On 3 December last year, Aliyev signed a decree making 8 November “Victory Day in the Republic of Azerbaijan”, and today, Azerbaijan celebrated the occasion, marking the one year anniversary of its success in the 44-day war
As part of the celebrations, a march was held in the streets of Baku, which include a military band, a flash mob and the cavalry. Memorials are also being held around the country to commemorate the lives of those who died in last year’s war.
The president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, made a speech in front of military personnel in Shusha in which he began by requesting a minute of silence, after which he stated: “Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity and restored historical justice. We have fulfilled our historic mission by driving the enemy out of our native lands. In 44 days, Azerbaijan won a historic victory by destroying all the fortifications and military positions Armenia had built in 30 years and crushed the Armenian army. This glorious holiday was presented to our people by you and tens of thousands of other servicemen like you”.
The foreign ministry of Azerbaijan also issued a statement saying that “Victory Day is a celebration of international law and justice, forming a glorious page in the history of the Azerbaijani People. On this important day, we remember with deep respect and esteem the memory of all our Martyrs who gave their lives for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan". The statement added that given the new realities of the region, Armenia had to choose between regional cooperation and unfounded territorial claims against its neighbours.