist act once again clearly demonstrates the inhumane policy of Armenia. The crime committed by the Armenian aggressors and gross violation of the humanitarian ceasefire completely contradict the implementation of the Geneva Conventions. We call on the world community to give a correct assessment of international terrorism, as well as to firmly and openly condemn these actions,” the statement adds.

The tomb, located in Mammadbeyli village of Zangilan district and consisting of an octagonal prism, was built in 1305 in honor of Muhammad al-Haj's son Yahya. The architect and builder of the tomb is Ali Majdaddin, who created monuments on the Great Silk Road during the 14th century. The current state of the tomb after the occupation of Zangilan district by Armenia is unknown.

Museum Mausoleum Complex of Molla Panah Vagif was inaugurated in January, 1982. The complex was built on the tomb of the great poet located in the area close to the famous Jidir Duzu (horse race field) - the prominent place of Shusha. About eighty museum pieces reflecting the period of M. P. Vagif’s life in Shusha were exhibited there. As a result of the occupation of Shusha by the Armenian Armed Forces in May, 1992, the complex building and dozens of exhibits contained there were destroyed, and transportable exhibits were carried to Armenia.

The Azykh cave camp (inv. 22), an archeological monument of global importance, is located in Azykh village of Khojavend district, in the Tug concave, on the left bank of the Guruchay river. The lower jawbone of an ancient man found here is 350,000-400,000 years old. In addition to the jawbone, various tools and bonfire traces of ancient people were found in the Azykh cave. After the occupation of the area by the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia, illegal archeological excavations were repeatedly carried out in the cave. Lately it has been used as a military store by the Armed Forces of Armenia.

The two-storey house belonging to Khurshidbanu Natavan, popularly known as “Khan gizi“ (“Khan’s daughter”), is a historical and architectural monument of the 18th century located in the city of Shusha. Shusha Music School, the first children's music school established in Azerbaijan on the initiative of Bulbul, the founder of Azerbaijan's vocal art, began operating in this building in the early 1930s. Since 1984, the school was renamed the Shusha Children's Art School named after Niyazi. After the overhaul and restoration of the building in 1987, the Karabakh branch named after Khurshidbanu Natavan of the National Museum of Azerbaijani Literature named after Nizami Ganjavi began to operate here. After the occupation of Shusha by the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia on May 8, 1992, hundreds of rare gems of art, paintings, carpets, miniatures, souvenirs, archeological samples collected in the museum were destroyed and seized by the occupiers.

Shusha Castle implies the castle walls embracing the Shusha city of Azerbaijan. Taking into account the unfavourable geographical position of Bayat and Shahbulag castles, Panahali Khan, the Khan of Karabakh, enacted a decree on reconstruction of Shusha castle in 1753, and the centre of the Karabakh khanate was transferred to Shusha castle. After reconstruction the castle was for a long time named Panahabad in the sources. Shusha Castle is one of the most beautiful pieces of the Azerbaijani architecture. The castle is constructed in Arran style of architecture. The castle has three doors. Ganja door is distinguished by its architectural features. The castle has a circular guard towers. At close quarters of the castle there is a bridge of fine architectural qualities connecting the castle with outside world. The bridge is known as Gala Bridge (“Gala” means castle).

There are two Khodaafarin Bridges connecting the northern and southern banks of the Araz River in the Jabrayil district. Located on the historical Silk Road, the 11-arched Khodaafarin Bridge (inv. 12) was built in the 11th-12th centuries, and the 15-arched Khodaafarin Bridge (inv. 13), in the 13th century. After the occupation of the Jabrayil district by Armenia in 1993, Khodaafarin Bridges have suffered distruction. On October 4, 2020, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces liberated the city of Jabrayil, where the Khodaafarin Bridge is located, and several villages of the district from Armenian occupation.

There are two Khudafarin bridges connecting the northern and southern banks of the Araz River in the Jabrayil district. Located on the historical Silk Road, the 11-arched Khudafarin bridges (inv. 12) was built in the 11th-12th centuries, and the 15-arched Khudafarin bridges (inv. 13), in the 13th century. After the occupation of the Jabrayil district by Armenia in 1993, Khudafarin bridges have suffered distruction. On October 4, 2020, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces liberated the city of Jabrayil, where the Khudafarin bridges is located, and several villages of the district from Armenian occupation.