President: “War criminals have received the punishment they deserved”

I am delivering these congratulatory remarks here in Khankendi, in front of the Victory Arch. This is the second Victory Arch erected in honour of our glorious Victory. The first is in Baku, and the second is here in Khankendi. The Victory Museum is also located next to the Victory Arch in Baku.

TodayPress TV reports that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made these remarks in his address to the nation from Khankendi on the occasion of Victory Day.

The President noted that the name of every martyr is inscribed in the museum:

“There will also be a Victory Museum in Khankendi. Final preparations for the establishment of the Victory Museum are already underway. It will be housed in the building of the former executive authority, which was once the cradle of aggression against Azerbaijan and its policy of occupation. It was a nest of evil. When I entered that building after our glorious Victory, in October 2023, the first thing I did was open its windows so that the evil spirit would leave the building. Now, that same building will house the Victory Museum.

Those who occupied that building – war criminals – have received the punishment they deserved. They wanted to come to Baku in tanks and drink tea in Baku. They made arrogant statements because they had taken shelter in the arms of certain people and believed they could pursue their policy of occupation forever. But we showed them who was who. We demonstrated the dignity, resilience and determination of the Azerbaijani people. Today, they are drinking tea in Azerbaijani prisons and have received the punishment they deserved”.

Ilham Aliyev noted that each step of the staircase leading to the Victory Arch bears the date of one of the days of the Patriotic War:

“Everyone who climbs these steps rightfully feels a sense of pride and relives the history of our glorious 44-day campaign. All of this is natural. However, I must also point out that the blood of our martyrs is also inscribed on these steps. We lost martyrs every day, and blood was shed every day. Despite this, our people demonstrated true patriotism and solidarity, and the support of the people gave me, as Supreme Commander-in-Chief, additional strength. We kept moving forward and never stopped for a single day or took a single step back. We drove the enemy from our lands, restored justice, and today our territory is free and whole”.