Today, the Complex was visited by leaders and staff members of the Nizami and Guba District Organizations of the New Azerbaijan Party, young people, as well as the chairperson and members of the Public Union of Women Entrepreneurs. The visitors were provided with detailed information about the genocide events.
The event was attended by the Rector of Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Associate Professor Rufat Azizov, as well as the university’s faculty members and students.
Opening the event, the Deputy Director of the Genocide Memorial Complex, Mehriban Aliyeva, spoke about the importance of studying the events of 1918—one of the tragic chapters in Azerbaijan’s history—and passing this knowledge on to future generations. She also provided participants with information about the activities of the Complex.
Afterwards, the Rector of Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Associate Professor Rufat Azizov, emphasized in his speech that the March 1918 massacres, in terms of their brutality and scale, are among the bloodiest tragedies not only in the history of Azerbaijan but also in human history. He stated that Armenian armed groups, taking advantage of the situation, carried out mass killings of civilians regardless of age or gender. Along with tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis, thousands of people belonging to Lezgin, Jewish, Russian, Avar, and Talysh ethnic groups were killed, stabbed, and even burned alive. National architectural monuments, schools, hospitals, mosques, and cultural heritage sites were destroyed, and a large part of Baku was reduced to ruins.
At the end of the event, students toured the museum of the Memorial Complex and received detailed information about documents, photographic materials, and archaeological findings related to the genocide.
The conference began with the performance of the National Anthem, followed by a one-minute silence in memory of the martyrs who lost their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and the victims of genocide.
Opening the event, the Director of the Complex, Dr. Rakhshanda Bayramova, emphasized the importance of thoroughly researching Azerbaijan’s historical truths—particularly the realities of the 1918 genocide—studying them on a scientific basis, and conveying them to the international community. She spoke about the significance of ongoing efforts in this direction. She noted that starting from March 31, 1918, in the city of Baku and various regions of the Baku Governorate, as well as in Shamakhi, Guba, Khachmaz, Lankaran, Hajigabul, Salyan, Zangezur, Karabakh, Nakhchivan, and other territories, the forces of the Baku Soviet and Dashnak Armenian armed groups carried out massacres against the civilian population. The events of the 1918 genocide were given a legal and political assessment by the Decree “On the Genocide of Azerbaijanis,” signed on March 26, 1998, by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, which for the first time officially declared that Azerbaijanis had been subjected to genocide by Armenians.
Adil Bakhshaliyev, Dean of the Faculty of History and Geography at Sumgayit State University, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Professor, spoke about the true nature of the genocide and aggressive policies carried out against the Azerbaijani people by Armenian nationalists over the past 200 years, including on March 31, 1918. He stated that this genocide is one of the bloodiest pages in history. As a result of the March genocide, nearly 12,000 Azerbaijanis were killed in Baku alone, more than 50,000 Turkic-Muslim people were destroyed across the South Caucasus, and tens of thousands went missing.
At the conference, Associate Professor Sona Maharramova, Head of the Department of History, Geography and Methodology at the university, delivered a presentation titled “Ethnic Cleansing and Deportations Against Azerbaijanis in Western Azerbaijan in 1918.” She presented an analysis of the tragic events of that period based on historical sources and spoke in detail about the causes and consequences of violence, massacres, and forced displacement inflicted on the Azerbaijani population, emphasizing their serious impact on the region’s demographic situation.
Subsequent presentations were delivered by Associate Professor Yusifali Hasanov on “The March 31, 1918 Genocide: Massacres in Baku,” Associate Professor Samir Karimli on “Massacres Committed in the Shamakhi Region of Azerbaijan in 1918,” fourth-year student Sona Hasanova on “Massacres Committed in the Guba Region in 1918,” fourth-year student Rahil Jafarov on “Massacres Committed in the Karabakh Region of Azerbaijan in 1918,” and Senior Lecturer Nofal Abdullayev on “The Legal and Political Assessment of the 1918 Genocide of Azerbaijanis.”
At the end of the event, teachers and students were provided with information about documents, photographic materials, and archaeological findings related to the genocide exhibited in the museum of the Complex.
The webinar, moderated by the Deputy Director of the Memorial Complex, Mehriban Aliyeva, featured speeches addressing the historical essence of the 1918 genocide events, the consequences of the massacres committed against the Azerbaijani people, and the importance of conveying these events to the international community.
Vafa Aliyeva, a researcher at the Ganja State Historical and Cultural Reserve, emphasized the importance of studying the March 1918 events on the basis of historical facts. She spoke about the necessity of preserving the memory of the massacres committed against Azerbaijanis during that period and passing this knowledge on to future generations.
Afterwards, Tahmina Aliyeva, a specialist at the Genocide Memorial Complex in Guba and a Doctor of Philosophy in History, provided detailed information to the webinar participants about the massacres committed against the Azerbaijani population in Guba and surrounding regions in 1918, as well as the historical significance of archaeological research and the discovery of mass graves.
The webinar was attended by nearly 30 employees from reserves operating under the State Service for the Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The event, moderated by the Deputy Director of the Complex, Mehriban Aliyeva, featured a presentation by the Complex’s staff member Orkhan Huseynov. He provided information about the establishment and activities of the Complex and also introduced participants to its museum.
He noted that in the early 20th century, as a result of the policy of mass ethnic cleansing and aggression carried out by Armenian Dashnak armed groups on Azerbaijani lands, tens of thousands of innocent Azerbaijanis were killed in Baku, Guba, Karabakh, Shamakhi, Kurdamir, Salyan, Lankaran, and other regions. These events constituted one of the most tragic genocides of the 20th century committed against the Azerbaijani people.
It was emphasized that in the Guba district alone, 167 villages were completely destroyed during April–May 1918. In the mass grave located in the city of Guba, it has been established that, along with Azerbaijanis who were killed with extreme brutality and cruelty, thousands of people belonging to other ethnic groups—including Lezgins, Jews, Tats, and other minorities—were also subjected to violence.
At the end of the webinar, an exchange of views took place around questions of interest to the participants. It should be noted that more than 20 employees from reserves operating under the State Service for the Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage participated in the webinar.
Opening the event, the Deputy Director of the Genocide Memorial Complex, Mehriban Aliyeva, spoke about the importance of studying the events of 1918—one of the tragic chapters in Azerbaijan’s history—and passing this knowledge on to future generations. She also provided participants with information about the activities of the Complex.
Afterwards, Bika Farmanzade, a history teacher at the Guba branch of Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, delivered a speech emphasizing that the events of 1918 left a deep mark not only on Azerbaijan’s history but also on the history of the wider region. It was noted that students’ participation in such events helps expand their knowledge based on historical sources and positively contributes to the development of patriotism and civic responsibility.
As part of the event, a presentation was delivered by Nurcan Allahverdiyeva, an employee of the Memorial Complex, on the topic: “The 1918 Genocide in the Testimonies of Residents of Baku and Its Villages (based on the documents of the Extraordinary Investigation Commission).” The presentation provided detailed information about the historical context of the 1918 events, drawing on archival materials, academic research, and various sources.
At the end of the event, students toured the exhibition halls of the Memorial Complex and learned about documents, photographic materials, and archaeological findings related to the genocide.
In her opening remarks, the Director of the Genocide Memorial Complex, Dr. Rakhshanda Bayramova, spoke about the activities of the Complex and emphasized the importance of commemorating the events of 1918 and educating the younger generation about them. She noted that educational events held at the Memorial Complex enable students to become more familiar with historical facts and to better understand the events that took place during that period.
Afshan Narimanli, a history teacher at Guba Physics, Mathematics, and Informatics Lyceum and a Doctor of Philosophy in History, stated in her speech that the events of 1918 represent one of the most tragic chapters in the history of Azerbaijan. She emphasized that informing the younger generation about historical truths, preserving national memory, and honoring the victims of genocide are of great importance. A. Narimanli also reminded students of the importance of studying history in depth and noted that such events play a significant role in fostering a spirit of patriotism.
Subsequently, Sariyya Abidova, an employee of the Scientific Research, Exposition, and Collections Department of the Genocide Memorial Complex delivered a presentation titled “Testimonies of Ethnic Groups that Witnessed the 1918 Genocides.” She provided students with detailed information about the tragic events that occurred in Azerbaijan in 1918, based on archival materials and testimonies from various ethnic groups who witnessed those events.
As part of the event, the students also toured the exhibition halls of the Memorial Complex and became acquainted with the materials and historical facts presented in relation to the genocide.
In addition to the employees of the Shabran Regional Office, staff members of the Chiraggala–Shabran State Historical and Cultural Reserve and the Guba Genocide Memorial Complex also attended the meeting as guests.
Within the framework of the event, detailed information was provided on the implementation of legislation in the field of protection of historical and cultural monuments, the responsibilities of persons in charge of monument preservation, as well as existing legal mechanisms for combating corruption. At the same time, questions from employees responsible for the protection of monuments were answered, and an exchange of views took place on the topic.
The meeting was of great importance in terms of increasing legal awareness in the field of protection of historical and cultural monuments and organizing activities in this direction more effectively.