On September 27 - Remembrance Day - President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev inaugurated the Ganja Memorial Complex, a powerful tribute to the victims of Armenia’s missile attacks during the Second Karabakh War.
The ceremony began with President Aliyev laying a wreath at the memorial plaque, followed by a moment of silence observed at 12:00 (GMT+4) to honor the memory of the martyrs of the Second Karabakh War, The Caspian Post informs via local media.
Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, briefed the President on the features and significance of the memorial.
The foundation of the complex, initiated by President Aliyev in January 2022, was created to eternalize the memory of civilians who lost their lives in the missile attacks on Ganja, and to ensure that the harrowing realities of war are remembered by future generations.
Earlier this year, in March, First Vice-President and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, along with her daughters Leyla and Arzu Aliyeva, reviewed the project. In August, President Aliyev and the First Lady inspected the site to oversee construction progress.
It is important to recall that Ganja - located some 80 kilometers from the frontline - was repeatedly targeted during the Patriotic War by the Armenian armed forces using “Tochka-U,” “Smerch,” “SCUD,” and other missile systems on October 4, 5, 8, 11, and 17. These attacks killed 26 civilians, including six children, and injured 142 others.
The Ganja Memorial Complex stands on the very site of one of these deadly missile strikes, in a residential area. Spanning 4 hectares, the monument’s spiral architectural design evokes the image of a rocket crater, while remnants of destroyed buildings have been preserved as part of an open-air installation.
The crescent-shaped, two-story structure occupies 2,400 square meters. The first floor hosts a museum exhibition, and the second floor includes a multifunctional space for seminars, educational programs, and commemorative events.
The museum is divided into several sections, including:
The Early 20th Century
Deportation and Forced Displacement
Genocide and Massacres
Ceasefire and the Second Karabakh War Period
Missing Persons, Mass Graves, and Mine Terror
Toward a Bright Future
The exhibits guide visitors through pivotal moments of Azerbaijani history, from the March 1918 genocide and the mass deportations of Azerbaijanis between 1948 and 1953, to the ethnic cleansing campaigns from 1987 to 1994. The museum also highlights the cultural destruction, civilian casualties, and systematic violence faced during and after the war. An interactive section offers access to archival materials, historical documents, and multimedia content.
The final section of the museum is a testament to national resilience, celebrating the strength, unity, and ultimate victory of the Azerbaijani people in the face of long-standing adversity.
Following the inauguration, President Ilham Aliyev met with Nilay Aliyeva - a child who lost both her parents in the Ganja missile attack - and her grandfather, Zahid Babazade, offering a deeply personal and emotional conclusion to the solemn ceremony.
