Today is Victory Day in Azerbaijan.

Today marks the sixth anniversary of Azerbaijan’s historic victory in the Second Karabakh War, celebrated as Victory Day.

TodayPress TV reports that Victory Day was established by a decree signed on December 3, 2020, by President Ilham Aliyev, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

In response to Armenia’s provocation and another act of military aggression, the Azerbaijani Army launched the Patriotic War on september 27, 2020, to liberate the country’s territories from occupation, force Armenia to make peace, ensure the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, enable internally displaced persons to return to their native lands and restore justice. The entire Azerbaijani people mobilised and united in support of this sacred cause.

During the 44-day war, the valiant Azerbaijani Army liberated five cities, four settlements and 286 villages from occupation. These included the city of Jabrayil and 90 villages in the district; the city of Fuzuli and 53 villages in the district; the city of Zangilan, the settlements of Minjivan, Aghband and Bartaz, and 52 villages in the district; the settlement of Hadrut and 35 villages in the Khojavend district; three villages in the Tartar district; the city of Gubadli and 41 villages in the district; nine villages in the Khojaly district; the city of Shusha; and three villages in the Lachin district. Several strategic heights in the Aghdara and Murovdagh directions were also liberated, along with the Bartaz, Sighirt and Shukurataz heights and five unnamed heights in Zangilan.

Azerbaijan’s military victories, particularly the liberation of Shusha from enemy occupation, played a decisive role in the outcome of the war. Armenia’s acknowledgement of its defeat culminated in its capitulation and forced it to return the districts of Kalbajar, Aghdam and Lachin to Azerbaijan.

On the night of november 9-10, 2020, a trilateral statement on the complete cessation of fire and all military operations in the conflict zone was signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This brought an end to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Happy Victory Day, Azerbaijan!