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Mirza Bala Mahammadzade's story "Counter-revolutionaries"

Mirza Bala Mahammadzade’s story “Counter-revolutionaries” is the first fiction work dedicated to the March 1918 genocide. In this narrative, the writer portrays the tragedy experienced by an Azerbaijani intellectual, Huseyn, who, despite losing relatives and loved ones in the events, still referred to the victims as “counter-revolutionaries” due to his ideological indoctrination by Russia. Huseyn struggled to see and express the truth, failing to fully appreciate the essence of the problem. Through Huseyn’s exaggerated Bolshevik and Armenian Dashnak mindset, Mahammadzade created a vivid character that remains relevant today.
The story includes a poignant description: “The Shamakhi incident did not trouble Huseyn as much as the events in Crimea and Turkestan. According to the information he received from reliable sources, those killed in these Turkish fires were ‘counter-revolutionaries.’ But now, Baku was experiencing tumultuous days. The city was ablaze. The bombardment from steamships, accompanied by the sounds of machine guns, cannons, rifles, and bullets, and the cries of the people, the groans of children, women, and girls, painted a clear picture of horror. The dead, the burning, the running, the screaming, the destruction, the cutting—all mixed together… Women, girls, and the elderly ran barefoot from house to house, corner to corner. What was the reason for this? These were Turkic Muslims, those who yearned for freedom and autonomy. Tired of centuries of slavery, suffering, and humiliation, they desired a more humane existence. For this, they were punished. They were deemed counter-revolutionaries because they refused to submit to Velikorus imperialism. I wonder, does Huseyn see them?”
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Muhammad Hadi - To the Heroic Turkish Soldiers"

The headquarters of the Caucasian Islamic Army, which came to Azerbaijan’s aid, was situated in Ganja. Muhammad Hadi, present in Ganja at that time, warmly welcomed their assistance to Azerbaijan and composed the poem “To the Heroic Turkish Soldiers” in 1918.
 
Bold we stand with hearts unafraid,
Sons of soldiers, forever brave.
A Turkish son flees not from strife,
Zealous souls, knights in life.
Turkish nation, Turkish land,
Through the dark, we take our stand.
Grateful for the light we’ve won,
Turk’s newfound strength, by God’s sun.
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"Agdu Temple"

Agdu Temple is a grave monument located in the village of Agdu (renamed Agitu on April 19, 1991) in the Garakilsa (renamed Sisian on February 3, 1940) district of the Zangezur region. This monument, built in the 7th century, stands at a height of 9 meters. Historically, Aghudi village has been home to Turko-Oghuz tribes, with only Azerbaijani Turks living there until 1988. The first Armenians moved to the village following the 1988 genocide of West Azerbaijani Turks.

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MUHAMMED SAID ORDUBADI "THE BLOODY YEARS"

 
Mammad Said Ordubadi, who was a live witness of Armenian brutality at the beginning of the last century, wrote a book called “Bloody Years” based on historical facts and deep observations. In this work, the writer wrote on the basis of the statements of 245 people who witnessed the Armenian-Muslim massacres in the Caucasus in 1905-1906, as well as the tragedies, unimaginable tortures and lootings committed by Armenians against people in the territories of Azerbaijan. In his work “Bloody Years”, which reflects the Armenian treachery and horror of the inhuman atrocities of Armenians in their ancestral home of Azerbaijanis, Ordubadi characterized how cunning, evil-doing, bloodthirsty, Turkish blood-thirsty villains our nefarious neighbors are with the disasters and troubles they caused.
In 1908, Ordubadi, who wrote on the basis of facts and eyewitnesses’ accounts of the Armenian Dashnak genocide carried out by relying on them at a time when tsarist censorship still ruled, completed this work. Unfortunately, the fate of this book, which was written on the basis of facts and evidence, was bad. In 1914, Mammad Said Ordubadi was arrested in Julfa and exiled to the city of Sarits (Volgograd) in Russia.
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One of the heads of government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, a prominent statesman and political figure Nasib bey Yusifbeyli was born in 1881 in Ganja.

Yusif bey Yusifbeyli, elected as a representative to the Constituent Assembly of Russia but unable to travel to Petrograd due to the October Revolution of 1917, actively participated in the establishment of the Transcaucasian Sejm. Serving as the Minister of Education in the government of the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic proclaimed on April 22, 1918, he undertook the most complex and responsible tasks in national policy. After the formation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918, in the first cabinet of the government organized by Fatali Khan Khoyski, Yusifbeyli held the position of Minister of Finance and Public Education, and subsequently in the 2nd and 3rd cabinets of Khoyski – the position of Minister of Public Education and Religious Convictions.
Among the important events during Yusifbeyli’s tenure were the establishment of Baku State University, sending about 100 Azerbaijani young people to various universities in Europe, preparation and enactment of a land reform bill, opening courses to combat illiteracy, and more. Additionally, one of the government’s final decisions was a resolution on January 30, 1920, to develop projects for military orders, a national anthem, a state emblem, and a seal.
The most significant event in the history of the Azerbaijani people was the de facto recognition of Azerbaijan’s independence by the great powers on January 11, 1920. On January 14, Nasib bey Yusifbeyli brought this news to the Azerbaijani people.
The government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic could not fully realize its plans. Nasib bey Yusifbeyli, who left the city to avoid persecution after the occupation of Baku by the 11th Red Army, was tragically killed on the road on May 31, 1920.
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On July 7, 1923, the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Province was established within the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic by a decree from the Central Executive Committee of the Soviets. Its administrative center was Khankendi.

The province included regions like Askeran, Hadrut, Aghdara, Khojavand, and Shusha. However, following the decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Azerbaijan on November 26, 1991, the administrative unit of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Province was abolished. The cities of Stepanakert, Mardakert, and Martuni reverted to their historical names of Khankendi, Agdara, and Khojavend, respectively.
During the First Karabakh War, Azerbaijan’s military launched a counter-offensive against Armenian aggression. The subsequent 44-day Patriotic War led to the defeat of the Armenian forces, resulting in the cessation of the term “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,” which now remains a part of history.
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On July 8, a meeting of the Expert Council on the identification of immovable cultural resources under the Ministry of Culture was held at the National Library of Azerbaijan named after M.F. Akhundzade. The meeting focused on completed works and upcoming tasks. Professor Gulchohra Mammadova, the chairman of the Expert Council and rector of the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction, delivered a speech outlining the council's activities.

 

Sabina Hajiyeva, head of the State Service for Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, discussed existing challenges and future issues related to the evaluation of monuments. Parviz Najafov, Head of the Monitoring Sector of Monuments Protection of the Cultural Heritage Protection Department, reported that in the first stage, 6 objects in Baku and 51 in territories liberated from occupation were registered. In the second stage, 13 objects in Binagadi district, and in the third stage, 63 buildings in Sabail district were submitted to the Expert Council for consideration.

The council summarized proposals regarding Baku and liberated territories and sent them to the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), which approved the inclusion of 48 objects in the monument list. A draft decision for their inclusion has been prepared for the relevant authorities’ approval. In Binagadi district, corrections to names, dates, and addresses of 9 state-registered monuments were proposed, and 8 out of 12 significant buildings were recommended for the monument list. For Sabail district, 49 out of 63 buildings were recommended for inclusion. Suggestions from these stages were compiled into a letter to ANAS.

The meeting concluded with council members’ comments and suggestions, fostering an exchange of ideas. The Expert Council aims to update the Cabinet of Ministers Decision No. 132 dated August 2, 2001, concerning the state protection of immovable historical and cultural monuments in Azerbaijan.

The council includes representatives from the Ministry of Culture, the State Service for the Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, the State Urban Planning and Architecture Committee, the Baku City Architecture and Urban Planning Main Department, the Baku City Executive Authority, the State Service for Real Estate Affairs under the Ministry of Economy, the State Tourism Agency, the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction, the Union of Architects of Azerbaijan, the Institute of Archeology and Anthropology of ANAS, the “Icherisheher” State Historical-Architectural Reserve Department, the Shusha City State Reserve Department, and the Ministry of Culture of Nakhchivan MR.

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On June 26, an event was held at the "Genocide Memorial Complex" in Guba to mark the Day of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The gathering included employees from the Scientific Research, Exposition, and Foundation Department of the Genocide Memorial Complex, as well as participants from the "Pir Huseyn Khanagahi" historical-architectural reserve. The event, titled "June 26 - Day of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan," saw various notable attendees.

Dr. Rakhshande Bayramova, Director of the Complex, welcomed the reserve employees, highlighting the significant progress made in army building and other areas following the establishment of stability in the country. She attributed this progress to the unparalleled efforts and dedication of the Great Leader, who successfully created a regular army under a unified command in a short span of time.

Following her remarks, Maharram Muslimov, Director of the “Pir Huseyn Khanagahi” historical-architectural reserve, emphasized the historical importance of the army in ensuring the state’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and security, as well as its influence regionally and globally. Other speakers included Naiba Mammadova, Zaur Jafarov, and Yusifli Emin from the “Pir Huseyn Khanagahi” reserve, along with Mehriban Aliyeva, Deputy Director of the Genocide Memorial Complex, and Ulkar Zeynalova and Seria Abidova, employees of the Complex.

They discussed the history of the Azerbaijani army, noting that Azerbaijan has consistently asserted itself in the military field. The speakers highlighted the recent triumphs of the Azerbaijani Army, which, under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, demonstrated its strength and modern military capability, ultimately restoring Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. This achievement stands as the greatest victory of the Azerbaijani Army in the past century.

The event concluded with further discussions on the topic.

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The 4th Republican Student Scientific-Practical Conference, dedicated to the "Year of Solidarity for the Sake of the Green World," was held at the Republican Humanities Gymnasium named after S.C. Peshavari. The event focused on "Students' Views on Science and Education in Azerbaijan" and saw participation from employees of the "Genocide Memorial Complex" in Guba.

Speakers highlighted that 2024 had been declared the “Year of Solidarity for the Green World” by a decree from President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan. They noted that various important competitions and contests had taken place in the gymnasium as part of this initiative, with the current 4th Republican Student Scientific-Practical Conference being a significant event in this series.

The conference organized its sessions into various sections, including “Azerbaijani Language and Literature,” “History,” “Mathematics,” “Physics and Astronomy,” “Chemistry-Biology,” “Digital Skills, STEAM,” “Geography,” “Aesthetic and Physical Education,” and “Foreign Languages.”

The conference was organized by the Republican Humanities Gymnasium named after S.C. Peshavari, which operates under the direct authority of the State Agency for Pre-School and General Education under the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Other organizing bodies included the ANAS Acad. Institute of Oriental Studies named after Z.M. Bunyadov, the ETN Acad. Hasan Aliyev Institute of Geography, the Monitoring Center under the State Language Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Shamakhi branch of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, the “Genocide Memorial Complex” in Guba, the Educational Institute of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Sheki Regional Scientific Center of ANAS.

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An event was held at the "Genocide Memorial Complex" in Guba to commemorate June 15 Liberation Day.

Mehriban Aliyeva, Deputy Director of the Complex, opened the event with a speech highlighting the significance of June 15, 1993, a day celebrated with great pride in Azerbaijani history. This date marks the beginning of the struggle to preserve the hard-won independence of the Azerbaijani people. The return of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev to political power on June 15 stands as a monumental event in Azerbaijan’s centuries-old history, laying the foundation for our National Liberation.

Speakers emphasized that the determination of national leader Heydar Aliyev infused the people with enthusiasm and transformed Azerbaijan into a confident and powerful state focused on the future. The wise and visionary policies initiated by Heydar Aliyev have led Azerbaijan to become an independent and influential state in the region. These policies continue to be successfully upheld by President Ilham Aliyev, ensuring Azerbaijan’s continued progress and stability.

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In commemoration of June 15 Liberation Day and in alignment with the 2024 "Year of Solidarity for the Green World," an environmental cleaning campaign was organized in Guba city by the "Genocide Memorial Complex." Employees of the Complex participated in this initiative by conducting cleaning activities in various streets and parks. The campaign aimed to promote environmental protection and solidarity within the community, reflecting the values of both historical remembrance and sustainable development.